(7/2014) I've recently been accepted into Southern's MPH program for the upcoming fall semester. I currently am working as a Surgical Technologist, however I am seeking to change careers and work within the Public Health sector. I am in desperate need of assistance in securing a position that would allow me to gain experience within my field of interest (Health Promotion), but have yet to be successful in obtaining a position.
I am interested in the area of Health Promotion in order to bridge my clinical background in health care with my educational experience in order to advocate for patients by working within the health system as a Corporate Compliance Officer, Health Program Consultant or Regulator Officer for example. I've been in the field of Health Care for over 13 years and I believe that the best way to improve a system is to ask the people who work in the system. They're the ones that live it everyday on the front lines. This is my passion and purpose for pursuing my degree.
(C.U., Connecticut)
I would get a minor in communications along with your MPH. I believe that strategic communications, and even strategic logistics would help you gain a credibility, foothold and value in the work you want to do. Look at even the example of virus and how it opened doors to embracing change and difference in everything from an amoeba to every living creature. How ideas diffuse and penetrate a society is powerful and recognized now when they "get legs", or "go viral!" Putting the "Public" and "Health" in public health is what it sounds like you want to do and that is very attractive. Ask people what tools you might need or be able to use best. Video and mindfulness training come to mind, assertiveness, group communications. Best of luck!!In love and health, Eric Triffin, MPH, The TranscenDancer
Congratulations on being accepted to graduate school! You will have some interesting years ahead. I think you are going to need to work a little while longer in what you are doing now (surgical technologist) before you can find a position in the field of public health. While you have a good health services work background, positions in health promotion require the skills you will be learning in graduate school, such as program planning, implementation and evaluation, etc.
As you mentioned, you have not been successful in your search, probably in part to not having the requisite skills. But, once you have earned your MPH degree, you will be in a better place to get a job in Public Health. The earliest you can start thinking of working in public health would be during your graduate internship. By the time you can take the internship you would have had the basic courses necessary for developing the skills you will need to make the most of an internship.
You will most likely have to look for a site yourself, so it will be just like looking for job, except you will have a better chance of getting something than you would now. Before then you will need to explore what it is that you really want to do. From your question and information provided, I sense that you will need to explore what you mean by health promotion, as that is not the usual strategy used by those who work as a "Corporate Compliance Officer, Health Program Consultant or Regulator Officer." Two of these positions are regulatory in nature, and will probably require additional education and/or certification and/or licensure. To be able to call yourself a "Health Program Consultant" would require that you have at least 5 to 10 years of work experience in health promotion/education programming.
While Health Promotion is a major buzzword in Public Health, and can theoretically mean anything that would advance the Public's Health, on a more practical level, it involves health education and health communication strategies in developing programs to address the current public health issues of the day. It is mostly education-based that involves raising the awareness of the community about an issue that is affecting their health and requires the community to make not only policy and environmental changes, but enable personal health behavior changes as well. So, in this context, working in compliance and regulation would be conceptually divergent from what health promotion is meant to do.
May I suggest you contact one of our PHENOM mentors, Mary Nescott, who is a Quality and Compliance Officer, to learn more about what such a role entails and what kind of specialized training, beyond the MPH, you would need to do this kind of work. You can also contact other mentors listed on the Phenom Directory to learn about what you they do as that will help you to better plan for what you need to learn before looking for a job in Public Health. You can E-mail them and set up a phone interview, which works best, as all of them are busy professionals, but have volunteered to provide mentoring to those interested in the field. (Betty)
(1/2014) I'm a recent college grad interested in the public health field. I've been accepted to a MPH program and am debating my start date. As professionals in the field, how much value do you place on full time / public health related work experience for an MPH grad searching for a job? Would you hire someone with the degree but no full time work experience? Your input is greatly appreciated. (K.B., Massachusetts, via LinkedIn)
An expectation of graduate education is learning from your peers while enriching the education of those around you! Two to five years of work experience after completing your undergraduate education should provide adequate time for assessing what you want to do with the rest of your life. Having the work experience will put you on par with more experienced classmates, or, what you would refer to as colleagues in graduate school. The continual interaction between work experience and graduate education is invaluable in helping you to learn what you will need to apply to, hopefully, a higher level of public health practice when you have completed graduate studies. There are things you simply cannot learn from the classroom setting.
