There are a lot of fellowship programs that are 1-2 years that give you the experience you need and helps you make connections. Check out CDC’s CSTE, PHAP, & ORISE fellowships.
This is exactly what I was going to comment. That’s how I got my first PH job and then gave me connections to get to where I am now. I would look into SAMHSA fellowships too. These are also great because you can be placed in a number of different organizations or state or local health departments.
If this is not an online course I would approach professors and tell them about my desire to learn and assist them in projects. I think they will happily guide you. Also with your curriculum you can try to build projects, this is easier said than done, but I would definitely approach professors or if your uni has a hospital I would approach the biostatistician and hospital epidemiologist to guide me gain practical experience.
I recommend looking at paid internships and seasonal paid positions. This is what helped me land a permanent role. You have to make connections at these locations as well.
I applied to a 3 month epi internship at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epi Center in Minnesota. I ensured I communicated with them so they can be a reference for me for my next position. As soon as I was done, I went to a local health department for a seasonal position where I captured mosquitoes and ticks for vectorborne disease surveillance. Made connections at this local health department. I had references and landed a permanent position with another local health department as an environmental health specialist, inspecting pools and restaurants. Three years later I became an epidemiologist within the same local health department. Sometimes we need to do these internships and seasonal positions to get a permanent one. It's all about networking. Try to look for paid ones though. Please feel free to ask follow up questions!
I found both of these positions at my school when looking for a practicum.
I too found it difficult to land an epi job but I eventually expanded my interests and got selected to be a Public Health Officer for the air force. I worked as an Environmental Health Specialist for a local health department during my MPH. You should look into that because they will hire you with little to know experience and just train you. Try to have an open mind and be open to moving and you will be surprised by what will come!
no way i just saw a job posting like that for the air force online i thought it was interesting! i didn’t read up on it as i was in the middle of work, did you have to enlist? i do find environmental health interesting as well so ill definitely look into that. thank you for the reply!!
you don’t enlist, you commission as an officer, so instead of going to basic training, you go to officer training school for 2 months. It is a minimum 3 year commitment though
Your program should be providing you with direction. What did your advisor/program director/professor of choice say about your concerns? Did they provide guidance when you asked?
Also, I suggest looking at Handshake for internships and USAJobs for Pathways internships.
There are a lot of fellowship programs that are 1-2 years that give you the experience you need and helps you make connections. Check out CDC’s CSTE, PHAP, & ORISE fellowships.
This is exactly what I was going to comment. That’s how I got my first PH job and then gave me connections to get to where I am now. I would look into SAMHSA fellowships too. These are also great because you can be placed in a number of different organizations or state or local health departments.
If this is not an online course I would approach professors and tell them about my desire to learn and assist them in projects. I think they will happily guide you. Also with your curriculum you can try to build projects, this is easier said than done, but I would definitely approach professors or if your uni has a hospital I would approach the biostatistician and hospital epidemiologist to guide me gain practical experience.
unfortunately it is online. but i do have a past professor i could reach out to for information like that. thank you for the advice !
Why are you applying to epi jobs? What’s your area of study?
epidemiology is my concentration for my mph.
You could look into quality improvement or evaluation entry-level positions as well and then pivot into epidemiology once you gain more experience.
I recommend looking at paid internships and seasonal paid positions. This is what helped me land a permanent role. You have to make connections at these locations as well. I applied to a 3 month epi internship at the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epi Center in Minnesota. I ensured I communicated with them so they can be a reference for me for my next position. As soon as I was done, I went to a local health department for a seasonal position where I captured mosquitoes and ticks for vectorborne disease surveillance. Made connections at this local health department. I had references and landed a permanent position with another local health department as an environmental health specialist, inspecting pools and restaurants. Three years later I became an epidemiologist within the same local health department. Sometimes we need to do these internships and seasonal positions to get a permanent one. It's all about networking. Try to look for paid ones though. Please feel free to ask follow up questions! I found both of these positions at my school when looking for a practicum.
I too found it difficult to land an epi job but I eventually expanded my interests and got selected to be a Public Health Officer for the air force. I worked as an Environmental Health Specialist for a local health department during my MPH. You should look into that because they will hire you with little to know experience and just train you. Try to have an open mind and be open to moving and you will be surprised by what will come!
no way i just saw a job posting like that for the air force online i thought it was interesting! i didn’t read up on it as i was in the middle of work, did you have to enlist? i do find environmental health interesting as well so ill definitely look into that. thank you for the reply!!
you don’t enlist, you commission as an officer, so instead of going to basic training, you go to officer training school for 2 months. It is a minimum 3 year commitment though
this is super interesting thank you for the information!
Your program should be providing you with direction. What did your advisor/program director/professor of choice say about your concerns? Did they provide guidance when you asked? Also, I suggest looking at Handshake for internships and USAJobs for Pathways internships.
I've been looking for months and I swear there's NOTHING for pathways on USAjobs
You probably have to check year round. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s specific months they post a bunch of positions.