In this article, I report on findings on the perceived fruits of earning postgraduate qualifications among social workers in South Africa. A qualitative research methodology was selected for the study, made up of a purposive sample of some social workers in the employ of the Department of Social Development. Ten social workers without postgraduate qualifications who had five years and above of working experience were interviewed in the Driekop area in the Limpopo province. The data received were analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified, indicating that social workers perceive postgraduate education to be essential for mitigating mediocrity in the field. Postgraduate qualifications were seen as significant in promoting opportunities and advancing skills. On the other hand, it was learnt that in South Africa marginalisation of the social work profession in essence devalued postgraduate qualifications. This study becomes important to employers (retention strategists) and sheds light on the value of pursuing postgraduate education in social work.

Study topic selection and problem formulation are prerequisites in preparing a proposal for conducting research. Writing a research proposal to conduct research (for the first time) is a daunting task for (social work) students. The challenge is enormous despite numerous modules that introduce research to social work students. These problems were noted when student social workers presented their research proposals for the first time: broad and unclear research topics, difficulty in formulating research problems, and conflation of research approaches (qualitative and quantitative). Document analysis method was adopted in order to scrutinize research proposals to identify three key challenges such as topic selection, problem formulation, and research approach at proposal writing stage. A total of 10 fourth year social work students' research proposals were scrutinized. Thematic analysis was used to interpret findings. The study was qualitative in nature and informed by grounded theory as well as socio-cultural theory framework. Recommendations are proffered to mitigate the challenges experienced by social work students.

The current number of social workers in South Africa is worryingly low. Whereas the motives for pursuing social work as a career have been documented, over the course of time things change and it is not possible to know or assume what motivated the current cohort of students. Thus, ongoing research is vital. A document analysis research that was qualitative in nature was undertaken at the University of Limpopo, where a selection test questionnaire in the form of open-ended questions was administered to 141 prospective students. The findings of a thematic analysis indicate that aspirations to pursue social work are influenced by family, school teachers, social workers in the field and a desire for self-healing. Keywords: career paths, prospective social work students, social work profession, University of Limpopo