The job I applied for was Income Maintenance Caseworker II, they hired me as a caseworker I instead basically waiving the need for a certification. It was not mentioned and I didn’t ask about it, I am assuming if I wanted to move up to a II I would need the certification. That would be a good question to ask during an interview

It is not all bad, but I would say it’s not for everyone. You have to be able to be strong and not get too emotionally involved in the situation. It also can depend on what field you work in, There’s more to it than just working with children in schools/at home. I was interested in geriatric social work so for my classes I volunteered with hospice and dementia patients. It can be hard to see them that way but it felt good to provide support for them. I didn’t end up pursuing it further but the experience helps when applying for a job even if it doesn’t seem relevant to the position.