Job Hunting Tips for Graduates with a Public Health Degree

 

A Public Health career is a stairway to self-fulfillment, and a job is a step on that stairway.

 

1.                  Know thyself – size your fit

a.       Who are you?

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Personality.htm

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Temperament.htm

b.      Public health is diverse, but what exactly do you want to do?

·        Academic background

·        Work background

·        Not just health departments….

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Career.htm

 

2.                  Start & Maintain a Resume File – it’s all about skill sets

a.       Education history (list the dates for reference – will be checked)

b.      Continuing Ed

c.       Work history (everything counts, even unpaid positions)

d.      Skill Sets

·        Think keywords

·        Be specific, especially with computer and analytical skills

·        Special talents – only you can do, and do well

·         

e.       Program experience

·        Name and funding sources

·        Job titles

·        Projects you have worked on (dates)

·        Exact role in the project

·        Accomplishments – what did you change?

·        Committees you were part of (dates)

·        Exact role

·        Accomplishments

f.        Job experience

·        Actual vs. functional job titles

·        Appointments to special projects and committees (dates)

·        By whom and for what

g.       References

·        Professors

·        Former employers

·        Former supervisors

·        Staff from where you volunteer

 

3.                  What is a Public Health Career?

a.       http://www.bettycjung.net/Phcareers.htm

 

4.                  Talk to Someone the Field – PHENOM Program

a.       http://www.bettycjung.net/Phenom.htm

b.      Provides overview of professionals in the field

c.       E-mail to set up an appointment to do a phone interview

d.      NOT a source for jobs

 

5.                  Online Job Search

a.       Not the only option, but a good start

b.      Scan the Job landscape

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Phjobs.htm

c.       Sign up for Job alerts

·        Subscribe to Public Health E-News

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Genjob.htm

d.      Submit your information to a company database

·        Cut and paste from resume file to relevant fields

·        The key – keywords!

e.       Know What’s Out There

·        Match your work history to what’s out there

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Jobindex.htm

·        Narrow your fields of interest

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Specjob.htm

f.        Experience counts, but maxes out at 5 years

 

6.                  Applying for job

a.       If you can do 75% of the job description – apply

b.      Be on time for interviews

c.       ALWAYS send a thank you note to your interviewers within 24 hours!

 

7.                  Job Sources

a.       Friends, acquaintances, classmates

b.      Professional meetings

c.       Job fairs

d.      Internet Postings

·        CT DAS

·        http://www.bettycjung.net/Ctjobs.htm

e.       Job alerts from potential employers

f.        SCSU Career Center’s – JOBs

g.       Newspapers