Ensuring equitable vaccine distribution remains a pressing CV challenge in public health sectors worldwide. Our comprehensive guide offers strategic insights and practical tools to help you devise and implement effective distribution programmes that prioritise fairness and accessibility.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Resume examples for public health
By Experience
Public Health Specialist
- Strategic Clarity and Structure - Ivy Ward’s CV is meticulously organized, beginning with a succinct header that encapsulates her core competencies in public health. The clear segmentation into sections like experience, education, and skills allows for easy navigation, and each role is accompanied by precise bullet points that deliver concise yet comprehensive insights into her responsibilities and impacts.
- Robust Career Progression - Ivy’s career trajectory highlights significant professional growth, moving from a Public Health Analyst to a managerial position at NHS England. This progression underscores her ability to take on increasing responsibilities and deliver on critical public health goals, reflecting a strong upward movement within the public health sector that aligns well with her role-specific expertise.
- Achievements with Societal Impact - The CV effectively showcases Ivy Ward's ability to secure high-impact funding and implement initiatives that address socio-economic health disparities. Her achievements in boosting vaccination rates and reducing healthcare access gaps not only demonstrate her subject matter expertise but also her commitment to driving meaningful change in public health communities.
Public Health Advisor
- Strategic career advancements highlighted - Sienna West's career trajectory from a Health Improvement Officer to a Senior Public Health Advisor indicates significant professional growth and increasing responsibilities. Her advancement showcases a strong capability to take on challenging roles and excel in public health leadership across different organizations like Cardiff Council, NHS Digital, and Public Health Wales.
- Evidence-based achievements with widespread impact - The CV details achievements that demonstrate not just numbers but meaningful outcomes. A 20% reduction in smoking prevalence and enhancements in stakeholder collaboration highlight West's ability to drive public health improvements with substantial social and economic benefits, impacting over 500,000 residents.
- Emphasis on adaptability and cross-functional collaboration - Sienna demonstrates a robust set of competencies across various domains such as data analysis, stakeholder management, and policy development. Her experience in cross-sector public health meetings and international cooperation underscores her adaptability and ability to work effectively across different sectors, ensuring cohesive and informed public health interventions.
Public Health Consultant
- Comprehensive career progression - Joshua Patel’s CV showcases a clear career trajectory from Health Improvement Officer to Senior Public Health Consultant. Each role marks a step forward in responsibility and scope, highlighting growth through more complex projects and senior leadership roles within notable public health organizations like Public Health England and NHS England.
- Impactful achievements with community emphasis - The CV distinctly positions achievements not just as numeric successes but in terms of community impact. Initiatives like improving child immunisation rates by 25% or reducing childhood obesity by 10% are presented with a focus on how these outcomes have tangibly benefited public health, underscoring Joshua's commitment to societal welfare.
- Variety in section inclusions - The CV conveys a comprehensive picture through various sections, covering education, courses, skills, and passions. This diversity in content provides depth, showcasing Joshua’s commitment to continuous learning and personal growth, as well as his alignment with the role by highlighting skills like cross-agency collaboration and strategic leadership.
Public Health Director
- Clarity and Strategic Presentation - The CV is structured to offer a clear and concise snapshot of Noah Jones' extensive experience in public health. The organized layout, with clear headings and bullet points, ensures that each section delivers critical information efficiently, allowing for easy identification of key areas such as experience and achievements.
- Continual Career Progression - Noah's career trajectory showcases a steady ascent through critical roles in public health, from a Public Health Consultant to Director roles. Each position builds on the previous one, demonstrating growth through increased responsibility and leadership, reflecting a deepening expertise and commitment to the public health sector.
- Impact Through Measurable Achievements - The CV highlights not just achievements but their wider impact, such as a significant reduction in public health crises and securing substantial funding for innovation. This emphasizes Noah's ability to generate real and lasting benefits, not only within organizations but across communities, showcasing leadership and strategic influence.
Public Health Manager
- Structured and impactful narrative - The CV is well-organized with clear sections that guide the reader through the candidate's professional journey, emphasizing significant milestones. Each section is concisely written, ensuring that key information, such as achievements and skills, is easily accessible and memorable.
- Reflects a progressive career trajectory - Lily Cooper's career shows a clear progression from a Public Health Analyst to a Senior Public Health Programme Manager, highlighting logical career advancements and increasing responsibilities. Her roles exhibit her expanding influence and impact within the public health sector, demonstrating her readiness for leadership roles and policy influence.
- Focus on social justice and community impact - The CV incorporates elements specific to public health, such as the emphasis on health inclusion and social justice advocacy. By showcasing her work in reducing health inequalities and improving mental health service accessibility, Lily establishes her commitment to facilitating health equity and her dedication to impacting marginalized communities positively.
Public Health Project Coordinator
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, with clear sections such as experience, education, skills, achievements, and passion, making it easy for the reader to locate key information. Each section is concise, focusing on crucial details without unnecessary elaboration, which enhances clarity and readability.
