The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 29 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

Over the past few years, we have felt public health everywhere we’ve turned. We have closely tracked the choices made by politicians, business people, and health professionals, and we have honed our collective familiarity with topics like “nasal swabs,” “vaccination clinics,” and “antigens.” While we have seen the public health field succeed and falter, many of us have felt its immediate, painful impact. And this impact has motivated a surge of young people to turn towards careers in public health. 

But what is this public health thing? And why is it一apparently一so hard to do right?

It is good, bad, and ugly. Anyone you ask about the global healthcare world will touch on how simultaneously incredible and devastating this work can be一the financial incentives, systemic breakages, and vast inequality can be truly heartbreaking. But at the same time, small tweaks, smart analysis, and creative innovations can save the lives of thousands and change the health trajectory of communities forever. No big deal.

Maybe you have been pre-med your whole college career and have just realized that being a doctor was your parents’ dream, not yours. Maybe you have always loved health, but your school has no guidance on what you can do in the healthcare space that is not … being a doctor. Maybe you have always been interested in broad social issues, and health seems like a promising area for you to focus your energy. 

Regardless of how you got here, if this career path sounds exciting to you, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about working in public health. To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs in public health. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards finding your first job. Let’s get started!