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Is work ethic more important than work experience?

Today, we are pondering the question: is work ethic more important than work experience? Carry on reading to find out what our team here at Imperium Solutions think, and why it’s an important question to consider before applying for your next social work role.


Work ethic


When hiring for any role, employers will seek candidates who have a strong work ethic. It’s not rocket science, right? This is especially true in the world of health and social care, as caring for others requires a high level of resilience and determination. In other words, this kind of role is not for the faint-hearted!


With this in mind, many would agree that work ethic overrules work experience as anyone with a willingness to learn will surely be a success.


On the other hand, it could be argued that a candidate might be enthusiastic on paper but risks crumbling under the pressures of what it is really like to be a social worker. We’re talking high caseloads, stressful environments and emotional burnout. Perhaps, then, work experience could be deemed more important than work ethic as it prepares the individual for the realities of the job.


Work experience


As just discussed, work experience is invaluable when it comes to giving people the opportunity to learn more about the social work profession, and more importantly, to find out if it’s for them.


From a recruitment point of view, it is also reassuring to see that the candidate is skilled in the area of work that they are applying for which gives them a somewhat competitive edge over other applicants with less/no experience.


However, there is also the issue of the pandemic, which made work experience next to impossible for most trainee social workers. Thankfully, more employers have been taking this into consideration when hiring grads in recent years.


What’s the verdict?


Overall, it is clear that work experience and work ethic are both important factors to consider when hiring a new employee. In the world of social work, however, most employers require social workers to have completed ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment). In this case, work experience is obviously mandatory. Pair that work experience with emotional intelligence and an ambition to learn and voila! The perfect social worker is made.


Take any experience you can get, but also remember to show off your willingness to learn and your interpersonal skills on your applications because this will help you shine as a potential candidate!


We wish you all the best on your job search - give our consultants a call on 0203 8929 344 today to find out more about our current vacancies.

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