(8/2013) I would like to know where I stand in terms of the amount of public health job experience that I have. Will it be good enough to be considered at competitive MPH programs right out of undergrad? (Currently working on bachelor's degree) [D.S., MD]
Thanks for posting the question. I do recommend that you get some job experience before you pursue your MPH. The benefits of gaining some post-grad job experience go beyond potentially increasing your chances for admission to a graduate program. The opportunities to build your professional network, learn essential on the job skills and to explore areas of public health that you may not have otherwise considered, are definitely valuable. Some employers will even offer you tuition reimbursement for pursuing additional education.
Two years of experience will provide you with a good foundation and can make the graduate experience meaningful, especially when you can relate and apply what you learn in class to your professional role. Good luck!(Naralys Estevez)
Congratulations on choosing public health! It is a great field to be in as it continues to evolve. If you are not sure where you want to end up, I would encourage you to apply to become a CDC Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) Fellow. This program provides 2 years of paid training with various public health providers across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam.
We are hosting our first PHAP Fellow. I believe the minimum requirement is a bachelor's degree. This gives you an opportunity to explore the field of public health in action, get hands on / in the field work, as well as having the potential (depending on openings) to be hired at the CDC. I believe it will also market your skills.
To learn more visit: https://wwwn.cdc.gov/FMS/phap/hostsite/HomePage.aspx
I hope this helps. If you are thinking of applying take note there is a deadline. For the health of it, (Nola Goodrich-Kresse, MS, MCHES; Public Health Educator / PIO; Orleans County Health Department; Albion, NY)
I'm a big supporter of working before going back to get a Master's degree. Having some work experience will really help put what you are learning into perspective. She'll have "real life" experience. Just my thoughts. I hope they help. (Krista Legg)
I guess it depends on what sector she would be considering working in as well as the public health climate of the state she intends to pursue a career. Right now is pretty tough on public health with the economy as it is as we, in public health know, is the first thing to be cut. The sequestration is making it even more difficult. I think someone in Maryland would be the best to answer this question for her. (Danielle Orcutt)
Since the emphasis of a public health career is on practice, work experience
is of vital importance in the education process. So, the more work experience you bring to your graduate education, the more you can benefit from it. Public Health graduate education can learn from another graduate education program that is known for its value for the industry that such a graduate degree would prepare them for - the MBA. Here is a brief quote:
"I have to admit that I agree with admissions officers who reject inexperienced applicants. The whole objective in assembling a business school class is to put together people who can share unique experiences from their industries. If you have two years in your industry and another applicant has five years in the same business, I'm going to take the more experienced candidate over you, even if his GMAT score is a little lower than yours."
Source: http://www.mbaapplicant.com/5_experience.htm
My suggestion is to get at least 2 years of work experience in, and even more won't hurt, in fact, it will definitely help. Those with work experience have a competitive edge in graduate school because graduate school is not undergraduate school. Professors in graduate courses expect students not only to be learning from them, but from their classmates as well. So, if you have classmates who can talk about work experiences pertaining to what you are learning, it really enriches everyone's learning.
Furthermore, there really is no "deadline" (unlike undergraduate education) in which you must apply after completing your undergraduate degree. If you have good grades AND years of relevant work experience, you will be able to get into a competitive MPH program. However, you should look for CEPH accreditation for graduate public health schools and programs, and if they are accredited by CEPH, they should provide you with a quality public health education.
Finally, if you can continue to work through graduate school, you will have a leg up on the competition when you finally look for a full-time job. If not, most programs require an internship so the student can get some "work experience" they can put on the resume while being exposed to the field.
According to a Chronicle.com study about employer expectations for college graduates, those who have work experience have the edge. After all, earning a graduate degree will provide you with opportunities at positions that require an MPH, but you will be back to the same situation that an undergraduate graduate has to deal with when job hunting, the one with more work experience is valued more by a potential employer. So, all that work experience you bring into your graduate education will benefit you, as well, in the long run. If you are interested in the Chronicle.com's report, I have written a series of blog postings highlighting the poignant points of the report at 2013 Public Health Blog. Best wishes for a long and fruitful Public Health career! (Betty)
(8/2013) Importance of work experience before grad school? Thanks in advance! Hi all! I'm a recent college grad interested in the public health field. I've been accepted to a MPH program and am debating my start date. As professionals in the field, how much value do you place on full time / public health related work experience for an MPH grad searching for a job? Would you hire someone with the degree but no full time work experience? Your input is greatly appreciated. [Katie B. MA via LinkedIn APHA group]
In today's tough economy, employers are extremely interested in potential employees who can come on board, ready and willing, up and running. Money is tight, and of course they will be willing to train, but they would rather have people who already have as many of the requisite skills they are looking for. And, most of the time, you get these skills from work experiences.
