The occupational aspects of social work analyzed are (1) the type of occupation from the standpoint of authority and sanction, (2) the prestige of social work as a profession, and (3) work satisfactions derived from social work as a profession. The comparative analysis of responses from social workers and university students reveals that the self-image of social work has been transmitted to university students who represent an important element of the public image of social work. The “status dilemma” of social work implied in this analysis gives rise to some concern about the position of an important problem-solving profession in the social structure.