Each spring, UNC School of Social Work hosts Career Day, with opportunities for social work students to meet with recruiters from all types of organizations that hire social workers — social service agencies, schools, hospitals and other health care providers, nonprofit organizations, and more.
In 2019, more than 120 students and 55 human services organizations participated in Career Day.
Career Day is open to UNC School of Social Work students and to undergraduate students pursuing BSW degrees from other colleges and universities in North Carolina.
How to Participate in 2021
Because COVID-19 restrictions do not permit large gatherings, Career Day will become Career Week in 2021, and all activities will be online. Almost 40 agencies are expected to participate, and each day will feature a different area of social work:
- Monday, March 22 — child welfare
- Tuesday, March 23 — macro practice
- Wednesday, March 24 — healthcare and aging
- Thursday, March 25 —mental health (children and adults); substance use
- Friday, March 26 — schools; intellectual and developmental disabilities
MSW students from our School are asked to register in advance with Academic & Student Affairs to receive Zoom access for each day’s activities.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information below does not apply to Career Day activities in 2021, due to the virtual nature of the event.
For Social Work Recruiters
If you are representing a human services organization that is interesting in hiring social work graduates, we invite you to participate in Career Day, even if your organization does not have a current opening. By talking with our students about your organization, you can help our students learn more about the needs of employers, and you can interest them in future openings. We also encourage our professors to talk with recruiters about emerging trends in the workplace.
You must register in advance! We have a limited number of booths available for Career Day.
Generally, recruiters arrive for set-up by 10 a.m. Students visit each organization’s booth 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Box lunches are available for recruiters in the hospitality room 12:30-1 p.m.) The day concludes with an optional workshop for recruiters, 2-4 p.m.
Each organization will have its own table or booth space. We will provide parking for one car and lunch for two recruiters per organization. (Need more recruiters? There is a $10 fee per additional recruiter.)
Recruiters are eligible to participate in a free continuing education workshop during the afternoon of Career Day. After the workshop, our School will provide workshop participants with a certificate documenting two contact hours.
If you cannot participate in person but want to share your promotional materials with students on Career Day, please ship them to UNC School of Social Work (ATTN Beth Sauer), 325 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
For BSW Students and Advisors
Groups of BSW students from colleges and universities across North Carolina travel to Chapel Hill each year for our Career Day. You can participate, too!
We offer undergraduate students the opportunity to expand their Career Day participation with two free workshops — a panel discussion with social work professionals and an info session about options for earning the MSW degree at UNC-Chapel Hill (with tips on admissions and financial aid). The workshops are scheduled in the morning, before Career Day booths open at 11 a.m., and we’ll provide continental breakfast for you.
You must register in advance! Remember to bring extra copies of your resume.
For MSW Students at UNC School of Social Work
Career Day is an opportunity to explore different career interests, learn more about the job market, and practice your interviewing skills. We encourage all students at our School to attend, even if you are not graduating in May and looking for a job. (If your MSW concentration is Community, Management, and Policy Practice, we also suggest that you attend the “Macro Night” CMPP networking event scheduled each spring. Most agencies at Career Day represent areas of Direct Practice.)
If you are currently enrolled at UNC School of Social Work, you do not need to register for Career Day in advance. Remember to bring extra copies of your resume and dress as you would for an interview.
Contact
Monique Tuset, Student Affairs Coordinator, 919-843-9227
Beth Sauer, Registrar, 919-962-6443
Sharon Thomas, Assistant Dean for Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid, 919-962-4367
