Last Updated on September 18, 2023
The human services field offers a number of opportunities to
provide vital services to people in need. As the name suggests, “human
services” basically involves providing services to people. These services could
consist of mental health services, social services (financial assistance),
childcare, vocational services and the list can go on and on. If you are considering a career in human
services, take a look at a few pros and cons I have listed that will hopefully
provide some insight.
Related Post: Case Manager Salaries
Pros
Rewarding Career-
The human services field provides a tremendous amount of gratification for
those who enjoy helping people. Human service professionals often assist people
with disabilities and/or are in poverty. Making a difference in the lives of
our most vulnerable population can offer a great deal of pride and
self-fulfillment.
Various Jobs within
the field- There are countless opportunities to work in the human services.
There is pretty much an opportunity for just about every educational and skill
level. The human services field is one of the few career fields where you can
find significant opportunities with just a high school education. Many of these
opportunities are direct care positions. These positions are important because
they assist individuals with critical activities of daily living such as
hygiene, eating Of course the higher paying job opportunities are at the
undergraduate and graduate education levels.
Multiple
opportunities for advancement- The human services field can offer many opportunities
for career advancement. With so many positions available, one can easily advance
to better positions after gaining some experience. Most human service
professionals start off as direct care staff and gradually move up to
counselors, case managers, services coordinators, vocational specialists, etc.
Job Security- Jobs
within the human services field often provide long- term services for
individuals with mental health and intellectual disabilities. These services
usually require ongoing support to maintain stability. And with more people
being added to waitlists for services, human service professionals at all
levels will constantly be in demand. Many services like child/adult protective
services and case management services are mandated by the state so there is
very little chance of layoffs or lack of work. Many human service departments
are understaffed right now.
Cons
Salaries are
typically lower than many other career fields- If your goal is to become
rich, then the human services field is probably not your answer. Most
non-director or administrator positions will range in salary from a low of
around $25,000 to a high of about $75,000 per year.
Graduate degree is
often required for advancement- A master’s degree is often required for
significant advancement in the human services field. Advanced counseling or psychology
or counseling degrees are required to become licensed. Director or high level administrators
in the human services often require a Master’s in public administration
(MPA) or business administration (MBA). So
if you have no plans to go to graduate school, I would think long and hard
before considering the human services field.
You may be subject to
physical violence- The possibility of being attacked by a client is an
unfortunate reality in the human services field. Group home and psychiatric
hospital settings tend to have the highest probability of encountering physical
violence.
Excessive paperwork- Paperwork can make up 60%-70% of the job depending on the position. Case managers and eligibility workers seem to have the most paperwork. The paperwork is often redundant which can be frustrating.
Excessive paperwork- Paperwork can make up 60%-70% of the job depending on the position. Case managers and eligibility workers seem to have the most paperwork. The paperwork is often redundant which can be frustrating.
High Burnout Rate- Human
service professionals have a high burnout and turnover rate. Based on my
experience, positions in emergency services and crisis management have the
highest burnout rate. Direct care positions in group homes and residential
facilities also have a high burnout rate.
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