Questions to Ask Yourself
There are many nonclinical and clinical healthcare career paths that will allow you to help individuals and your community. To narrow down what paths might be a good fit for you, reflect on the following questions:
- What is the impact or effect that I want to have on my community? What does “having an impact” mean to me?
- What interests me about careers in public health?
- What motivates me to pursue a career in this field?
- How do I envision myself “helping people”?
- What steps have I taken to explore healthcare? Are there areas I gravitate towards–if so, why?
- What are some factors I am considering as I explore different career paths? (direct patient care, research, advocacy, administrative, education requirements, cost, salary, availability of jobs, opportunities for advancement, etc.).
Career Exploration
- Informational Interviewing as a Tool to Explore Health Studies Careers: Informational interviewing is one of the easiest and most valuable tools to help you learn about careers and career paths. This resource includes strategies to reach out to interviewees and questions to prepare for them.
- What Can I Do With This Major? This tool will help you explore career options and strategies related to academic programs. When viewing a major/area of study, you can see typical career areas, types of jobs and employers, and strategies to prepare yourself for those career paths.
- “What are You Going to Do with Your Health Studies Degree?” It can be challenging to answer this inevitable question. Use this resource to help you explore the skills you’re developing in this major and how to have a confident response.
- ExploreHealthCareers.org
- Career One Stop (U.S. Department of Labor) – Health Science Occupation List
Resumes
Resumes for Public Health & Health Studies Students: This document highlights everything you need including formatting, content, and samples from graduates of your major.