Feeling Dejected
Hi everyone, I’m about to graduate with a B.S. in Public and Community Health, and I was wondering if anyone has advice for navigating the public health job market right now. Over the last four years, I’ve worked as a healthcare consulting intern, CNA, peer mentor, and in my school’s Title IX office because I wanted to build enough experience to land a stable, decent-paying job after graduation. But it feels like so many public health positions that pay a livable wage either want 5+ years of experience or a master’s degree. A lot of the entry-level community health jobs I’m seeing in California are paying around $25 an hour, which honestly doesn’t go very far here. I understand everyone has to start somewhere, but it’s discouraging realizing how hard it is to break into the field even after years of relevant work experience.
For people already working in public health:
How did you get your footing after undergrad? Did you pivot into adjacent fields first, go straight into grad school, or just grind through lower-paying roles for a few years?