As a professional entering the field of public health, there is a lot to consider when searching for a new position. With an online Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, you can feel confident knowing you are equipped for employment across the public health industry. The proper credentials and experience gained with a degree from the University of Nevada, Reno make the job search and application process that much easier.
The next step is tackling the interviews, which can be daunting for even the best-prepared candidate. Prior to sitting down for your interview for a position in the field of public health, consider these tips for securing the position.
1. Showcase your education and training
When you walk into an interview, the ball is in your court. You have the ability to paint a vivid picture of who you are as a person, what professional skills you possess, why you have ambitions in the field and how you would face pressing health issues. Your grades and degrees are already in writing. Go beyond that to show the employer the kind of role you would play in their organization or agency.
The world of public health is never stagnant and as it evolves, careers in the field are changing as well. As a feature article in Forbes explained, technology in healthcare continues to advance and innovation is reshaping the model of patient care as well as disease management. Discuss a situation in which technology helped you streamline processes, create a new method for improving personal and population-based health services or connect people to the care they needed. This will demonstrate how your education prepared you to approach ever-present obstacles in public health policy, healthcare global health.
Don’t be afraid to propose new ideas and solutions for current public health issues. This can lead to discussions that your interviewer will be thinking of long after you’ve walked out the door.
2. Incorporate your professional experience
Even if you have all of the highest test scores and certifications, an employer will still want to know about your hands-on training and experience in the field. A career as a global health worker is a prime example of this. No matter how well versed in vaccines, treatments and protocols you are, you will not be able to learn how to face the numerous unforeseen challenges that arise unless you are in the heart of the epidemic or problem. As the media platform of global development community Devex explained, gaining the necessary attributes to work in global health starts with real exposure and practice.
“Typically, health work done by global development agencies is very project-based and narrow in focus,” CEO of Results for Development Institute Gina Lagomarsino told Devex. “That’s why it’s so important to have some formative experience working on the front line in a health care setting so that you understand the challenges involved in delivering services.”
Take the opportunity to talk about finding solutions to health-related business problems, managing grant projects, collaborating with local law enforcement officials or your experience with public health survey designs. Using anecdotes to highlight your experience as an intern or volunteer can help showcase the wealth of knowledge and critical thinking skills you have gained thus far. These stories can demonstrate how you think and respond to problems or conflict.
3. Be prepared with questions for the interviewer
One of the most basic rules of any interview, no matter the field, is always to be prepared with a list of questions for your interviewer. Asking career-oriented questions, both personal and organization-based, demonstrates not only your interest in the company, but conveys your ambitious and forward-thinking attitude in the field as well. Take this opportunity to express your excitement for innovative approaches to public health and the possibilities for the future. The hiring managers will want to know that their investment in you as an employee is worthwhile and by demonstrating your enthusiasm to take on the biggest challenges in public health, they will see that their time and money invested will in fact pay off.
You can also take the time to ask more straightforward questions regarding advancement, benefits, expectations and organizational culture. By preparing diligently and understanding your fit with the potential employer, you should feel confident and ready to conquer any interview.
Suggested Readings
4 Interesting Job Opportunities for MPH Graduates
What Can You Learn from a Public Health Internship?
University of Nevada, Reno Online Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice
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