First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from Indiana University Bloomington we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 81%, Social Work graduates from Indiana University Bloomington have a much higher likelihood (+14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 36% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Social Work graduate.
See the details:
Relevance score: 55%We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2019 from Indiana University Bloomington with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONSubstance Abuse CounselorSouthern Indiana Comprehensive Treatment Center Aug 2020 - Feb 2021 Team Lead PharmaCord Mar 2021 - Sep 2022 Program Supervisor PharmaCord Jul 2022 - Jan 2024 Senior Supervisor PharmaCord Jul 2023 - Present ABOUTBachelor-level social worker. Passionate about helping others meet their needs and achieve their goals. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Based on the LinkedIn profiles analyzed, it seems that a significant number of graduates from Indiana University Bloomington who hold a degree in Social Work have landed jobs that are quite relevant to their field of study. Many individuals have taken roles such as Social Worker, Therapist, and Care Manager, which all directly utilize the skills and knowledge they gained during their education. These positions involve hands-on work with individuals and families, addressing needs related to mental health, substance abuse, and overall well-being, making them strongly tied to social work principles. For example, roles such as "Family Case Manager" and "Substitute Milieu Counselor" are not just relevant; they are essential applications of social work competencies in real-world settings.
However, it's important to note that some graduates have ventured into positions that are less connected to social work. For instance, jobs in sales, event coordination, and various administrative roles do not make substantial use of social work skills. Positions like "Account Executive at Yelp" or roles within corporate entities like "Relativity" showcase a shift away from the core focus of social work towards more commercial tasks. While there are transferable skills, such as communication and organization, the direct treatment and support aspects of social work are absent. Overall, while many alumni are thriving in relevant and impactful roles, there remains a notable fraction whose careers have deviated from the critical objectives of social work practice.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Social Work graduates (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Indiana University Bloomington):
From the looks of it, graduates from the Social Work program at Indiana University Bloomington tend to follow a pretty solid career path after finishing their degree. Many of them land their first jobs in direct social work or related fields shortly after graduation, often taking roles such as social worker, family case manager, or various therapist positions. For example, a 2010 graduate started as a Social Worker and remained in that field, gradually advancing to more specialized roles like Care Management Lead. Similarly, graduates who came out a couple of years later are often seen taking roles that involve hands-on support for families and children, which shows a strong commitment to social work's core mission of helping communities.
As we track their careers over the years, it seems that many of these social work graduates continue to progress in the field, with noteworthy growth after five or even ten years. Those who graduated around 2014 to 2016 are now in supervisory or specialized therapy roles, indicating that they’ve gained considerable experience and authority in their positions. However, not every graduate has stayed within the traditional social work routes; a few have ventured into different sectors, like marketing or management, which hints at the versatility of a social work degree. While there are some who took detours or ended up in jobs that aren't directly related to social work, like sales or administrative roles, the majority still appear to be effectively using their degree where it counts, showcasing a strong foundation and a commitment to meaningful work in social services.
Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Indiana University Bloomington isn’t super easy, but it’s not the toughest out there either. You’ll dive into some pretty heavy topics like social justice, human behavior, and community resources, which can definitely get intense. There are also a good number of fieldwork hours where you’ll be out in the community gaining real-life experience, and that can be both rewarding and demanding. On top of that, you’ll likely have to juggle a mix of readings, assignments, and group projects, so time management is key. Overall, it’s a solid challenge, but if you’re passionate about helping others and interested in the subject matter, you might find it more manageable than you’d think.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.
Looking at the job histories of these Social Work graduates from Indiana University Bloomington, it seems like they’re mostly doing okay financially, but it really varies. The earlier graduates, like the ones from 2010 and 2011, have landed steady roles in organizations that focus on health and wellness, which probably pays fairly decently but isn’t exactly a gold mine, you know? Then there are folks like the 2015 grad who moved up the ladder in a company to director-level positions, which generally means a better paycheck. Overall, while some are definitely in roles that could lead to a comfortable income, the social work field itself often doesn't bring in those big bucks like some other professions—so they might be more about passion than profits!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Social Work (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Indiana University Bloomington). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Social Work (ordered by the average relevance score of their Social Work graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: