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Special Guest Blogger – MSW Alum Kate Pinnow

Kate received her MSW from Loyola in May 2008.  She is now a LCSW working as a social worker for Passages Hospice, Inc.  I decided to interview her on her job search and her current career in Social Work. 

Was it hard to find a job after you graduated? 
No, I was lucky enough to find a job before I graduated despite the economy being difficult at the time.  Although I did not accept a job with my second-year internship, my first job came as a direct result of my experience and networking there. 
 
Is hospice work what you always wanted to do or is it something you just stumbled upon in social work? 
My interest in hospice SW evolved over time. It would be more correct to say that I stumbled into geriatric social work, rather than hospice, through a fellowship opportunity offered at Loyola (thank you Dr. Spira!).  Then, as a geriatric social worker, I was exposed to hospice often, because many of my clients utilized the hospice benefit.  Eventually, I started to see that hospice social work would be a good way to combine my interests in geriatric social work, counseling, and field work.  Although I had no specific experience in medical social work, I knew that my experience working with older adults would compliment it well – and it did! 

What advice do you have for people getting their MSW with respect for planning ahead career/job wise? 

Remember to use your internships!  By that I mean ask a lot of questions, participate in every experience they offer you, and keep in touch with the connections you make through the process.  It is also a good idea to do informal or formal informational interviews with professionals you respect in the field, i.e. professors or social workers at your internship, to get an idea of how they ended up where they are.  Finally, pursue the LSW license right out of school, and if working in direct practice, pursue the LCSW license.  You will be much more marketable, especially if you plan to remain in the Chicago area.

  • By G. End on 1.11.2012 at 4:19 am

    Great interview. I love to hear details on the LCSW’s initiatives. G. End

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