Learning About Social Work Through Information Interviews
This fall semester I conducted information interviews with professionals in the field I plan to pursue. An information interview is an informal conversation with someone working in the field that interests you. From these interviews, students can learn and decide if the career is a good fit for them.
There are six steps to conducting an information interview. First, students should research a specific field that interests them. It is important to have a solid understanding of the career to ensure the conversation flows. Next, students need to identify people to interview. Students should look for professionals who are doing work that aligns with their own interests. Preparing for the interview comes next. Students should be familiar with the work of the people they are interviewing so they can create questions that are relevant to that individual’s career. Once students are well-prepared, they are ready to initiate contact. They can email or phone to request a meeting. They should be as flexible as possible regarding time and location (e.g., in-person or online). Before the meeting, students should look over their notes and their planned questions, so they are ready to conduct the interview. After the interview, students should send thank-you emails to show they appreciate the time and information given.
The main reason I decided to conduct information interviews was that I was conflicted between pursing micro level social work or macro level social work. In micro level social work, social workers are working closely with individuals, families, and small groups. In this level of social work, social workers are able to provide therapeutic services to their population of interest and provide resources for specific needs. In contrast, macro level social workers look at the system as a whole. They look at systemic causes of social injustice at the community, state, national, and international levels. They also work at developing interventions that address these systemic causes.
To gain more insight into these different levels of social work, I conducted three informational interviews. I had the first conversation with Dr. Nicholas Barr, a professor in the School of Social Work at UNLV. He worked as a clinical social worker before completing his PhD. His experiences working in a clinical and academic setting means he has experience in both micro and macro level social work. His research focuses on risk and protective factors for populations with an increased risk of traumatic experiences. At a macro level, Dr. Barr’s work includes developing interventions using mindfulness to strengthen resilience and improve mental and behavioral outcomes in these populations.
The next individual I interviewed is Natasha Mosby. Mrs. Mosby is a licensed clinical social worker. As a licensed clinical social worker, she is working at the micro level. She provides therapeutic treatment to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. In addition to working in her own private practice, Mrs. Mosby works at a nonprofit and teaches at UNLV. She is also currently working on obtaining her PhD in health psychology. The research she does for her PhD will be macro level.
Finally, I interviewed Ana Livia Ramalho. Ms. Ramalho is a social worker at the Title I elementary school where I am employed. She has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is currently working on her licensing exam to become a licensed social worker. Ms. Ramalho’s main responsibility at the school is to provide resources to children and families in need. These resources sometimes include referrals to mental health professionals or organizations that can supply basic needs like clothing or food. Additionally, she works one-on-one with students who need additional emotional support. Thus, she is working at the micro level.
From these interviews, I gained valuable insights on some of the many career options available to social workers. My main take away from all the interviews is that there is no need to strictly choose micro or macro level social work. From Ms. Ramalho, I learned about the systemic injustices that make her already difficult position more difficult, which ignited my desire to develop and implement interventions that address systemic issues in society. From Dr. Barr and Mrs. Mosby, I learned I can work at a micro level of social work for a few years before moving on to macro level work, or I can work within both simultaneously. These information interviews reassured me that I am going in the right direction for a meaningful and challenging career and that there will be many options and choices along the way.
Gemma joined the Interactive Measurement Group in the Spring of 2021. During her time in the lab, she has learned how to analyze data in R, SPSS, and Jamovi, has learned advanced statistical techniques such as confirmatory factor analysis, and has led two poster teams who ultimately presented their research at conferences. She has also been involved in substantial leadership and mentoring. She has given multiple workshops, mentored other lab members formally and informally, and is currently our Lab Manager. Gemma graduated in the Spring of 2022 from UNLV with a B.A. in psychology and minors in neuroscience and addictions treatment. In the future, she hopes to pursue a masters degree in social work.