Right now, public health issues are front and center in conversations all over the world.
Seeing the devastation the pandemic has caused, many people are feeling compelled to consider a career in public health.
Getting into the field of public health is a great choice. If it’s something you’re considering, you should know that jobs in this field will allow you to help keep people safe while offering stability and engaging, interesting work.
But which job in public health is right for you? Here are a few things to consider before you make a decision.
First Research Potential Job Options
There are many different job opportunities in the field of public health. This means you have lots of options and can choose a career path that best aligns with your interests and skills.
But first, you need to do some research on which jobs are available and how much growth is expected for those positions in the coming years. Future-proofing your career path is important!
Careers within the public health field vary widely. You could become an epidemiologist, studying new threats to public health and providing recommendations for prevention and control.
Or, you could take on a role in education, health administration, or program planning. If you’re interested in the environment, you could work on solutions for fighting climate change.
Because there is so much diversity within the field of public health, it’s important to research as many options as possible. If it relates to the health of the population, it’s part of the public health field!
Then Understand Potential Education Requirements
One of the biggest considerations for any career is the education requirements involved. There are opportunities in public health at most degree levels, but you have to know how far you’re willing or able to take your education for a job in this field.
High-level scientific jobs usually require a master’s degree at the very least, and often, a doctorate. If you’re not sure about committing to a decade of school, then you might want to think about a career path with less intensive requirements.
Be sure to research salary ranges as well, to see if getting a more advanced degree could result in a significant pay bump.
Be realistic with yourself. If you want to go back to school, think about your other responsibilities. Can you go to school online or part-time?
You should make sure you’re really interested in pursuing a specific career path before you commit to getting a new degree.
Top Public Health Jobs
These are far from the only fulfilling jobs available in public health, but they do show a few great options for people who are interested in public health careers.
Use these as a starting point for your research!
Water Resource Planner
Many areas all over the world are struggling to provide enough safe, clean, freshwater for their communities.
In addition, crops, livestock, and other resources require large amounts of safe water.
The existing water supplies require careful management, which is the job of a water resource planner.
Water resource planners analyze factors like population density, weather, usage, storage, and delivery to determine how water will be allocated, distributed, and concerned.
Water is life, and we need water resource planners to ensure that we don’t run out.
Public Health Biostatistician
Our world runs on data, and the world of public health is no different.
Today, with our ability to share real-time data, we can monitor public health initiatives and crises, allowing for both quick action and long-term management.
Biostatisticians spearhead these efforts, analyzing public health data and tracking key trends and patterns.
Using data from many different sources, biostatisticians can provide insights in a variety of situations. They can evaluate the impact of public health programs or find vulnerable populations that may need more assistance.
They can also track disease outbreaks and provide health experts with relevant information that can help control the spread of disease.
Emergency Management
In times of crisis, communities need to know that there is a plan to keep them safe.
Emergency management professionals are tasked with creating these plans and preparing for the possibility of different types of disasters.
The goal of emergency management is to minimize the impact on the community should an emergency occur.
Emergency management professionals need to be organized and able to think ahead, while remaining calm under pressure. It is a challenging and somewhat stressful career path, but it can be extremely fulfilling.
Final Thought
Public health careers aren’t for everyone, but they’re vital to the health and safety of our communities all over the world.
If you decide to pursue a job in this field, you’ll know that you’re helping to keep your neighbors healthy and secure.
