E1.01 - Skill-building Workshop: Rooted in Readiness: Growing Your Public Health Career from the Ground Up

Brief Abstract Summary: Grow your public health career from the ground up by gaining career-readiness skills tailored for students and early-career professionals. Explore job market trends, build career portfolios (resumes, LinkedIn, elevator pitches), practice interview strategies, and access curated resources such as handouts, tip sheets, and recorded materials to prepare for success in an evolving public health workforce.

Detailed abstract description: In Spring 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a reduction of 10,000 workers across agencies including the CDC, NIH, FDA, and CMS. Simultaneously, $11.4 billion in previously approved federal funding to states for COVID-19 and other public health response was rescinded, sending waves of uncertainty throughout the field (Dall, 2025). The next generation of public health leaders must be prepared to navigate these challenges. Beyond academic preparation, students and early-career professionals must develop the skills to successfully enter and advance in a job market that is both competitive and evolving. They must also cultivate the resiliency to thrive in a field facing workforce reductions, funding cuts, and increasing political scrutiny.

This interactive, skill-building workshop equips participants with tools to grow their public health careers from the ground up. Attendees will explore current public health job market trends and emerging opportunities across governmental, academic, private, and nonprofit sectors. Through guided activities, participants will strengthen their public health portfolio by developing tailored resumes, optimized LinkedIn profiles, and personal elevator pitches designed for use during the conference and beyond. Participants will also learn key interview strategies and engage in mock interviews to practice communication skills. In addition, they will receive curated resources, including interactive handouts, career tip sheets, and access to recorded materials, that reinforce learning and provide ongoing support after the session. The workshop also introduces professional certifications, higher education pathways, and professional organizations that support career advancement and professional development. Ultimately, this session prepares students and early-career professionals to build confidence, resiliency, and leadership capacity as they enter an evolving public health workforce.

References
Dall, C. (2025, July 16). State, local public health officials grapple with fallout from funding; job cuts. CIDRAP. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/state-local-public-health-officials-grapple-fallout-funding-job-cuts