Ideally you should look at your time during school as prime opportunities to obtain as much work experience as possible. Studies have shown that hiring managers favor those who have worked while they were in school. It tells employers a lot about a person who can balance school with work. Only those who have good organizational skills can manage to stay on top of things. Multitasking is highly valued.
So, while you are in school, complete an internship or two, get involved with projects and volunteer work in which you can develop some skills you can talk about on your resume.
Also, may I suggest to check out the PHENOM (Public Health Expertise Network of Mentors) program that comprise of 59 volunteer public health professionals who would be willing to talk to you further about their experiences. You can see biosketches at http://www.bettycjung.net/Phenom.htm
Or, you can check out the sorted listings by job title, geography and work settings at http://www.bettycjung.net/Phenomlistings.htm
Nothing beats talking to someone already working in the field. They can provide you with insight and guidance to the public health field, which is extremely diverse. (Betty)
(12/2012) With MPH from India I find it hard to find job, How can I get relevant paid experience in Health Promotion? [Mississauga/Ontario/Canada]
Obviously, it is hard to find a suitable position with the degrees from
other countries like India. Based on my experiences there are two important
aspects influence the opportunities in North America (N.A.)
1. educational curriculum and training particularly in public health is
completely different from Americas.
2. lack of networking with scientific communities.
So, having a degree (related) from N.A. (North American) universities will increase the opportunities and during study/research period you can have interactions with scientists at different conferences (as a poster/podium presenter). There are so many immigrants, who got the positions after education in N.A.
Hope this helps. Dr. Venkata Duvvuri
I agree with Dr. Duvvuri. When it comes to professional preparation, it's best to get your academic preparation from the country you are currently residing in. For example, physicians with an MBBS, which is the medical degree in many countries, cannot practice Medicine in the U.S. without going through an examination process to determine their ability to complete a residency in the U.S. before they can practice medicine. And, then they must complete a residency program. Here are Immigration Guidelines for foreign born physicians.
The best way to get experience is usually through internship programs that are part of an academic institution. You would have to be a student in a program and completing an internship would be fulfilling the requirements for the degree. However, these are not always paying positions. Another way to gain experience would be to volunteer for an organization that provides health education or health promotion interventions. (Betty)
(9/17/2012) I'm very excited about this link,thank you so much. I did my MPH awhile ago,graduated in 2006 but have not had a chance to work in the field. Was raising a family and accompanying my husband to different posts all over the world. I am wondering what courses I could take now to jumpstart my public health career? (Miriam Flamigni, originally posted on LinkedIn's APHA group)
Thanks, Miriam, for your comment. Public health practice covers many areas. It would really depend on what you are interested in doing. What have you already worked in? Did you enjoy it? Were there skills you didn't have then that you wished you had then? Another more practical way would be to see what is out there now in the job market. I always find perusing job postings to be quite educational. Employers usually tell you exactly what they are looking for. So, if you see something you like, you can ask yourself, do I have the skills to do the job? That is where you can start. Subscribe to PHENOM's free jobs listserv and start researching!
http://www.bettycjung.net/Jobindex.htm (9/17/2012)
(2/2011) What is a best way to get entry level experience in Epidemiology? Most jobs require more than two years experience. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. [C., Atlanta, GA]
I would say a MPH or Phd.should be able to get you to at least an entry level position, or an assistant to one. As I sought new ventures, connections, etc., I have discovered that the city and state health offices/departments, the CDC, etc., are usually the best places to start applying. Alternatively, if at all possible, becoming a part/full time volunteer or intern could also land you that position. By proving yourself, showing dedication, committment, and hard work, one could be on his/her way to a salaried position in a fairly short time. Take care and Good Luck! Regards, Judith (Mairs-Levy)
These are hard economic times. Most recently, public sector employers are beginning to lay off workers who used to have more job security than those in other sectors. Basically, there is no such thing as job security these days. So, I would suggest you broaden your search for gaining work experience. If you are still in school, take advantage of any internships that may be available in areas that stress scientific and analytical skills.
Epidemiologists are really scientists and they apply the principles of scientific inquiry and research principles in what they do on a daily basis. They are expected to be proficient in data management, data analysis and report writing, so being comfortable with using a computer is absolutely essential. They must know how to use a word processing software program, a presentation software program, a spread sheet program and a data management program. With the advent of desktop mapping capabilities, having a basic understanding of GIS and being able to use at least one mapping program would be an asset, especially if you are interested in the areas of environmental epidemiology.
