Searching for Jobs Outside the Traditional Social Work Setting

Social work is a fast-growing field, with the job outlook at 7% (growing faster than average) through 2033, offering opportunities to work in diverse settings with various populations.1 As such, a social worker’s career path can take different forms.

Many social workers opt for traditional roles in settings like schools, hospitals, government agencies and community organizations.¹ However, emerging trends across diverse industries propel social workers toward new frontiers and invite them to leverage their unique skills and expertise to tackle complex challenges.

This article will explore alternative social worker career paths and focus on the non-traditional jobs social workers can do with a master’s in social work.

What jobs can a social worker do outside of traditional settings? Organizations across various sectors—including technology and higher education—seek professionals with social work skills to address their existing and emerging challenges.

With the right approach, social workers can find non-traditional roles that align with their skills, interests and goals.

Large corporations face a myriad of people-focused issues that require behavioral intelligence.² These businesses are increasingly tapping into social workers’ unique skills and expertise to address initiatives like work-life balance, equitable hiring practices and employee relations in the workplace.²

From human resources to corporate social responsibility (CSR), social workers can develop employee assistance programs (EAPs), drive sustainability efforts, further community engagement and foster a more inclusive work environment—all while supporting employees’ well-being and strengthening their company’s reputation.

There’s a growing need for skills like empathy, human-centered design and bias mitigation in the tech industry. This enables social workers to leverage transferable skills in roles like user experience (UX) design, product management and data science.³

Also, with mental health apps on the rise, social workers are well-suited to partner with product and engineering teams to develop solutions that deliver compassionate and equitable care.⁴

Advocacy is at the heart of social work. By working with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and advocacy groups, social workers can directly provide services and shape policies for vulnerable populations at the local, state and federal levels.

From day to day, social workers may be tasked with grant writing to secure funds or program evaluation to gauge the effectiveness of the services provided.

In addition to opportunities in the corporate and technology sectors, the educational field offers unique paths for those looking to leverage their capabilities in innovative ways. Social workers with a knack for leadership and program development are well-suited for positions that go beyond the conventional scope of their training.

When social workers hold leadership roles in corporate settings and community organizations, they tend to adopt a transformational leadership style that energizes their staff, encourages problem-solving and innovation and develops their staff to meet their potential.⁵ They can combine this leadership style with their cultural competency and understanding of human development to develop education and training programs that drive optimal engagement and retention.

Social workers can transition into higher education, overseeing student services and development programs that champion mental health, inclusivity and student success. Within administration, they can influence policies and implement supportive measures that address the holistic needs of student populations.

For those passionate about advocacy and education reform, developing curricula that integrate social justice themes can be an impactful career move. Social workers can design educational materials and workshops that empower individuals to address systemic issues and promote equity and inclusion across various platforms.

Creative and media organizations offer a range of non-traditional jobs for social workers. Most individuals and organizations leverage the media to spread awareness of social causes and mobilize supporters. From feature-length documentaries to short-form clips, social workers can tap into their understanding of human behavior to create people-centered content that evokes action through impactful storytelling.

Behind the scenes, social workers can also consult on large-scale media projects for ethical representation—or ensure their content demonstrates cultural humility and sensitivity when portraying certain people and groups.⁶

Exploring non-traditional social work jobs can be rewarding, depending on your interests and goals. Typically, social workers in traditional roles are limited in their reach and access to certain populations. A non-traditional social work career path can provide opportunities to deliver targeted services on a larger scale while challenging social workers to develop creative solutions to unconventional problems.

Choosing an alternative social work career path comes with its challenges. For example, the policies, procedures, and culture in certain industries, like tech and media, are inherently different from those in traditional social work settings. Social workers looking to transition to a new field are expected to adapt to a new work environment while building connections with stakeholders in non-social work fields.

Another potential roadblock is the widespread stereotypes about social work. Social workers can combat these stereotypes in the workplace by actively challenging them, educating their peers on their skills and responsibilities and providing diverse perspectives on their work.

Landing a new job in a different industry requires some strategic planning and a proactive approach. Below are a few tips for transitioning from traditional social work to an alternative career.

Highlighting your transferable skills is key to changing jobs.⁷ To successfully transition into a non-traditional social work job, it’s important to identify relevant skills from your traditional social work that apply to the job for which you’re applying and include them on your resume. Some examples include communication, collaboration, empathy, leadership and problem-solving.⁷

Networking is key to exploring different roles and staying up to date on industry trends.³ Depending on your desired role, you can build a professional network by attending events, joining online communities like LinkedIn and connecting with professionals who are already working in the field.

Online job boards like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter make it easy to find and apply for jobs related to social work. Users can search by title, location, company or keyword. Postings are updated regularly, giving users real-time access to new roles in non-traditional fields.

Social work is continuously expanding into new industries to serve diverse populations. If you’re considering a career in social work, there are numerous ways to leverage your skills and make an impact beyond a traditional social work role.

Now that you have a better understanding of the non-traditional work settings for social workers, as well as how to overcome the challenges of making a career transition, consider these examples of non-traditional roles for social workers:⁸

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Managers: Some social workers move into roles within corporate environments, focusing on CSR. Their understanding of community needs and social justice issues helps businesses develop and implement sustainable practices
• Policy Analysts or Advisors: Social workers often have insights into social systems and are valued in government or non-profit sectors as policy analysts. They contribute to the development and evaluation of policies affecting social services and welfare programs
• Healthcare Administrators: With experience in medical social work, some professionals transition into health care administration. They manage operations in hospitals, clinics or long-term care facilities, ensuring patient-centered care and community health improvement
• Educational Roles: Social workers may become educators or trainers, teaching at universities or training organizations. They often focus on social work, human services, or community development topics
• Entrepreneurs in Social Enterprises: Some social workers start their own businesses or non-profits aimed at addressing social issues. Their understanding of community needs and program development aids in creating innovative solutions
• Human Resources (HR) Professionals: Social workers' skills in communication, mediation, and understanding human behavior translate well into HR roles, where they can focus on employee well-being, conflict resolution and organizational culture
• Writers and Authors: Using their firsthand experiences, some social workers become writers, authors, or content creators, focusing on social issues, advocacy or therapeutic themes in literature, articles or blogs

The core skills of social work, such as empathy, advocacy and understanding of social systems, can be applied to a variety of positions outside of traditional social work roles.

Gain the skills you need to take your social work career where you want it to go with the online Master’s in Social Work degree from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

The convenient online delivery of your coursework will prepare you to live your purpose and thrive in a meaningful career. Yeshiva Wurzweiler’s expert faculty are there to help you at every step along the way. Depending on your background, you can complete the MSW with the Advanced Standing option in just a year and a half.

Schedule a call with one of our admissions outreach advisors today to get started.