First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from University of Tennessee, Knoxville 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Social Work graduates from University of Tennessee, Knoxville have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) 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, 40% 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: 100%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2015 from University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science In Social Work in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONCounselor/Drug Court LiasionGibson Recovery Center Feb 2017 - May 2017 FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Social Work (MSW)University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2015 - 2016 ABOUTExperienced Therapist with a demonstrated history of working in the Substance Abuse field. Skilled in Group Therapy, Microsoft Excel, Customer Service, Treatment Planning, and Data Analysis. Strong community and social services professional with a Master of Social Work (MSW) focused in Macro from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Looking at the job paths of folks who graduated with a degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, it seems like many of them have ended up in roles that are quite relevant to social work, especially in the early stages of their careers. Positions like Case Managers, Counselors, and Family Intervention Specialists are definitely aligned with the skills and knowledge they gained during their studies. These roles involve directly helping individuals and families, which is basically what social work is all about. For example, being a Forensic Social Worker or a Social Worker at a medical group means those graduates are right in the thick of applying their education in real-world settings that make a difference in people’s lives.
However, there are also quite a few who veered off the path and took jobs that don’t really connect with social work at all. Roles like Satisfaction Assurance at Custom Ink or Assistant Manager at a spirits company show that not everyone stuck to the core of social work. While some of these positions may offer useful transferable skills such as client interaction or team management, they don’t require the specialized training in social work that these graduates went through. So, overall, while it’s clear that many of these graduates have found roles that are relevant, there's also a notable number who stepped into jobs that don't leverage their social work education directly.
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 University of Tennessee, Knoxville):
When it comes to graduates from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a degree in Social Work, their career trajectories show a mix of dedication to their field and some unexpected turns. For many, the first job right out of college tends to be related to social work, as seen with roles like Case Manager and Counselor. These positions usually focus on providing direct support to individuals and families in need, which aligns perfectly with the skills and knowledge gained during their studies. However, as time goes on, the career paths can diverge a bit more than you might expect. For example, some graduates have shifted towards managerial roles in completely different sectors, like office management and sales, indicating that while they started in social work, other career opportunities caught their interest over the years.
Looking at their five to ten-year marks, it's clear that a significant number of graduates have either remained rooted in social work or moved into somewhat related fields. A few have created their own businesses or transitioned into roles like financial consultants, which, while not directly tied to social work, can still carry some transferable skills like client management and interpersonal communication. However, there are also instances where graduates seem to stray far from their original purpose, with careers in areas like satisfaction assurance and even working as a florist. So, while many UTK Social Work graduates do start their careers related to their major, some veer off into entirely different careers as they gain experience, suggesting a broader range of opportunities that may not be purely within the social work realm.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or really anywhere, can be a mix of challenging and rewarding. It involves a lot of coursework that dives deep into human behavior, social systems, and ethics, which can be tough, especially if you're not super into those subjects. There are also fieldwork components where you get hands-on experience, and that can be demanding in terms of time and emotional energy. Overall, I'd say it's about average in difficulty—it's not a breeze, but if you’re passionate about helping people and are willing to put in the effort, you'll probably find it manageable and pretty fulfilling!
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 grads from UT Knoxville, it seems like their earnings might be on the lower side, especially in those early roles. Many started in positions like case managers or counselors, which typically don't pay a ton, especially right out of school. A few have shifted into higher-paying roles, like with the grads who moved into financial consulting, but overall, the job paths in social work tend to be more about passion than big paychecks. The ones who became business owners may have a shot at better money, depending on their success. So, while they’re making a decent living, it doesn’t seem like they're rolling in it, you know?
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 University of Tennessee, Knoxville). 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: