How to Find Your Public Health Niche!
If you’re having a hard time trying to decide what to do in public health, then I got you! Public Health is one of those fields that is so broad! You can literally do anything from data analysis to program development to being a scientific technical writer, and even a public health veterinarian! One way to navigate this landscape is by finding your niche—a specific area within public health where you can focus your efforts, expertise, and passion. Here's some tips to help you discover and thrive in your public health niche.
Don’t just read the tips, take action! Remember if you do what you always did, then you’ll get what you always got 🗣!
Public Health Niche
“A specific area within public health where you can focus your efforts, expertise, and passion.”
1. Self-Reflection: Identify Your Interests and Strengths
Start by reflecting on what excites you most about public health. Ask yourself the following questions:
What public health issues are you passionate about?
Which population groups do you feel compelled to serve?
What skills and strengths do you bring to the table?
Make a list of topics, communities, and skills that resonate with you. This will serve as a foundation for identifying your niche. This is your chance to build a career that actually excites you, and not one that you hate coming to every day.
2. Explore Various Public Health Domains (Tip: You can Explore these in the Club!)
Public health encompasses a wide range of domains, including:
Epidemiology
Environmental health
Health policy and management
Global health
Maternal and child health
Health education and promotion
Biostatistics
Community health
Take time to explore these areas through reading, coursework, webinars, and informational interviews with professionals in the field. Gaining a broad understanding of each domain will help you identify which ones align with your interests and strengths.
Join the Club & Access On Demand Workshops to help you determine your public health domain! Join the Club
3. Gain Practical Experience
Experience is key to discovering your niche. Engage in internships, volunteer opportunities, fellowships, or part-time jobs in different public health settings. Practical experience will provide insights into the day-to-day work, challenges, and rewards of various public health roles.
4. Network and Seek Mentorship
Building a network of public health professionals is the FASTEST way to land the job you want and get expert help on navigating the public health field. The Public Health Club fosters an amazing culture of networking with other professionals. The saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is 100% true my friends. I’ve made over $20,000 in consulting just based on who I know, and have maintained relationships with. You can find weekly mentorship sessions with public health experts within the Public Health Club! Come chat with me in the club this week!
Getting a Public Health Mentor Doesn’t Have to Be Hard!
Join the club and show up live for our next weekly mentorship session. You’ll be able to ask questions, and determine the next steps in your career and so much more!
5. Stay Informed About Emerging Trends
Public health is a dynamic field with constantly evolving challenges and opportunities. Stay informed about emerging trends and issues through journals, news outlets, and professional networks. Being aware of current and future public health challenges can help you identify areas where you can make a significant impact. Sign up for newsletters! A great place to start is CDC! The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offers free newsletters on every topic you can think of! From injury prevention, to health equity to maternal health, you’re guaranteed to find something you like.
Check out the newsletters here! <<<Subscribe to CDC Newsletters!
6. Reflect on Your Values and Impact
How do you want to change the world? Okay, so you may not be able to change everything you want, but think about what you want to do, and then consider a career that will help you gain the skills to make it happen.
Do you want to end world hunger?
Well, maybe you should consider a program manager position in a non-profit. You can gain valuable skills, including developing and implementing program goals/objectives, learn how a non-profit is run, and make big connections in various communities. All of these things can help you with that goal of possibly developing your own non-profit focused on world hunger! Or maybe you consider landing a position with UNICEF, or WHO to give you a global perspective.
Reflect on your core values and how they align with different public health issues and populations. Ask yourself:
What kind of change do I want to see in the world?
Which public health challenges align with my values and vision?
Your answers will guide you toward a niche that is not only fulfilling but also meaningful.
7. Be Open to Evolution
Your public health niche may evolve over time as you gain more experience and insights. Be open to change and continuously reassess your interests and goals. Staying flexible allows you to adapt to new opportunities and challenges, ensuring long-term satisfaction and growth in your career.
The only thing constant in life is change, learn to go with it, not against it!
8. Combine Multiple Interests
Don’t feel limited to a single niche. Public health is interdisciplinary, and you can often combine multiple interests to create a unique niche. For example, you might focus on environmental health policy, maternal and child health in underserved communities, or the use of technology in health education. You can literally create your own niche area in public health because it’s such an interdisciplinary field!
9. Set Goals and Create a Plan
Once you've identified your niche, set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. Create a plan to develop your expertise and build a career in your chosen area. This might include pursuing advanced degrees or certifications, attending specialized training programs, or seeking relevant job opportunities.
10. Join the Public Health Club & Get Started!
If you need help implementing any of these tips, and you want to be a part of a community of like-minded professionals then utilize the 7 day free trial and join the Public Health Club ASAP!
Conclusion
Finding your public health niche is a journey of self-discovery, exploration, and continuous learning. By reflecting on your interests and strengths, gaining practical experience, networking, staying informed about emerging trends, and being open to evolution, you can carve out a unique path that is both fulfilling and impactful. Embrace the journey, and remember that your niche may evolve as you grow in your career. Stay passionate, stay curious, and you’ll find your place in the diverse and dynamic field of public health.
Take a workshop, apply for a consulting opportunity, network with public health professionals around the world, and get what you need to level up!
