Search

AbstractThis article compares factors affecting the choice(s) to become social workers made by students on two qualifying social work programmes in Canada and the UK. Quantitative data from an ongoing international research project provide an overview of students' choices in relation to their gender, age and ethnicity, while qualitative data from the same project illuminate the complexity of the decision making process. Our findings challenge some commonplace assumptions about the social work profession and the motivations and dilemmas that social work students encounter prior to and during their training. The implications for social work educating and training are potentially far-reaching.

AbstractThe significance of ‘life experience’ for career choice has emerged as a key finding in our study of social work students at a British university. This article analyses those ‘life experiences’ which students identify as influencing their decision to become social workers. The findings raise questions about the status of ‘life experience’ as a form of knowledge in social work. They also point to the complex relationships between ‘life experiences’ and motivations to pursue a social work career. It is argued that ‘life experiences’ significantly influence social work practice and education, and although often overlooked, they provide a potentially valuable resource for promoting professional practice.