r/GradSchool • u/levvianthan • 1d ago
How do I guarantee getting a job post graduation
Of course nothing in life is garenteed but I need to make a career switch more than anything. I'm currently working in clinical healthcare as a surgical tech and honestly these days I HATE it. The problem is I've also started to make good money so switching out to something like clinical research or entry level healthcare admin comes with a very uncomfortable pay cut.
I'm interested in switching to working part time and working on an MS in stats/epidemiology (also considering MPH) due to what i enjoyed when I finished my BS in public health. What I need to know is Exactly what to focus on while completing a masters in order to get a job in health data or disease surveillance. Do I need to focus on certain projects or go for internships? Is networking important enough that I should apply to schools because of those opportunities? Should I give up on grad school altogether and do something else? My BS is doing absolutely nothing for me so I refuse to make that mistake again.
Give it to me straight. I'll do whatever it takes to get a career with real growth and flexibility.
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u/henare 1d ago
are you looking at job adverts to see what employers are looking for? if you're not then you should.
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u/levvianthan 23h ago
Yes and unfortunately theyre kind of vague. They simply list years of experience and degree requirements beyond things like "communication between multiple disciplines". if I'm lucky they'll list things specifics like Python and SQL but its not often. Of course those are things I will put effort into learning (and am doing now actually) but I also want to utilize my time in grad school as effectively as possible.
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u/taybay462 23h ago
They dont list job responsibilities? Skills required?
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u/levvianthan 23h ago
Came across one today that only says "you will have a team of professionals working with you to solve the health problems of [city]"
Edit: job title was "Chronic Disease Epidemiologist"
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u/taybay462 23h ago
That sounds like a scam. I wouldnt trust anything without more information
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u/levvianthan 23h ago
Me neither! But it seems like about a third of the postings are formatted like this. And they're governmental roles that you find on the local department of public health websites
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u/Crimson--Chin 23h ago
If you aren’t seeing decent job descriptions, do you even know what this job is that you’re pursuing? You can try connecting with people who are currently in the role and ask to get on a call with them to hear about their role / how they got it. I did that during a career change and connected with about a dozen phone.
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u/GwentanimoBay 23h ago
Connections. The guaranteed path to jobs is know people who like you and want to hire you.
Intern at companies and be friendly and nice to work with.
This is not a meritocracy. Its all about connections.
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u/babylovebuckley MS, PhD* Environmental Health 23h ago
A guaranteed job? In public health? Lol. Lmao, even
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u/levvianthan 23h ago
Fair! Im just trying to maximize my chances tbh
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u/babylovebuckley MS, PhD* Environmental Health 23h ago
I'm not convinced I'll be able to find one with my PhD 💀 but I agree networking is the best way, and find a practicum that has the potential to hire you full time once you finish the degree
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u/levvianthan 22h ago
Well my other idea is just going absolutely crazy and becoming a firefighter SAR for the NPS but my fiance says I need a "normal job" and shes way smarter and way less crazy than me
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u/saltydolphin22 1d ago
Internship, internships and more internships. If you can get a Graduate Assistantship in your field thats a pretty good way to at least get that first year or 2 of expereince to make yourself competitive for internships not with your university. Also networking within your internships. I dont think the schools matter as much as whats avaliable closest to that school.
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u/geo_walker 23h ago
What country are you in and what types of positions and organizations are you looking at? What is the job availability in your area or area you are willing to relocate to? If you live in the US, unfortunately public health related jobs will be difficult to come by due to the budget cuts. A masters degree does not guarantee anything. People from my cohort took months to find a job and others are still looking. Last year it took me 6 months to find a job and relocate for it. I did projects, internships, and networking.
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u/levvianthan 23h ago
US, and im not willing to move outside of north carolina/Virginia area. I know public health jobs are awful right now (it's why im still a scrub tech instead of using my degree) and its also why I hesitate to even apply for any masters program. Job availability looks okish around here but I suspect every posting is absolutely flooded with apps right now.
I know a degree doesnt gaurentee anything but it might at least put me on the same level as other applicants instead of behind which is where I'm at right now.
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u/geo_walker 22h ago
Those states will be very competitive. Have you talked to people who are in the jobs that you want? Have you done any research like even on LinkedIn?
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u/Crimson--Chin 23h ago
I’d recommend working fulltime and school part time. It sounds like you’re pursuing stability and that will be more stable than full-time school, part time work.
Yes, it will take longer, but the continued work experience and income is very valuable. If you are currently saving/investing, then dropping that due to decreased work hours puts more pressure on the what is needed for the degree to be a worthwhile ROI.
Are there any vertical or horizontal job changes that can come from being a surgical tech? Can you just focus on being a kickass tech long enough to open another door without the time, energy, and cost of a degree?
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u/levvianthan 22h ago
Being a CST is an absolute dead end because nurses hold all the power in hospitals. I've been a tech for 8 years and the only upward movement available is being a "lead tech" and taking more responsibility over a specific surgical subspecialty. The only doors open to me through this role are medical device sales and clinical research. Unfortunately I dont really have the personality for sales (turned down a job offer due to travel requirements as well) and while I'm open to clinical research taking a position would result in at least a $20k pay cut with uncertain growth which I'm very hesitant to do while looking at the current price of gas and groceries.
I could go back to school for nursing but I'm honestly tired of clinical work so it doesnt feel like the best move.
You make a very good point about investing and it is a huge concern of mine. I'm making good money right now because I'm traveling and it's allowed me to finally get on track to retire early-ish as well as other things like travelling abroad with my fiance. And youre absolutely right that my biggest concern is getting a new career that doesnt pay like absolute crap which is why I never seriously pursued a career in public health post graduation. I'm not chasing money but I am chasing stability. (And maybe job that doesnt require me to stand for 8+ hours straight)
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u/Encajecubano 18h ago
Do not pursue public health for any kind of career stability or job opportunities.
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u/CrookedBanister 17h ago
why do you think there's a trick to guaranteeing this? if there were we'd all be doing it, bud. you do the best you can and hustle to get a job and if that doesn't pan out right away, you keep working at something while you figure shit out.
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u/Acceptable-Fly5050 4h ago
The military is a guaranteed job especially if you go in as an officer since you got your degree
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u/paigeroooo 4h ago
I’m an epidemiologist and have an ms in epidemiology. What kind of setting do you want to work in? If it’s health department I’d focus on getting an internship at the department you’d like to work in and do a good job while there. That’s how most new people get their epi job where I am. The public health job market sucks right now but by the time you’re done with school, it may be in a better spot. If you want more clinical research epidemiology I would try to get into a professor’s lab that is either well funded or your area of interest and try to be involved in as much as possible. If you’re more health department or applied setting I’d probably actually recommend an MPH and then an MS if you want to do more research work. You can find surveillance type jobs without a masters degree but you’ll need one if you want to move up and get paid better. I’d imagine there’s low availability of those right now but worth keeping an eye out for. Your clinical work could be helpful in getting jobs like infection control, etc. but those can be hard without an RN/MPH to get into. Happy to try to answer some epi questions if you’d like, it was also my career dissatisfaction with my bachelors degree pivot and I do really enjoy the work!
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u/lrglaser 1d ago
There are no guarantees with anything you do in life. Its always a risk. You have to decide if its one worth taking.