I ventured into the exciting world of travel social work a little over a year ago and I haven’t looked back! I get lots of questions about this career path, but most often I’m asked what I like about it. I decided to share my thoughts on travel social work and what I like the most about it.
1. It Keeps My Career Exciting
I must admit that I’m the type to get bored easily and my career is no exception. Once I figure out what I’m doing and get good at it, it becomes less challenging and I tend to… well, wanna quit. LOL! No, not really quit, but I will sometimes begin to take on more responsibility or other jobs to add a little spice to my work life. Travel social work has given me the opportunity to work with populations that I have been curious about, but didn’t pursue because of the seemingly long-term commitment. I mean, what if I hated it, or just wasn’t good at it? With travel social work, I get to try it out to see if it’s something I’d consider later as a permanent staff position.
2. I Get to Live in Different Cities
Although I’ve traveled away from my home in Alabama, I’ve never lived away from home. My undergraduate university was less than an hour away from the city where I grew up, so that doesn’t really count. I’ve come to learn that there is a huge difference between traveling to visit a different city, and actually living in one. Navigating the best commute, where to find the freshest produce, and locating the social scene and local activities that best fit my interests are few of the challenges I’ve experienced. Actually, I like to think of them more as little adventures; it’s exciting and I enjoy it!
3. Experiencing New People and Cultures
One of the things that my friend and I laugh about is how, on my first assignment, I said that making friends wasn’t even on my radar. It really wasn’t, y’all! What I’d pictured was me going to work, going home, and experiencing a new place on my own, and I was good with that. Well, that first 13 week travel social work assignment led to another, and another, and another in the same city. I stayed almost a year. I met lovely people there, from diverse cultural backgrounds and made lifelong friendships. I was introduced to foods I’d never tried, and celebrated holidays in ways that were not my usual tradition. It was such a beautiful experience and I look forward to having more of them.
4. The Money
So, how much money do travel social workers really make? Well, there are lots of variables involved and I’m still learning. From my experience and observations, what we make depends on the geographical location of the assignment, how understaffed the facility is, the cost of living in the area, the agency you work with, and how well you and your recruiter communicate and work together as a team. Each of my assignments have been roughly 90- 100% or more than my average salary as a permanent staff employee. For me, it works and is helping me to reach my financial goals more easily. However, its important to keep in mind that travel assignments may not always be available where you want them or when you need them or you goal compensation, so it’s important to keep an open mind about where you are willing to travel for work and to save for times when work may not be available.
5. No Work Politics
This may actually be my favorite part of travel social work. When I’m on assignment, I keep in mind that I am not the facility’s permanent staff. I am there usually because there is a staffing deficit and assistance is needed. It’s a relief to know that I’m not competing with someone for the next promotion or taking on extra tasks to prove my value for a raise. I also avoid getting involved in movements to change agency policies or latest office issues. This works for me! My main goal is to take excellent care of my patients, and to fulfill my role competently and honorably.
I’m no travel social work expert by far. There are social workers who have been doing this for many years and know all the ins and outs. However, I’m often asked about my experience, so I decided to share it with you here. I hope this gives you some insight into the world of travel social work!