Do You Have What It Takes?

Each of the social work specialties described above calls for different qualities. Although they all require an interest in social problems and concerns, you must match your abilities and interests with the work. Direct clinical service is emotionally demanding and requires constantly dealing with personal problems. Community organization work requires practical, political insight and leadership ability, while a grasp of the large social and political picture and the ability to devise large scale solutions are essential to social policy and planning.

Research demands scientific rigour and comfort with abstractions. Some social workers begin their careers in one specialty and later decide to change to another.