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The Job Hunt |
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Author: Public Health Hiring Help NOTE: This article was originally published on October 6, 2025 by Public Health Hiring Help on Substack. Well, we’ll address the elephant in the room—we’re starting the week still in the midst of a government shutdown. It’s yet another moment of frustration, of challenge, of fear, of doubt in the landscape of public health. Up until now, I’ve had many conversations with friends, colleagues, and peers about the “viability” of entering the public health job market and workforce. I still say it is, even now. Heck, this page was created with the idea that—despite all obstacles —making a difference in public health IS possible. It’s easy to be discouraged by current events and the rhetoric surrounding them. It’s easy to feel like your public health dream is now a pipe dream. But let me be clear—it’s not. But don’t just take my word for it! We’re back with The Public Health Burnout Coach, Marissa McKool, MPH, to discuss the fear, doubts, and voices in your head trying to tell you that using your public health knowledge isn’t possible. How do we conquer them? How do we change our mindset? How do we charge forth, even in spite of the setbacks? Marissa McKool has the answers! PHHH: Let’s get right into it. I think the question on so many folks’ minds as of late is “Do I stay in public health?” What do you tell clients who ask you that? MM: The first thing I say is: that’s only a question you can answer. Everyone will have opinions, but you’re the one working those 40 hours each week. Some powerful questions to reflect on are:
I also remind my clients that burnout and challenges exist in every sector. If you’re leaving public health just to escape stress, you’ll be disappointed—because challenges show up everywhere. Instead of running from your current stress, the best investment you can make is learning how to reduce your current stress and face your challenges with less overwhelm. That requires tools we were never taught in school, but they’re learnable. If you’re leaving public health for reasons other than stress, that’s valid. But if stress is the only reason, changing jobs won’t solve that problem. You have to solve that problem by learning how to reduce your stress no matter the external challenges. PHHH: I think, for a lot of folks considering transitioning out of traditional public health to private sector gigs, there’s this stigma/guilt around being a “sell-out”, but that’s so far from the truth. How do you remind clients that it’s okay for change in any direction? MM: The “sell-out” narrative is unfair and outdated—and thankfully, it’s starting to shift. I remember in grad school hearing people joke, “You’re going to the dark side.” But the truth is, the private sector has a lot to offer. They excel at marketing, communication, and strategy—skills we can learn from. These roles often come with valuable growth opportunities and new perspectives. Transitioning to the private sector, tech, consulting, or any other space doesn’t erase your passion for public health. You can still make an impact on the world, often in new and innovative ways. Many clients find their skills transfer beautifully and create fresh opportunities to serve. Change is part of growth. Giving yourself permission to pivot doesn’t diminish your commitment to service—it expands it. Back by popular demand, Marissa McKool chats all things uncertainty and doubt and building the confidence and irrepressibility to combat them. PHHH: From your perspective, where are these folks going? What do these positions look like? MM: A lot of the roles look very similar to traditional public health jobs—just with different titles. For example:
Health equity leads, strategy consultants, communications managers, and community engagement specialists are all in demand across tech companies, foundations, consulting agencies and the private sector. The skills and experience are the same. What often changes is the language. Adjusting your search terms and tailoring your resume to match the sector can make those opportunities much more visible. PHHH: On the flip side, there are also folks who can’t see themselves doing anything else besides working at the state or local level or doing public health research, but they worry that this path just isn’t realistic right now. How can we encourage them to stick to it, despite the obstacles? MM: First, notice the “all or nothing” thinking that can creep in. It’s easy to believe public health is disappearing, but that’s not true. Public health has traditionally resisted change and moved slowly, which can create fear when shifts do happen. But public health isn’t going anywhere—it’s evolving. If your heart is in government, research, or academia, you can absolutely stay. The key is adaptability. That means building resilience, embracing change, and taking ownership of your experience. Instead of falling into the “there’s nothing I can do” mindset, shift into “I have agency and influence over my path.” Learn to navigate challenges without letting anxiety or overwhelm take over. That’s what allows you to sustain your calling in the long term. PHHH: There sometimes feels like so much finality with the choice to stay or not to stay right now, since the skills and experiences on your resume play a big role in your career and career journey. Like—if I jump to a clinical research associate role in Pharma, for example, it’s going to be easier for me to stay in Pharma going forward than jump to another health-related field. Is that mindset limiting or is it just realistic? How do we make the best decisions today to help us down the line? MM: Often, when we say “I’m just being realistic,” it’s a sign we’re limiting ourselves. Yes, certain career paths or sectors may seem more straightforward or linear—and right now, they might even feel easier. But things can change quickly. Instead of focusing on what feels “most realistic,” put your energy into building your adaptability muscle. That’s what will keep you open to opportunities no matter how the landscape shifts. The first step is accepting that the workforce is changing rapidly—and it’s not slowing down. The future of work is moving away from deep specialization in one narrow skill and toward generalization and adaptability. With AI and other forces reshaping the job market, what’s most valuable now are strong problem-solving skills, creativity, flexibility, and the ability to learn quickly. A great resource on this is The Adaptation Advantage by Chris Shipley and Heather E. McGowan, which explains the four workforce revolutions and the one we’re in today. The takeaway: being adaptable and willing to grow matters far more than locking yourself into a single path. PHHH: Obviously, this decision—and all the other decisions involved in the job hunt—bring a lot of anxiety and frustration. Do you have any other words of advice to those tackling this, especially those so early in their careers? MM: If you’re experiencing anxiety and frustration in the job search, now is the perfect time to learn how to manage those emotions. We often believe the job market causes our stress, but in reality, it comes from how we think about the job market. Learning how to reduce the intensity of negative emotions will help you shift more quickly into confidence, calm, and focus. And it’s a skill you can carry with you wherever you go. Remember, a job search is just another problem to solve—just like the challenges you’ll face in your next job. The problems themselves don’t create our emotions; our thoughts about them do. Once you know how to manage your mindset, it becomes much easier to solve the problems in front of you. ■
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