Social and Community Service Workers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Social and Community Service Managers

Management Occupations

Other Management Occupations

Establish and maintain relationships with other agencies and organizations in community to meet community needs and to ensure that services are not duplicated.

Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as budgets, personnel records, or training manuals.

Direct activities of professional and technical staff members and volunteers.

Evaluate the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that programs are of appropriate quality and that resources are used effectively.

Establish and oversee administrative procedures to meet objectives set by boards of directors or senior management.

Participate in the determination of organizational policies regarding such issues as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits.

Research and analyze member or community needs to determine program directions and goals.

Speak to community groups to explain and interpret agency purposes, programs, and policies.

Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff.

Represent organizations in relations with governmental and media institutions.

Plan and administer budgets for programs, equipment, and support services.

Analyze proposed legislation, regulations, or rule changes to determine how agency services could be impacted.

Act as consultants to agency staff and other community programs regarding the interpretation of program-related federal, state, and county regulations and policies.

Direct fundraising activities and the preparation of public relations materials.

Provide direct service and support to individuals or clients, such as handling a referral for child advocacy issues, conducting a needs evaluation, or resolving complaints.

Implement and evaluate staff, volunteer, or community training programs.

10-key calculators

Desktop computers

Laptop computers

Multi-line telephone systems

Personal computers

Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge

Client information databases

Corel QuattroPro

Corel WordPerfect Office Suite

FileMaker Pro

Financial accounting software

Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS

IBM Lotus 1-2-3

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Visual FoxPro

Microsoft Word

Oracle Reports

PointClickCare HER

Presentation software

Web browser software

Start at the bottom, and work your way up.  The things you will learn will be invaluable as you climb the ladder.  No matter what, just start!  Inaction or paralysis by analysis are killers.

 The few years I spent in college greatly impacted my ability to rise to where I am today.  It’s not a degree that has gotten me here (I don’t have one), it is what I learned, and what I learned about myself in college that has propelled me.

There really is no “typical” day in my work, which is a great thing!  As is often the case in nonprofit work, I wear many hats, and lead a diverse team.  We develop land, build homes, operate a large retail operation, lend mortgages, and provide social services.  Each day is a unique mix of some or all of these things.

Executive Director

You can’t make a career of nonprofit work

Mark Van Lue

Executive Director

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Non-Profit Organizations

Business

Helping People

Day to Day

Skills & Qualities Beyond School

Advice for Getting Started

Recommended Education

My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Myself:

Challenges I Overcame

First-Generation College Student