Personal Narrative: My Career Path To Working In The Human Service Field

MY CAREER PATH TO WORKING IN THE HUMAN SERVICE FIELD

My Career Path to Working in the Human Service Field Lawrence Kelly PSY 369: Career Choices in Psychology Argosy University

I have chosen the career path of working in the human service field because of my passion for helping people with their various needs and problems. I feel it is the best suitable choice for me because the human service field is so vast with different job opportunities like youth worker, probation officer, group home worker, social work assistant, substance abuse counselor (which I’m getting my bachelor’s in), and many other job opportunities. Working in the human service field is going to help me make difference in not only other people’s life’s but my own. Experience working in the human service field varies depending on the position and employer. For example, a substance abuse counselor should have experience
communicating by speaking, listening and understanding what their clients have to say, notice when problems occur, and being able to multi-task (My Next Move. 2014). Complete and maintain accurate reports, being able to counsel clients individually or in a group setting and being able to develop client treatment plans based on research, clinical experience, and client histories (My Next Move. 2014). Having the right education depends on the position and employer. An associate’s or bachelor is usually needed for entry level positions. An advanced degree is usually required for positions in psychology or social work. For professional positions like a social worker or psychologist a master’s or doctoral degree is expected. When it comes to human services I feel I have many attributes. Good verbal and listening skills, problem solving, having empathy, self control, and dependable. The only weakness I feel I have is having a felony record. Most social service positions require background checks. Most employers review criminal history including court records, driving records for transportation positions and credit history (Brookes.2014). Choosing the right human service job wont be easy but I have seen some positions that do not really hold your previous criminal history against you , that is why started out getting my bachelor’s in substance abuse counseling because I can being an ex addict and felon myself I can relate to them and they can relate to me. I have gained skills in speaking, negotiation, critical thinking, problem solving, having social perceptiveness, service orientation, and many other skills that I have learned from being in therapeutic settings and form classes taken here at Argosy like Psychology in the Community and Interpersonal Effectiveness.
By taking continuing my education and preparing myself mentally to be able maintain good grades can help me in the long run. I still lack research experience and I haven’t done any volunteer work yet but I know I will get to that in my up coming classes. Time management will be my biggest issue; I won’t know how my living and working situation will be. Not knowing what the future holds worries me sometimes but I can’t change the future so hopefully I will be able to adjust to whatever comes my way and I know I am good at
that. As of now my plan to complete my career goal is volunteer down at the Alexandria Detoxification Center to get related supervised work hours that I am going to need. I intend to this around August. Continue my classes here at Argosy and hopefully earn my degree between May or at the end of August 2015. I will end up paying another $10,110 in student loans (Argosy. 2014). The professional organization I want to join is the MACHS (Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Human Services). They have good workshops and networking with other human services professionals. They even offer HS-BCP Credential certifications where my experience and education are nationally recognized (NOHS 2014). They also offer job post services along with awards, grants and scholarships. I will continue to my education here at Argosy after achieving my bachelor’s because it is the most convient plan for me. I believe this will help me enhance my education and expertise while I’m working in my field. I have to stay sharp so my skills do not become obsolete. I also plan to keep networking whether it is on the job, school, or going to any MACHS conventions. My long term goal is to achieve the highest position I can achieve in my career, maybe even change careers and get my doctoral degree. Dr. Kelly sure does sound good. Keeping a sound mind and body is going to important in my career in human services. People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior (Smith. 2014). I know in my career stressful situations and adversity arises. Learning to have since of meaning and purpose in ones life and work makes a difference between having success and crashing. Having self-confidence and high self-esteem plays a big part in staying mentally healthy. Exercising more, no smoking and no excessive drinking can give you a long and fulfilling career in the human service field.

References

Argosy(2014)https://mycampus.argosy.edu/portal/server.pt/community/argosy_university_campus_common/200/_my_account
Brookes, Peyton. eHow Contributer(2014): Retrieved from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6123198_qualifications-human-service-jobs.html
Smith, Melinda, M.A., Segal Robert,M.A., Segal, Jeanne, Ph.D. (2014) Retrieved from: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/mental_emotional_health.htm
My Next Move, (2014): Retrieved from: http//www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/212-1011.00?print=1
NOHS (2014): Retreived from: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/mental_emotional_health.htm