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The coronavirus pandemic has , forcing the Class of 2020 to enter the worst job market since the Great Depression.听

But many companies have during the crisis, and the demand for , , and social workers has increased.听

The shortly after COVID-19 began to spread across the United States in March, according to Glassdoor, the site that enables users to rate and search for jobs. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the number of employed social workers will rise 11 percent by 2028, which will nearly double the average growth of all other occupations.听

鈥淭he social workers who have been there to support marginalized individuals, families, neighborhoods, and greater communities before the collective crisis will be there during and after and are just one group of social service workers who show up for people in times of need,鈥� says Michael Grinnell, a therapist who received his master鈥檚 degree from the Boston College School of Social Work in 2016. 鈥淭he collective crisis has heightened the demanding work some social workers already endure, and until there are more equitable systemic changes, the support these social workers offer will continue to be invaluable.鈥�

Grinnell teamed up with three fellow graduates of the School of Social Work to create听in 2019 to explore racial equality, mental health, and culture through a lens focused on the experiences of people of color. Here, three of the four co-hosts of the podcast provide some tips for newly minted social workers to find jobs, manage stress, and care for clients in the middle of the pandemic.听

Find a good mentor

Josh McNeil, who graduated in 2015, advises newly minted social workers to find a good mentor who embodies the skills and values that they have learned to appreciate. He says that Hubie Jones, who served as dean of the Boston University School of Social Work from 1977 to 1993, told him that all women and people of color who enter the field need a mentor.听

鈥淔ind someone more senior than you professionally, tap into them, and bounce ideas off of them,鈥澨齭ays McNeil, an outpatient therapist who treats clients at听听a mental health and substance abuse treatment facility in Dorchester, Massachusetts, dedicated to men and their families.听鈥淚t鈥檚 good to tap into people who love and support you.鈥�

Ace the job interview听

Marvin Toliver, who graduated in 2016, says that social workers should research employers before job interviews, ask thoughtful questions during interviews, and share examples of professional experiences that show their ability to solve problems in difficult situations.听 听

鈥淪ell yourself,鈥� says Toliver, who provides therapy to historically marginalized clients at the in Philadelphia. 鈥淏e prepared to share stories of challenges you faced and what you did to meet your goals.鈥�

Grinnell, who provides therapy to students who attend Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, advises job candidates to find out how many cases they will have and what the most challenging aspects of the job will be. He also suggests they chat with their potential colleagues to get a feel for the culture of the organization. 鈥淎sk questions to learn about the office culture and assess whether it seems like a collaborative and supportive environment,鈥� says Grinnell.

McNeil, for his part, recommends job candidates ask hiring managers to explain where their organization will be in five years. 鈥淵ou can gain insight into where you鈥檙e working,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f they don鈥檛 have an answer, maybe they won鈥檛 be around.鈥�

Take care of yourself

Studies show that at some point in their careers. Experts identify 鈥攖he physical and emotional strain placed on caregivers who are regularly exposed to traumatized patients鈥攁s one of the primary factors that contribute to the phenomenon.

鈥淪ocial work can consume you and become centered in your identity,鈥� says Grinnell. 鈥淭he day-to-day challenges of navigating different systems of power is emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausting.鈥澨�

McNeil encourages social workers to unwind by doing things that they enjoy. That might mean working out, listening to music, or taking a hot shower.听

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e not working, get as far away from your job as you can because you don鈥檛 want to burn out,鈥� he says. 鈥淗ave fun, live life.鈥�

Build a support system听

McNeil advises new social workers to stay in touch with the friends they鈥檝e made in their MSW program. Even if two social workers are working on opposite ends of the country, they can still discuss the challenges and joys of their new jobs.听

鈥淭ext them, call them, visit them,鈥� McNeil says.

Grinnell says that social workers who see unacceptable behavior or hear unacceptable language in the workplace should document the transgression or inform their supervisor. Social workers could also talk to a therapist or tap into the employee assistance program at work to find a counselor who can help them navigate office politics, says McNeil.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to hear things that are disheartening,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut you may say things, too, so you have to realize that what you say affects people.鈥�

Provide culturally sensitive support听

Nearly 70 percent of active social workers identify as white, according to a published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019.听

Toliver recommends white social workers explore the communities they serve in order to provide culturally sensitive support to clients from minority backgrounds, including those who identify as Asian, Latinx, or African American.

鈥淔olks should always be learning and always be doing research in order to fully understand their clients,鈥� he says. 鈥淓very community is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all model, piece of literature, or person who has all of the answers. Community members know their communities and can speak on their experiences best.鈥