Heart & Hustle: A Day in the Life of a Social Worker

Christopher John’s workdays begin like those of thousands of other professionals: drive to the office, chat with colleagues while grabbing a cup of coffee, check phone messages, review emails.

But as a social worker, he knows the calm likely will not last.

“I could be in the middle of a meeting and get a call from police about a behavioral health crisis,” he said. “I might have to drop everything, head to the street, and deescalate the situation.”

That’s the part of the job you can’t schedule. It’s unpredictable. Sometimes chaotic. But Chris wouldn’t have it any other way.

More than a job

Social work demands agility, empathy, and a deep understanding of human behavior and the systems that shape our lives. It also offers something rare: immense personal reward.

“I like the challenge,” Chris says. “One day it’s budgets, and the next it’s a person in crisis, or someone struggling with mental illness. The diversity in this profession is unmatched.”

And the impact of a social worker often extends far beyond a single moment.

Early in his career, Chris had a patient who’d spent more than a decade incarcerated. After receiving treatment, housing support, and peer services, that person stabilized—and eventually became a peer advocate.

Today, he and Chris work closely together.

“He went from being my patient to being my colleague,” Chris says. “That transformation is what this work is all about.”

A career without limits

A social worker might specialize in mental health, developmental disabilities, addiction services, criminal justice, education, policy, or healthcare administration. The settings are just as varied: hospitals, schools, nonprofits, government agencies, private practice, or community organizations.

“With a bachelor’s degree, you can begin working right away,” Chris explains. “Pursuing a master’s degree opens the door to clinical practice, and expands your opportunities. And if you want to lead, teach, or shape systems? That’s where you need a doctorate.”

If the idea of becoming a doctor in social work is new to you, you’re not alone. Chris didn’t initially realize how far the profession could take him.

“I went back and earned my doctorate in social work, and now I focus on leadership, administration, and education.”

For anyone considering social work, that flexibility matters. It’s a field that grows with you. Your career can evolve alongside your passions.

“If your first job isn’t perfect, you’re not stuck,” Chris says. “You can shift. You can specialize. There’s always room to grow.”

Resilience is required

That ability to shift and change is important, because social workers step into people’s lives during their most vulnerable moments. That’s a weighty responsibility, and the only way to do that well is to take care of yourself first.

“Self-care isn’t optional,” Chris insists. “It’s critical.”

Social work education reinforces the idea that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Students learn to monitor their own mental wellness, and are provided with the tools they need to care for themselves while caring for others.

Chris learned about the emotional toll of the profession from an intro to social work lecture in college—but he still fell in love with it right away.

“I always knew I wanted to help people, though I wasn’t quite sure how,” Chris says. “And then I discovered how powerful support can be. I gave two men who had been chronically homeless their first key to a home. That changed me, and I knew for sure this is what I was meant to do.”

Could social work be your calling?

And after 24 years as a social worker, Chris remains positive he’s exactly where he is supposed to be.

“I’ve never had a day where I felt I’d learned it all,” he says. “Every day is a new opportunity to grow, to change lives, to be part of something bigger than myself.”

For anyone considering a career in social work, Chris’s advice is simple: “Try it.”

The work will continue to evolve as society evolves, so there will always be something to learn or improve. If you’re drawn to helping people navigate tough times, or have a passion for making change, social work may be the calling for you.

“This profession gives back,” Chris says, “not just to the world, but to you, too.”