Child protective services work can be rewarding.It can be a lot of work.There are different requirements for jobs in each state.There are some similarities between states.
Step 1: Understand how child protective services works.
Child Protective Services is a full-time job.It can include overtime, irregular hours, and the need to enter dangerous situations.You could be required to look into allegations of neglect and remove children from their parents' homes.If you need a police escort, you will likely meet people who are hostile toward you.Team of service providers, staff, and family members are coordinated by caseworkers.Caseworkers help families navigate and access government benefits.It is possible that caseworkers need to testify in court.They might need to prepare court reports, assist attorneys with court actions, and coordinate service of witness subpoenas.A job as a caseworker has a lot of paperwork.Roughly 40% of your time will be spent documenting facts.
Step 2: Understand the education requirements.
Most jobs require at least a bachelor's degree.You will learn how to perform client intake, crisis intervention, and case management with this degree.Some employees get a master's degree in social work.As part of your educational requirements, you may have to complete an internship.Students gain experience in supervised casework as part of the internship.If you want to work in a large city, such as New York City, you should learn a foreign language.As they can more easily service families who don't speak English, applicants who have language skills in other languages will be attractive.
Step 3: Investigate licensing requirements
Some states may require you to be a licensed social worker before you can work for the company.Licensure may be optional in some states.If you want to find the licensing requirements in your state, you should ask.Some states may only award advanced licenses, such as a Master's in Social Work.
Step 4: Look at the job title.
To understand the requirements for a job, look at an actual job description.Job descriptions can be found on the internet.Job postings can be found on most websites.If you click on the link, you will be taken to a list of openings.You can search for job opportunities on Indeed.com by typing in "child protective services" and then selecting the city or state you want to look in.
Step 5: Write a resume.
You need a resume to apply for a job.Your education, work experience, and volunteer experience are relevant to the job you are applying for.There are samples on the internet.If you have less than 10 years of experience, you should keep your resume short and to the point.If you have at least 10 years of experience, you can use a two-page resume.
Step 6: You can apply for jobs.
The manner in which you apply depends on the department you are applying to.You have to fill out a paper application for some departments.You may be asked to create a profile at an online Jobs Center and complete an electronic application.Others may require you to email a cover letter and resume.
Step 7: Interview for positions.
After applying for a position, the interview committee or person tasked with making hiring decisions will review all applications and probably call in a small number of applicants to interview.To allow a potential employer to observe your abilities and to allow you to discover if the job matches your career goals is the purpose of a job interview.You can research the department before the interview.You should find out as much as you can about the office.If you have worked there before, you should be prepared to talk about your experience and how it qualifies you for the job.Getting organized.Extra copies of your resume or cover letter can be printed out.They should be carried in a folder.A friend is practicing.If you come up with a list of questions, you should be able to answer them in front of a friend or a mirror.Pay attention to your mannerisms and speaking style.You want to appear relaxed and confident.There are more tips for preparing for a job interview.
Step 8: Stay persistent.
You may not get the first job that you apply for.This does not mean that you can't work for the company.It means that someone with better qualifications applied for the job and got it over you.If you didn't get a job, you might want to ask someone on the interview committee what you could do to make your application stronger.You should not argue about why you didn't get the job.Stay focused on the next job.If anyone gives you tips on how to strengthen your credentials, be sure to thank them.When a new job opens up, they may remember you.
Step 9: Your resume should address weaknesses.
If you received feedback about gaps or weaknesses in your resume, you should address them in order to make future applications stronger.If you didn't get a degree in social work, you may need to take additional courses.If you don't have any experience working with families and children, then you need to get some.In order to gain experience as well as a better understanding of the day-to-day job duties, you could volunteer at aCPS.Over 3000 volunteers contribute 135,000 hours of volunteer service in Texas.