I have some food for thought from a friend who hires for her company: doing your MPH in a specific city doesn’t automatically make you the obvious candidate for jobs in that city.
In fact, it might make you one of dozens of equally obvious candidates.
Think about it: everyone in your cohort is looking at the same job boards. Multiple people from your class did their internships at the same organizations. They have connections to the same people. They are applying to the same positions. And from the hiring manager’s perspective, you’re all kind of blending together. Same degree from the same program, same graduation timeline, same geographic preference, similar experience level. How do they pick between you and the person sitting next to you in your epidemiology class?
Sometimes, it’s actually harder to stand out locally sometimes because the competition is so specific. You’re not competing against a general pool of applicants. You’re competing against people with nearly identical qualifications and connections at baseline. The organization already knows your program well. They’ve hired from it before. They know the curriculum, they know the quality, they know the typical graduate. So they’re not dazzled by your MPH from your program—many other candidates they’re interviewing have one.
This is why some of the best moves people make are actually looking outside their immediate market. Going to a city where your cohort didn’t all move to. Applying to organizations that don’t have established recruiting relationships with your program. Building your early career in a place where you’re not one of many but actually stand out as an individual.
I’m not saying not to apply locally. Apply locally, especially if you like the area! But also think strategically about it. Do you stand out enough from others in your cohort? Do you leverage your contacts in your network wisely? Do you have folks who are willing to fight for you? Who knows, you might actually advance faster by being a bigger fish in a less crowded pond for a few years.
I know it’s not feasible for everyone, but, if you can, apply to some outside your obvious market, along with some local postings. Consider both. Sometimes the better move isn’t staying where everyone else is staying—it’s actually moving.
Guidehouse, Federal Health Financial Management and Process Improvement Consultant (Bethesda, MD) $74-124k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Guidehouse, Life Sciences Technology Consulting Managing Consultant (Remote) $140k + benefits, Master’s min
Guidehouse, Scientific Program Analyst (Rockville, MD) $85-140k + benefits, Master’s min
Guidehouse, Clinical Study Laboratory Coordinator (Bethesda, MD) $65-108k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Guidehouse, Healthcare Strategy and Transformation Sr. Consultant (Multiple locations) $98-163k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
State of NY, Long Term Care Systems Specialist II (Albany, NY) $87-110k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
State of NY, Medicaid Redesign Analyst I (Albany, NY) $54-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Medical Assistance Specialist I (Albany, NY) $67-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Medicaid Redesign Specialist I (Albany, NY) $54-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Healthcare Finance Program Research Specialist I (Albany, NY) $54-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Healthcare Finance Program Research Specialist II (Albany, NY) $87-110k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
State of NY, Exposure Assessment Specialist I (Albany, NY) $54-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Exposure Assessment Specialist I (NYC) $54-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
State of NY, Industrial Hygiene Scientist IV (Albany, NY) $107-132k + benefits, Master’s min
Johns Hopkins Univ, Planetary Health Communications Associate (DC) $64-113k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Johns Hopkins Univ, Planetary Health Communications Associate (Baltimore, MD) $64-113k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Johns Hopkins Univ, Sr. Research Project Coordinator (Poplar, MT) $50-74k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Johns Hopkins Univ, Research Assistant (Poplar, MT) $50-60k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Johns Hopkins Univ, Research Project Assistant II (Baltimore, MD) $50k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
NC League of Conservation Voters, Digital Media Manager (Raleigh, NC) $50-60k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
NC Biotechnology Center, Workforce Solutions Program Manager (Raleigh, NC) $61-65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
CDC Foundation, Data Scientist (Remote) $93-134k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
American Kidney Fund, Professional Education Specialist (Rockville, MD) $60-65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Appalachian State Univ, Regional K-12 and Youth Pathways Coordinator (Boone, NC) $55-60k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Appalachian State Univ, Regional Postsecondary Pathways Coordinator (Boone, NC) $55-60k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
State of NC, Alcohol Epidemiologist (Durham, NC) $61-92k + benefits, Master’s min
Susan G Komen Foundation, State Policy Analyst (DC) $64-82k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
RTI International, Evidence Synthesis Research Analyst (Durham, NC) $61-76k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Partners for Public Good, Executive Education Associate (Remote) $103k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Partners for Public Good, Local Government Associate (Remote) $103k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Partners for Public Good, Administrative Coordinator (Remote) $84k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
My Friend’s Place, Development Coordinator (Los Angeles, CA) $60k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Baby2Baby, Marketing Manager (Los Angeles, CA) $75-100k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
The Young Women’s Project, Health Justice Training and Policy Associate (DC) $50-55k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
CaringMatters, Development and Database Operations Manager (Gaithersburg, MD) $60-70k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Hispanic Federation, Policy Analyst (DC) $60-65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Escucha Mi Voz, Bilingual Community Organizer (Iowa City, IA) $50-55k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Migration Policy Institute, US Immigration Policy Program Research Assistant (DC) $52-67k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
NY State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Systems Advocacy Project Manager (Albany, NY) $72-75k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
District Outreach Industries, Parent Mentor Program Manager (Chicago, IL) $65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
District Outreach Industries, Student Karma Program Manager (Chicago, IL) $65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
District Outreach Industries, Parent-Centered Violence Prevention Program Manager (Chicago, IL) $65k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Glen Lake Association, Watershed Scientist and Program Manager (Glen Arbor, MI) $75k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Climate and Community Institute, Sr. Finance and Operations Associate (Remote) $80k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Enroot, Cambridge Program Manager (Cambridge, MA) $68-74k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
The Center for Effective Philanthropy, Communications and Development Coordinator (Cambridge, MA) $82k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Inquilinos Unidos, Tenants Rights Coordinator (Los Angeles, CA) $64k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
American Farmland Trust, TX Agriculture Specialist (Lubbock, TX) $70-75k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Communications and Database Manager (San Rafael, CA) $80-90k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Project Evident, Evidence for Outcomes Associate I (Boston, MA) $70k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
Lawyers for Good Government, Climate Change and Environmental Justice Communications Manager (Remote) $75-85k + benefits, Bachelor’s min, Master’s preferred
Center for Independence of the Disabled, Education and Outreach Coordinator (NYC) $66k + benefits, Bachelor’s min
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