IT in social service agencies?
October 18, 2010 2:08 PM Subscribe
What is the best way for me to become qualified to do IT in social service agencies?
I work in social services now. My role involves a lot of routine follow ups, but as has been the case in every other job I've had I've turned into the go-to "how do I do such and such." person.
I certainly know I want to be working in social services, but lately I've been wondering if a role change might be right for me. It seems to me that the sort of people who end up working in IT at social service agencies are there in spite of themselves. They took the job because it was what was available, but they'd prefer something better paying. I want to do IT within the confines of social service agencies. All too often it seems like case managers see "the computer" as an obstacle to them doing their job, and I feel like I could do an excellent job of helping people to see how the computer and technology in general can make their lives easier.
As of now, I have just short of half of an MSW completed, but I am really not enjoying the coursework. If I wanted to get into IT at social service agencies, do you all think I need to get an entirely different degree? Should I instead pursue various certifications? Which ones might be most useful? Thank you. If I've not been clear about anything, please let me know and I will elaborate.
I work in social services now. My role involves a lot of routine follow ups, but as has been the case in every other job I've had I've turned into the go-to "how do I do such and such." person.
I certainly know I want to be working in social services, but lately I've been wondering if a role change might be right for me. It seems to me that the sort of people who end up working in IT at social service agencies are there in spite of themselves. They took the job because it was what was available, but they'd prefer something better paying. I want to do IT within the confines of social service agencies. All too often it seems like case managers see "the computer" as an obstacle to them doing their job, and I feel like I could do an excellent job of helping people to see how the computer and technology in general can make their lives easier.
As of now, I have just short of half of an MSW completed, but I am really not enjoying the coursework. If I wanted to get into IT at social service agencies, do you all think I need to get an entirely different degree? Should I instead pursue various certifications? Which ones might be most useful? Thank you. If I've not been clear about anything, please let me know and I will elaborate.
You don't need a degree in IT. Just start doing IT work at the job you have. Make a note of every IT related project you complete, and include it on your resume. Make friends with IT people. If you're the kind of person who would be good in IT, and you want to do it, you'll end up in IT one way or the other.
What helps you find a job more than anything else is being good in one particular product or thing (ie Juniper routers or Voip, or Database Design). Being 'good with computers' is good thing, but 'being good with this technology that no one else understands' is job security.
posted by empath at 2:27 PM on October 18, 2010
What helps you find a job more than anything else is being good in one particular product or thing (ie Juniper routers or Voip, or Database Design). Being 'good with computers' is good thing, but 'being good with this technology that no one else understands' is job security.
posted by empath at 2:27 PM on October 18, 2010
I feel like I could do an excellent job of helping people to see how the computer and technology in general can make their lives easier.
Note that 'doing IT' projects isn't the same thing as what you have listed. That's almost a technical trainer or implementation specialist.
posted by anti social order at 2:59 PM on October 18, 2010
Note that 'doing IT' projects isn't the same thing as what you have listed. That's almost a technical trainer or implementation specialist.
posted by anti social order at 2:59 PM on October 18, 2010
As an additional suggestion, do some volunteer work in an agency with their IT folk. Bonus points if it's the agency you want to work with initially. Getting work is often all about who you know and even if there are no positions available, they often chat with others (my org belongs to a collaborative IT group for non-profits) and if you are good at making case managers happy, you have an in, despite certifications and degrees.
posted by getmetoSF at 7:59 PM on October 18, 2010
posted by getmetoSF at 7:59 PM on October 18, 2010
This is basically exactly what I do for my little company. Probably a full 75% of my clients are NPO social service agencies, to whom I provide a valuable service about about 1/3 to 1/4 what they'd pay elsewhere. I bill them differently than normal clients, but I do bill them, and they are greatful for the help.
The unanticipated side effect is that the employees/volunteers/clients of these agencies see you, meet you, talk to you, etc, and all the sudden you have more work. And more, and more, and more.
My company is teensy weensy. There are 2 of us, I do about 8 out of 10 jobs. I hire subs now and then, I'm working on workflowing procedures so less-trained people can do basic work, as well as making sure my subs (all friends) are following "official" procedure.
My strength, if I can pat myself on the back, is that I'm very personable, fairly well known among community partners before I started the company, and I believe very strongly that what makes a small business succeed or fail is customer service. I'm also fairly good at explaining in laymans terms exactly what is wrong with their system, and then I document everything I do to it.
We will start putting on seminars/trainings in the spring, basically on generic GTD/workflow management, but we've already had a ton of interest.
If you want some insight into what has worked for us, what tools I carry, what discs I carry, etc---feel free to shoot me a MeMail.
posted by TomMelee at 9:02 AM on October 19, 2010
The unanticipated side effect is that the employees/volunteers/clients of these agencies see you, meet you, talk to you, etc, and all the sudden you have more work. And more, and more, and more.
My company is teensy weensy. There are 2 of us, I do about 8 out of 10 jobs. I hire subs now and then, I'm working on workflowing procedures so less-trained people can do basic work, as well as making sure my subs (all friends) are following "official" procedure.
My strength, if I can pat myself on the back, is that I'm very personable, fairly well known among community partners before I started the company, and I believe very strongly that what makes a small business succeed or fail is customer service. I'm also fairly good at explaining in laymans terms exactly what is wrong with their system, and then I document everything I do to it.
We will start putting on seminars/trainings in the spring, basically on generic GTD/workflow management, but we've already had a ton of interest.
If you want some insight into what has worked for us, what tools I carry, what discs I carry, etc---feel free to shoot me a MeMail.
posted by TomMelee at 9:02 AM on October 19, 2010
I should point out that my full time job IS at a social service agency, and I come here after bouncing around between about 5 other local NPO's in various contract/grant/whatever positions, all where I left on good terms and with good references.
posted by TomMelee at 9:03 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by TomMelee at 9:03 AM on October 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Which certifications depends on which technologies are in use in the places you want to work.
posted by Jacqueline at 2:16 PM on October 18, 2010