18. Tech Social Work with Leslie Taylor, MSW

What this episode covers

In this episode, I’m talking with Leslie Taylor, MSW, about what it looks like to leave traditional social work and build a career in tech, and specifically in the growing field of Trust and Safety. Leslie shares her career journey from intensive in-home therapy to working at organizations like Snap and Adobe. We get into what Trust and Safety actually means, how social workers are already equipped for this work, and why more of us should be exploring this path (especially if we’re feeling stuck, underpaid, or burned out 👀). We also chat about salary ranges and how to start looking for these kinds of roles, even if you don’t have previous experience in tech. This conversation is full of insight for anyone considering a nontraditional path with their MSW. Takeaways From This Episode: What Trust and Safety work involves and how it connects to core social work skills The kinds of companies hiring for these roles and what they’re actually looking for Common job titles to search for if you’re exploring a career pivot Practical advice on how to reposition your experience and update your resume for tech roles How Leslie approached negotiating her salary Mentioned resources: Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/tech-social-work (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. (This post has extra resources that were not shared in the episode, thanks to Leslie!) https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialworktowealth (TikTok), https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (YouTube). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.