Harvard School of Public Health Career Guide

Once you have identified your skills you will be better equipped to develop an appropriate career focus as well as articulate your strengths when networking and during interviews. STEP 2: INVESTIGATION OF CAREER OPTIONS Suggested Timeline: October-December The next step is to identity resources, gather market information, and evaluate career options. Your task is to find information and target organizations that meet your specific requirements. When evaluating an opportunity, you will want to learn about the culture, mission, areas of specialization, major accomplishments, and current developments or issues in the field. Key questions to explore include: • What are examples of career paths in the field? • What are typical titles and job descriptions and which are of interest to me? • What kinds of work environments do they offer? • Are the culture, mission, environment, and job responsibilities consistent with my skills, values, and interests? • Where can I make contacts for internships, fellowships, or permanent job opportunities? • Is there sufficient opportunity and growth potential? • How can I best prepare myself to be competitive in this field? The HSPH Career Services Office facilitates this step with: individual career counseling, career coaching, employer presentations, career workshops, current job listings, and Career Compass - the Harvard alumni career advisory network. Students are also encouraged to seek information or advice from their faculty advisor, fellow students, or former colleagues, and may find useful

information on the Internet or on the CSO Website. STEP 3: FOCUS AND GOAL SETTING Suggested Timeline: December/January Now that you have conducted the necessary research and understand the options available to you it is time to focus on the career options that you have identified. Carefully review all of the career options consistent with your training and experience. You will want to continue to explore each option through conversations with professionals in the field and discussions with faculty and your advisor. It is important to gain a realistic picture of what the work is like, the career path, the level of opportunity in the field, and what the future will hold. Write down your career goals. This will help you to clearly explain to prospective employers and individuals in your network the type of position you are seeking. Now that you have further analyzed your options and chosen your career path, it is time to proceed to the job search stage of the process. The HSPH Career Services Office can help with individual career counseling and offers various career assessment tools to facilitate career decision-making. STEP 4: NETWORKING Suggested Timeline: November-February and ongoing throughout your career Networking is the process of developing relationships with people who can provide current career information in your specific field of interest. Approximately seventy percent of all jobs are secured through the networking process. Networking gives you access to what is called the "hidden job market." These are the jobs which are filled through personal contacts, referrals,

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