Social Work Practicum Fail #6: Not Treating the Placement Like a Job

 

No, you're not being paid (by the agency). No, you don't get benefits or vacation time. However, your practicum site is your first solid step on the path to your career as a social worker. Because the people you are working for now will provide future references, letters of recommendation, and even full-time positions, this is not the place to slack off.

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These tips are a great place to start:

• Be mentally and physically present each day.
• Be on time to the practicum and any meetings or events that take place there.
• Stay for your entire shift.
• Call in advance if something urgent is going to keep you from being at practicum on time or at all.
• Take responsibility for your mistakes and work daily to improve in these areas.
• Pitch in with ideas, resources, and labor to help the agency solve problems and achieve goals.
• Socialize with your co-workers and get to know them better.
• Volunteer for tasks--especially less than desirable ones. You often help the agency out and relieve your colleagues of having to perform these tedious activities. This can earn you big points with some of the people you work with. Keep a balance, though. While it's great for you to help out (even on a regular basis) you probably shouldn't be the only person who ever does things like clean the break room, take out the trash, change the light bulbs, water the plants, or cover the phones while the receptionist is out sick or on vacation.

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