Hi all!

I'm looking for advice particularly from social workers in Ontario, but any and all words of wisdom and encouragement are welcome. :)

I'll be graduating with my BSW in June and am really excited to start my career as a social worker. I currently live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and at the end of May I'm moving to Ontario (Oakville for the summer, then who knows where after that - possibly Hamilton?).

This is my first ever big move and while I'm trying to embrace change, I'm also really apprehensive because it's uncharted territory and I'm worried about finding a social work job, or at the very least a social work-related job in a place that I am quite unfamiliar with. I have begun doing some research about local resources in the GTA, but it's overwhelming compared to the small city that I live in and I'm worried my lack of knowledge will hinder my ability to find a job and be an effective social worker to my clients. Where do I begin?

I completed my 700-hour placement on an acute care mental health inpatient unit and absolutely loved it; my role there mostly involved conducting needs assessments and discharge planning. Prior to my placement, I've worked as a child and youth worker with at-risk youth (summer camps and after school programs) and I've also volunteered at a local shelter for those experiencing homelessness.

I will graduate with a 3.9 GPA and would like to pursue a MSW a couple years down the road, but right now I think I'd prefer to gain more experience in the field to bolster my practice skills. My main area of interest is mental health (broad, I know) and ultimately, I would love to be a school social worker or hospital social worker. However, I also think that I could feel fulfilled in many different social work contexts. If any of you live and practice in Ontario, I'd love to pick your brains.

Thanks in advance!