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Once you have identified your skills you
will be better equipped to develop an
appropriate career focus as well as
articulate your strengths when networking
and during interviews.
STEP 2: INVESTIGATION OF
CAREER OPTIONS
Suggested Timeline: October-December
The next step is to identity resources,
gather market information, and evaluate
career options. Your task is to find
information and target organizations that
meet your specific requirements. When
evaluating an opportunity, you will want
to learn about the culture, mission, areas
of specialization, major accomplishments,
and current developments or issues in the
field. Key questions to explore include:
•
What are examples of career paths in
the field?
•
What are typical titles and job
descriptions and which are of interest
to me?
•
What kinds of work environments do
they offer?
•
Are the culture, mission, environment,
and job responsibilities consistent with
my skills, values, and interests?
•
Where can I make contacts for
internships, fellowships, or permanent
job opportunities?
•
Is there sufficient opportunity and
growth potential?
•
How can I best prepare myself to be
competitive in this field?
The HSPH Career Services Office
facilitates this step with: individual career
counseling, career coaching, employer
presentations, career workshops, current
job listings, and Career Compass - the
Harvard alumni career advisory network.
Students are also encouraged to seek
information or advice from their faculty
advisor, fellow students, or former
colleagues, and may find useful
information on the Internet or on the CSO
Website.
STEP 3: FOCUS AND GOAL
SETTING
Suggested Timeline: December/January
Now that you have conducted the
necessary research and understand the
options available to you it is time to focus
on the career options that you have
identified. Carefully review all of the
career options consistent with your
training and experience. You will want to
continue to explore each option through
conversations with professionals in the
field and discussions with faculty and your
advisor. It is important to gain a realistic
picture of what the work is like, the career
path, the level of opportunity in the field,
and what the future will hold. Write down
your career goals. This will help you to
clearly explain to
prospective employers and individuals in
your network the type of position you are
seeking. Now that you have further
analyzed your options and chosen your
career path, it is time to proceed to the job
search stage of the process.
The HSPH Career Services Office can
help with individual career counseling and
offers various career assessment tools to
facilitate career decision-making.
STEP 4: NETWORKING
Suggested Timeline: November-February
and ongoing throughout your career
Networking is the process of developing
relationships with people who can provide
current career information in your specific
field of interest. Approximately seventy
percent of all jobs are secured through the
networking process. Networking gives you
access to what is called the "hidden job
market." These are the jobs which are
filled through personal contacts, referrals,