VFU- en väg in i arbetslivet? : En kvalitativ studie som behandlar arbetsgivares värderingar av erfarenheter från verksamhetsförlagd utbildning.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the employability of newly graduated social workers is affected by the Supervised Practical Work Experience performed during the educational program. Four main questions were developed in order to establish an educated and concise theory: Does the newly graduated social worker’s choice of a specific Supervised Practical Work Experience affect their employability? Does the structure of the Supervised Practical Work Experience affect newly graduated social worker’s employability? What specific skills do employers within social work consider important for their organization? Is there a difference in how the representatives of various organizations within social work answer the aforementioned questions? The study was conducted through six qualitative semi-structured interviews. The people being interviewed work either as employers or recruiters in organizations from different areas within social work. Theories concerning organization and symbolic interactions were used during the analysis of the results. The results show that there is no direct link between newly graduated social worker’s employability and the Supervised Practical Work Experience performed during the educational program. However, there are indications that show that if the applicant has done their Supervised Practical Work Experience at the specific department that is advertising vacancies, then it can have a positive impact on employment opportunities at the given agency. There are differences between the participants in the study when it comes to what skills and experiences that are being highly valued