Social work students´professional preferences

Abstract

What visions do social work students on the threshold of professional life have for future social work? This study aimed to investigate the professional preferences and organizational factors that are decisive in the career choices of newly graduated students. The study was conducted through a survey addressed to all social work students who graduated in the spring semester of 2018 from nine Swedish universities. The results show that the students expect a thorough introduction, a reasonable workload, and access to continuous support in their work. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of professional autonomy and working conditions that enable them to work according to the professional, ethical principles of the profession. Most students wish to begin their professional careers in public practice within social services. However, certain areas of activity within social services appear to remain pass-through professions creating high financial, professional, and human resource costs. About a third of the respondents can imagine doing social work privately or working as a consultant. In conclusion, for employers to be able to recruit and retain competent staff, organizational conditions that enable social workers to conduct value-based professional social work are necessary.

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