Professional and Career Development

An Individual Development Plan helps students intentionally map their academic, professional, and personal growth goals. These resources guide students in assessing their strengths, identifying skill gaps, setting actionable milestones, and aligning their training with future career aspirations.

PHASS-IDP V2

APA’s resource for individual development plans (IDP)

Explore a range of career pathways and employment opportunities that align with your skills, interests, and professional goals. Opportunities span federal, state, and local health agencies, healthcare systems, academic medical centers, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, and private industry, providing numerous ways to apply your skills and training in meaningful ways. These resources connect students with job boards employer networks to support a successful transition into the workforce.

Job Boards

• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• City of Austin
• City of Houston (Houston Health Department)
• Dallas County
• Emory Rollins School of Public Health Job Board
• Galveston County
• Harris County Public Health
• Harris Health System
• LinkedIn
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
• Nonprofit Job Search
• Public Health Jobs
• Tarrant County Public Health
• Texas Public Health Association Job Board
• Texas Health and Humans Services Jobs (including DSHS)
• Travis County
• Public Health Careers
• Public Health Jobs
• American Public Health Association (APHA), Public Health CareerMart
• 10 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers

Experiential learning is a cornerstone of public health training. Through internships and fellowships, students gain hands-on experience, apply what they have learned in the classroom, and build meaningful professional networks while working in real-world public health settings both domestically and globally. These experiences help students develop practical skills, explore career pathways, and strengthen their readiness for future academic or professional pursuits.

Internship/Fellowship Opportunities

• CDC Fellowships
• Council of State & Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship
• APHA
• ASPPH
• DSHS Internships
• Federal Internship Portal (searchable for all federal agencies)
• Harris County Public Health Internships
• Houston Health Department Internships
• Texas Public Health Fellowship
• The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship
• The Archer Fellowship
• Student Internships and Jobs at CDC
• WHO Internship Program

Strong application materials open doors. Our goal is to help you present your story with clarity and confidence. Learn how to effectively present your academic achievements, professional experiences, and career goals through well-crafted application materials. These resources provide guidance on structuring and tailoring CVs, resumes, cover letters, and personal statements to clearly communicate your strengths and aspirations.

CV Template Example and Guidelines:

• UTMB's Template for CVs
• CV Guidance for Trainees

Resume and CV Formatting Guides:

• PITT.edu Resume Examples
• Washington.edu Resume Guide
• UNC.edu Resume Guide

Resources:

• Resume Guide: CareerOneStop
• Resume Guide: PublicHealth
• Résumés and CVs Introduction - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University
• The Personal Statement - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University
• What Is a Cover Letter? - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University
• Writing Studio

Public health professionals must be able to communicate ideas clearly across academic and community audiences. Strengthen your scholarly voice with practical tools and guidance for developing abstracts, scientific posters, manuscripts, and competitive grant proposals. These resources provide structured to help you communicate your ideas clearly and effectively.

• Scientific Writing Support - UTMB Student Success Center
• Presentation Poster Template
• Purdue OWL® - Purdue University
• Rising Scholars - Courses

Your personal brand is the intentional story you tell about who you are, what you value, and the impact you aim to make. Learn how to clarify your strengths, align your digital presence, and communicate your professional identity with confidence across different settings.

• LinkedIn Profile
  • LinkedIn is a social media platform that can be a great tool for building your professional network, maintaining a personal brand, and for job searching/applying. Check out these helpful tips for graduate students using LinkedIn.
• Boosting Your Career with Personal Branding: 10 Tips
• Building Your Personal Brand: What University Students Need to Know About Social Media and Job Searching – Imagine | Johns Hopkins University
• How Graduate Students Can Build a Personal Brand

Build confidence and clarity in articulating your experiences, strengths, and career goals through structured preparation and practice. These resources provide strategies for responding to common and behavioral questions, refining your professional presence, and navigating interviews with poise and authenticity.

• Interviewing - Indeed
• 60+ Most Common Interview Questions and Answers - The Muse
• Interviews - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University
• 6 Interview Tips That Can Help You Get Hired

Cultivate meaningful professional relationships that expand your opportunities, strengthen your visibility, and connect you to mentors, collaborators, and employers. These resources provide guidance on building authentic connections, initiating conversations with confidence, and sustaining professional relationships over time.

• Enough with the Networking. Let’s Start Building Relationships. - J Leaders
• Job Networking Tips - HelpGuide
• How To Network for a Job (Why It's Important and 7 Tips) - Indeed

Develop the skills to confidently advocate for yourself in conversations about salary, responsibilities, resources, and professional growth. These resources offer practical strategies to prepare effectively, communicate your value clearly, and navigate negotiations with professionalism and integrity.

• How To Negotiate Salary After a Job Offer (With 13 Tips) - Indeed
• 15 Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer - University of Virginia
• Negotiation skills - Videos on YouTube