If you are not computer proficient, then take some basic courses in computer skills. Any educational or continuing education courses that cover these skills would be worth your while.
Also, you should be proficient in using the Internet to manage online data sources. Many federal data sets are becoming available online because many government agencies are working to make the data they compile for planning purposes available to the public. Some of these agencies have online tools that you can use to develop your own data sets for analysis from what they have available online, or you can even conduct analyses online to answer your particular question. This is a very new area of statistical and epidemiologic expertise. Just learning to be familiar with what is available can take time, but will be worth your while to explore. A prime example of this is the CDC's Health Data Interactive. You can also check my U.S. Federal Government Statistics Sites page to get an idea of data sources currently available from the federal government.
I stress having these basic skills because having a skill set that you can apply right away in any workplace that is looking for an epidemiologist, or public health researcher, or data analyst or database manager will give you an edge in a very competitive job market. In any job opportunity you may get, always think of what you can learn from that job that you can add to your skill set. It may be the only concrete asset you can take away from a job and the most productive way to manage your career growth in an economy that no longer believes longevity on the job is an asset to the company. Best wishes. (Betty)
(5/2010) What type of work experience would be beneficial to have before applying for graduate programs in public health? [T.B., New York]
Work experience is always an asset for applying to graduate school. I would recommend working for at least 2 years before thinking about going back to school for a graduate degree. Because Public Health is such a broad field it is always helpful to decide what it is you want out of a career in Public Health. Are you pursuing a graduate degree to improve your knowledge and skills so you can compete in your current job setting, or are you looking to change fields entirely?
Usually, a graduate degree in Public Health (PH) can be seen as an add-on for those working in the medical field already (e.g., doctors, nurses, allied health professionals), or in the basic science fields (e.g., chemists, biologists, vets, etc.). Having the PH graduate degree will provide advancement opportunities in their current fields. Having work experience in these areas are an asset for applying.
A PH graduate degree can refine the career focus of those working in the social science and public service fields (e.g., social workers, public sector professionals), and can provide additional employment opportunities outside of their current work settings. Having work experience in these areas are an asset, also.
Of course, if you want make a career change, you would really need to assess what you really want to do with a PH graduate degree. You would need to know what people with a PH degree are doing these days. You can contact a mentor listed in the PHENOM Directory to conduct an informational interview to learn more about what they do. You can check out where they work as listed in Careers in Public Health - What Do Public Health Professionals Do? and find out more about the various settings and if you think you may like working in such settings.
At the same time, you can research the various schools that offer a PH graduate degree and see if they would be willing to give you some names of alumni who have finished the program to find out what they are doing and if they are happy with their chosen field.
Half the time, I think people just don't spend enough time thinking about who they are before making career choices and if the fit is not there, then they are unhappy. Eventually you will need to work in a career that suits your temperament to experience job satisfaction. Learn more about how your personality affects your career on the Personality Page.
Finally, whatever work experience you have is always an asset to graduate studies. You will bring fresh perspectives from what you have been doing into the classroom and enrich the learning experiences of those around you. And, if you can match what you have been doing to something in some the Public Health field, then that would be useful, too. For example, if you currently work with numbers all the time, making a change to concentrate on Epidemiology is a natural progression (at least in my mind). Or, if you have been teaching in some form or manner, making a change to health promotion and health education would put you in the forefront of public health education. (Betty)
(3/2009) I am new to the field of public health; I graduated 2/2008 with an MPH degree. My back ground is social work in the managed care industry. My career interest is program management.What experience or additional skills to I need to be marketable for an entry level position? [C.N., California]
I AM NOT REALLY IN THAT PART OF OUR FIELD BUT WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU NONETHELESS. First, you are doing a smart thing by asking, and do that at every job interview along with a request for other leads and contacts. Then, just generically, and I think I hear that from you already, express the love you have for the field and the opportunities it provides for meaningful work. You know you want to love what you do by doing what you love, and as the Beatles said : "The love you give is the love you get!" Best of luck! P. S. I sometimes picture myself as a Public Health Superhero but when I go in the phone booth to change into my superhero outfit I just come out the same but with a mirror to show people their own super-ness! We each have a light to shine and showing people that spark in themselves is indeed a high calling, and one that health educators and others play at quite often. (Eric Triffin, MPH)
