Career Development Guide

A Month-by-Month Career Development Guide

You began planning your career when you decided to attend the School of Public Health, if not before.  Now that you are here, whether in your first or second year or somewhere else in your program, virtually everything you do can be considered “career development.”  Here are some guidelines to use as reminders throughout the year to help you accomplish your career goals by capitalizing on various career development opportunities.

September

• Get to know your Career Services Office. The Office of Career Services in the School of Public Health, located in the Student Services Center, offers a variety of resources to assist School of Public Health students and alumni in their efforts to locate and apply for professional positions – from field experiences to fellowships to full-time career positions. Stop by and meet Barb and Darren, and learn how we can help you achieve your career goals.
• Update your resume! Make sure it reflects your current status as a graduate student. Refer to our Resume Guide tipsheet, or view the Resume Presentation. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our career counselors by contacting us at sphjobs@umn.edu.
• Develop your Elevator Pitch – which you will use in all networking conversations as well as throughout your job search. For tips on developing an Elevator Pitch, please view our Elevator Pitch tipsheet.
• If you are seeking an assistantship, learn about the research SPH faculty are doing, then contact those professors working in your area of interest. You may also search University-wide for assistantship postings.
• Consider participating in the Mentor Program. Students who wish to be matched with a mentor for 2012-2013 should apply by Sept. 12, 2012.
• Sept. 24 – attend the Community Involvement Fair in the Great Hall of Coffman Union to learn about volunteer and internship opportunities across the Twin Cities.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, September 24, 2012 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.
• For second-year students, begin your job search by checking out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.

October

• Join the Minnesota Public Health Association. Student memberships are very affordable, and participating in a professional organization is not only a great way to make contacts, it looks good on your resume!
• Attend the Government Job Fair, 10:00am – 3:00pm, Coffman Union’s Great Hall. Date TBD.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, October 29, 2012 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.
• Attend the APHA 140^th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 27-31, 2012 (San Francisco, CA)
• Check out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.

November

• Begin thinking about where you would like to do your field experience. November 5-9, 2012, the Office of Career Services will be hosting a week-long series of field experience events including a Domestic and International Field Experience Information Session, Preceptor Meet-and-Greet, Open House, and Poster Session.
• Check on the fellowships in which you are interested.  Application deadlines will be here soon!
• Check out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, November 26, 2012 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.

December

• Most importantly – concentrate on doing well on those final exams!
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, December 10, 2012 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385
• During winter break, we recommend using this time to strengthen your networking contacts. One way to do this is by conducting informational interviews with professionals in the field you are most interested in. For tips on Informational Interviews, please view our Informational Interview tipsheet. For tips on Networking, view our Networking tipsheet. In addition, we recommend developing a LinkedIn Profile. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking site, will serve as one of your most valuable networking and job searching tools. For tips on building a profile on LinkedIn, as well as how to use it to your advantage, please view our LinkedIn Guide tipsheet.
• Another valuable resource you can use during winter break is our Alumni Networking Directory. This resource is there to help connect SPH alumnae all over the world to students like you.
• Check out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.

January

• Continue to make the most of your winter break by researching organizations to target for your field experience or job search, and identify people with whom you can network.
• Conduct informational interviews with your networking contacts.
• Check on field experience funding deadlines.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, January 28, 2013 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.

February

• Watch Job Fair Success to prepare for attending upcoming career fairs.
• Attend the Field Experience Information Session, date and time TBD.
• Attend the U of M Job and Internship Fair (Mpls Convention Center), Friday, February 24, 2013 (10:00am – 4:00pm).
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, February 25, 2013 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.
• Check out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.

March

• Check out our online Job and Internship Database. For additional tips on Job Searching, view our Job Search Guide tipsheet.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, March 25, 2013 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385
• Attend the Graduate and Professional Student Career Week (end of March), date and time TBD.

April

• Finalize field experience plans. If you are planning an international field experience, you may need to start your vaccinations up to two months ahead of time. Remember to complete an online contract.
• Negotiate your salary with your new employer!
• Create a job search strategy if you haven’t found the right job yet. 
• Attend the Graduate and Professional student Career Networking Breakfast. Date and time TBD.
• Attend our “Pop-in Career Counseling” hours, Monday, April 29, 2013 (3:00-4:30pm), located in Mayo D-384, and D-385.

May – August

• Conduct your field experience.  Submit the online evaluation once you have completed your experience.
• Fill out the Career Survey
• When you have secured your new public health position, consider joining the online Alumni Networking Directory. It is a great way to stay connected with past colleagues and meet new ones.
• Join the LinkedIn University of Minnesota School of Public Health Group and use it to network with other public health professionals.
• Continue to network; volunteer; fine-tune your resume.  Your Career Services Office is open all year to assist you in your job search. Schedule a meeting with Barb Laporte (blaporte@umn.edu) or Darren Kaltved (dkaltved@umn.edu).