A CAREER GUIDE FOR STUDENTS ABOUT HELPING PROFESSIONS

Helping professions are careers, provide various services to individuals or groups linked to education and health. This type of occupation is excellent for people who want to support others in singular or community settings. Help in the form of nurturing growth or addressing the physical, psychological, emotional, and mental well-being of people. The area of study and industry related to helping professions span over several areas. Some instances of these occupations are social work, counseling, psychology, and public health. Students who want to do something to improve another lifestyle have plenty of career choices in helping professions.

For an individual associated with helping professions; communication and interpersonal skills are the two most vibrant qualities. Complex helping professions need problem-solving and compassion. The most common traits that all helping professions need are listening, speaking, patience, analytical, observational, integrity, critical thinking, and teaching skills. These skills and qualities make an individual suitable for a career and its upholding in the community. Students who want to pursue a career in helping professions need quality education along with the necessary skills to complement that profession—please take a look at our top jobs for aiding people; you might not have considered.

1.  Social Work Profession

Social work is the most sought out helping profession among students. That is because enhancing the well-being of individuals, families, or communities find their calling in public employment.Social work is a helping profession that brings about communal change and justice for individuals and vulnerable populations.

Most people often associate public administration as a part of social work, and you can find the difference between mpa vs msw specifics about all requirements and future career recommendations. Public administration is a different field that prepares the individual to take positions in state or federal level government departments and NGO’s. And social workers, on the other hand, help people cope with their everyday problems.

Clinical social workers treat mental, emotional, and behavioral issues for child welfare and human services. Students need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree for an initial level of social work career. At the same time, clinical social workers need a master’s degree, valid license, and supervised postgraduate clinical work.

2.  Counselor for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorders

These professionals work with clients going through addictions, usually related to drugs or alcohol. These therapists do counseling patients in either individual or group settings to treat them or set recovery goals. They try to educate clients with helping mechanisms to handle stress due to abusive behaviors. They also help clients in fixing their personal and professional relations strained due to drugs and addictions. Students seeking a career in substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling need at least a bachelor’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and license to practice.

3.  MedicalPsychologist

Each year, more than 43 million adults have mental illness with issues as childhood trauma, addiction, or dementia. Such problems drive the need for licensed mental health counseling. In this regard, clinical mental health counseling is a much-demanded career choice for students willing to pursue a helping profession. Mental health counselors help people going through difficult life challenges and experiences.

Therapists help such individuals set life goals and provide emotional support to face their challenges. They enjoy a rewarding and bright career by utilizing their listening, communication, and interpersonal skills. A master’s degree and a license and clinical experience are the requirements to practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage of clinical mental health counselors is $48,480, with an expected growth of 26% until 2026.

4.  Criminal Justice

Students who have a desire to serve and protect usually opt for a career in criminal justice. This helping career makes a difference in law enforcement, correctional facilitation, security, surveillance, and other social services. Private investigation and probation officer is also a career choice in the criminal justice field. The growing need for public safety paves the way for new openings for officers with salaries and demand varying according to locations.

Most officers earn at least an associate degree in criminal justice with federal government agencies requiring a master’s degree. Most officers and detectives need to complete training from the academy before on-field training.

5.  Nursing and Public Health

Another most helping profession is nursing and public health. Individuals associated with this career earn a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree from an approved nursing program, and a license. They need to pass the test from National Council Licensure to obtain a permit and practice. The median salary range for such professionals is $68,450, and growth expected to 15% until 2026.

Final Word

Helping professions are great career opportunities for students to dedicate themselves to more significant moral. The career with various choices is some of the most demanded ones that students can pursue. Students can take one of these professions to continue and start making a difference in their communities.

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