Choosing a Career in Human Services.
Human Services is a broad area of study and generally appeals to persons with a strong desire to make lives better. Human Services jobs often attract workers who are good communicators and enjoy interacting with people, of any age. Current trends in Human Services are leading graduates to be aware of leading edge business methods and be adaptable through change. There are many personal rewards and challenges in a Human Services career, and the work is vital and authentic.
Opportunities for Human Services workers are expected to be excellent. Social and Human Service Assistants is one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the state of Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Labor’s recent statistics. Some employers hire high school graduates, but most prefer a four-year degree. The basis for your college courses should be in social work, psychology, sociology, rehabilitation, or special education. An undergraduate degree in Human Services is a great foundation for a graduate degree in Social Work, Counseling, Vocational Rehabilitation, or Education. In addition, some areas of Human Services require a master's degree and licensure.
Mercer University offers a Master of Science in Community Counseling.
Mercer University offers a Master of Science in School Counseling.
Mercer University offers a Master of Family Therapy.
A Human Services career can offer candidates diverse opportunities in social service or social work, case management, community support and outreach, alcohol or drug abuse counseling, mental health and life skill counseling, gerontology, occupational or physical therapy. Work environments for Human Service professionals include hospitals, family service or home health agencies, clinics, nursing homes, government and non profit agencies, private practices, homeless shelters, food banks, adult day care or elder care facilities, and correctional facilities. They usually work under the direction of professionals from a variety of fields, such as nursing, psychiatry, psychology, rehabilitative or physical therapy, or social work.
Job responsibilities may include assisting professionals with services, monitoring and keeping records, organizing or leading group activities, assisting clients with mastering everyday living skills, and modeling healthy behaviors for residents or clients. Depending upon the setting, organization and population served, job responsibilities will vary greatly. Regardless, every job is valuable to an individual’s level of help or care.
RESOURCES:
HSRV Resume Sample 3 - lists coursework
HSRV Resume Sample 4 - lists internship
Salary Negotiating for HSRV
Employer Comments for Finding a Job
INTERNSHIP RESOURCES:
FREE E-Book: The Quintessential Guide to Finding and Maximizing Internships
(Scroll past the "Buy Now" button for the free version.)
Listing the Internship On Your Resume
Sample Resume and Cover Letters for Applying for Internship
HUMAN SERVICES JOB SEARCH WEB SITES:
Opportunity Knocks, the national nonprofit Job Board and Career Development website owned and operated by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.
www.hscareers.com
www.sesp.northwestern.eduwww.nationjob.com/hs/jobs
www.hhs.gov/careers
www.americorps.org
www.aphsa.org
www.idealist.org
www.communityjobs.org
www.socialservice.com
www.nptimes.com (The Non-Profit Times)
www.snpo.org/nonprofitcareers
www.usajobs.opm.gov
www.dhrjobs.com/listings.asp
www.thejobsite.org
www.higheredjobs.com
www.nationalservices.gov
www.learnandserve.org
www.nonprofitcareer.com
www.pnnoline.org
HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS
AND OTHER HELPFUL SITES:
U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm
Online Psychology Career Center
www.socialpsychology.org/career.htm
Human Services Career Network
www.hscareers.com
Guide to Careers in Child and Family Policy (jobs and internships)
http://cfp.igpa.uiuc.edu/
ASSOCIATIONS:
American Public Human Services Association www.aphsa.org
The American Public Human Services Association, founded in 1930, is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization of state and local human service agencies and individuals who work in or are interested in public human service programs. Their mission is to develop and promote policies and practices that improve the health and well-being of families, children, and adults.
Georgia Center for Non-Profits www.gcn.org
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits is Georgia's association for nonprofit, charitable organizations. Their mission is to serve, strengthen and support Georgia's nonprofit community. The Center advocates to improve the environment in which nonprofits work and helps nonprofits manage better by offering information, training, consulting and nonprofit job services. Their website provides a list of their members. This means that you can access a large list of non-profits located in Georgia for job search/career ideas. This list will also provide links to the web sites of these non-profits; a great source for internships and volunteer opportunities.
National Organization for Human Services www.nationalhumanservices.org
NOHS grew out of the perceived need by professional care providers and legislators for improved methods of service delivery. NOHS, with the early support of the National Institute of Mental Health and SREB, strives to promote excellence in Human Service delivery in an increasingly complex world. Through the professional efforts of NOHS members, many programs of care have been developed to address unique social, behavioral, and educational issues in society. NOHS's focus is on improvements in direct service, public education, program development, planning and evaluation, administration and public policy.
Georgia Society of Association Executives www.gsae.org
GSAE's mission is to advance the profession of association management and to enhance the professionalism of association executives. GSAE's purpose is to enhance association professionalism in Georgia through connections in the community with a focus on knowledge exchange, strategic leadership and innovation.
VOLUNTEER SITES:
Americorps www.americorps.org
Volunteer Match.org www.volunteermatch.org
Article: Volunteer For Your Career
(Most NPOs have volunteer opportunities. Check individual organizations’ websites.)
EXAMPLE JOB TITLES
(These are actual job titles posted for various organizations.)
Communications Coordinator
Development Officer
Volunteer Coordinator
Case Manager
Counselor
Director
Executive Director
Donor Assistant
Birth Parent Counselor
Events Planner
Manager of Special Events
Director of Youth Activism Services
Admissions Counselor, college or school
Project Coordinator
Camp Counselor
Activity Specialist
Agency Services Associate
Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorship Manager (fundraising)
Development Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity (fundraising and donor relations)
Theatre for Youth Manager
Health and Human Services Policy Advisor
State Director of Program Services
School and Youth Campaign Coordinator
RESOURCE:
FREE E-book: The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers
This free e-book offers useful advice, strategies, and resources for people considering a career in the nonprofit sector. Written by the staff of Idealist.org and other experts, the books' chapters are available as PDFs. www.idealist.org