Hi all having qualified in July this year and submitted approximately 15 applications for children's social work vacancies, I have managed to secure a job with a London local authority.
There have been occasions over the last few months when I was becoming despondent and frustrated of not even getting short listed, this subsequently left me questioning whether my applications were up to a good standard.
The long and short of it is keep applying for vacancies when they are advertised, or even consider doing voluntary work as an independent visitor for looked after children, as I also was on the verge of completing prior to being offered the social work post.
Cheers RAG1
It's nice to hear a happy story and congratulations!!
I wish I had some better luck! - I finished uni in 2008 and got myself a non s/w job so that I could learn to drive and pass my test - which I did last year.
Since then I have been applying for work all over the UK and haven't even had a short list for a interview, lost count how many jobs I have applied for - both qualified and un-qualified but the last count was 76
Starting to think that maybe I should just give up and accept that I'm never going to be a social worker!
Thanks NQSW09, I guess it can be easy for me to say not to give up having secured a job; but if social work is what you really want to do, then pursue what you have studied for.
Have you considered volunteering as a way of gaining useful experience along with an avenue of securing your first job in social work, if you are considering a career in children's social care, then maybe volunteering as an independent visitor for looked after children could be a good place to start.
All the best Rag1
Please give me some hints I also qualified in July and have applied for more than 30 sw jobs and I have never been invited for interview
Hi chips, I can only suggest if you have not done so already, whenever you complete an application ask a third party to check the application before you submit it.
It is also worth noting, when shortlisting is being completed the panel should be checking if the personal spec has been met.
Good luck Rag1
Addressing the Person Spec. is absolutely essential - make it impossible for them not to Shortlist you. Work on the basis that they can not assume anything other than what you tell them - go through it point by point then if still not Shortlisted ask why.
Asking for feedback from human resources if you have not been shortlisted is also important as noted by Rupert M. I did this with one of my applications that I submitted but was not shortlisted and was kindly guided to what points of the personal spec that I met and the one's that I didnot meet aloing with the reasons given by the shortlisting panel.
Hope that helps rgds Rag1
I am in the same stuation. I think it is very usefull read website, forums and books about our profession. It is very difficult `sell yourself` in an application form.
If social worker you want to be, keep going. :)
For real do stay positive guys. I finished in July and didn't loose hope in anything. I applied for countless jobs even the ones which required post qualification experience. Finally I got a job with Cafcass last Thursday for a NQSW position. Make sure you check your personal statement or covering letter and ensure ticking most of the requirements, you will eventually get something.