- Proven Career Growth - Isaac Scott’s career trajectory showcases consistent advancement in the public health sector, moving from a Health Data Specialist to a Project Coordinator. This progression highlights his ability to take on increased responsibilities and make significant contributions to public health initiatives over a period of just seven years.
- Impactful Achievements - The CV precisely quantifies Isaac's accomplishments, such as leading a team to improve participant engagement by 25%, or enhancing data integrity by 30%. These details not only demonstrate his capability to deliver tangible results but also underscore the contributions to the organization's success, showing a strong alignment between his actions and the overarching business goals.
Public Health Programme Manager
- Structured Career Progression - Daniel Baker's CV clearly illustrates a logical career trajectory from roles focused on early years education to increasingly senior positions in public health programme management. This progression signals a deepening of expertise and leadership within child development and health domains.
- Diverse Skill Application - The CV displays an adept use of cross-functional skills in areas such as strategic partnerships, data analysis, and programme implementation, underscoring Daniel's capacity to utilize technical and communicative skills across various facets of public health and education.
- Impactful Community Engagement - Achievements such as increasing programme efficiency and securing significant funding demonstrate a strong alignment with community health objectives. This illustrates not just an ability to manage projects but to do so with tangible, community-centered outcomes.
By Role
Public Health Analyst
- Robust Career Trajectory - Over the span of 9 years, Charlie Thomas has built a strong foundation in public health analysis, showcasing a clear upward trajectory with progressive roles at organizations like WHO, MedAire, and Bupa Global. His promotions reflect his deepening expertise and impact in every role, underscoring a commitment to growth and professional development within the healthcare industry.
- Leadership and Team Development - Charlie demonstrates significant leadership qualities, not only through his direct contributions but also by effectively training new personnel, as highlighted by his success in increasing team efficiency by 40%. These initiatives speak to his capability in fostering strong, efficient teams, and enhancing collective performance through strategic leadership and mentorship.
- Substantial Achievements with Measurable Business Impact - The CV highlights key achievements where Charlie's efforts led to tangible business improvements, such as the 20% increase in client preparedness due to his global health risk monitoring contributions. These accomplishments go beyond mere numbers, showcasing a thorough understanding of how data and research directly influence business operations and client satisfaction.
Public Health Nurse
- Clear and Concise Presentation - The CV is effectively organized with clearly labeled sections, efficiently outlining the candidate's qualifications and career highlights. Each job role is presented with a brief but comprehensive list of achievements, making it easy for the reader to assess the candidate's impact quickly.
- Demonstrates Career Growth and Versatility - Lucas Adams' career trajectory showcases a steady progression from a Community Support Officer to a Healthcare Team Leader within the NHS, indicating recognized leadership capabilities and adaptability to increasing responsibilities.
- Focus on Technological and Methodological Innovation - The CV highlights Adams' emphasis on employing innovative tools and methodologies, such as the implementation of electronic health records and Chat Health services, demonstrating a strong commitment to integrating technology in healthcare settings for better outcomes.
Public Health Officer
- Structured and Succinct Presentation - The CV is meticulously organized, with clear section headers that make the content easily navigable. The concise bullet points for each role emphasize significant achievements and responsibilities, allowing the reader to quickly grasp the candidate's key contributions and skills.
- Progressive Career Path in Public Health - Samuel Campbell demonstrates a well-defined career trajectory with increasing responsibilities, evident in his transition from Health Promotion Specialist to Public Health Coordinator. This progression showcases continuous professional growth and a deepening expertise in public health and food security.
- Industry-Specific Achievements with Tangible Impact - The CV effectively highlights achievements with clear business relevance, such as a 30% increase in community engagement and a 15% reduction in obesity rates. These figures are not just metrics but reflect the profound impact of Samuel's initiatives on public health outcomes and community wellbeing.
Public Health Dentist
- Effective use of structure and clarity - The CV is well-organized, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions, making navigation straightforward. Each section is concisely presented, allowing quick access to key information relevant to a potential employer.
- Strong career progression and industry leadership - The candidate demonstrates evident growth and expertise in the dental field, starting from a role as a Dentist in the NHS and advancing to leading initiatives and operational improvements at Bupa Dental Care. This reflects their capability to take on increasing responsibilities and contribute significantly to their workplaces.
- Proven impact through measurable achievements - The CV includes specific accomplishments that highlight the candidate's ability to effect positive change, such as increasing patient visits by 30% and enhancing patient retention. These metrics provide clear evidence of their contribution to business growth and operational efficiency.
Public Health Educator
- Structured Clarity - The CV boasts a structured and clear presentation, neatly organizing information into sections that are easy to navigate. The use of bullet points effectively communicates specific achievements and responsibilities, ensuring that the reader can quickly comprehend Eva Fisher's professional journey and impact.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Eva Fisher's career path illustrates a clear progression in mental health roles within educational environments. Starting as a Mental Health Support Worker and advancing to a Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Eva has consistently taken on more complex responsibilities, demonstrating her growth and leadership in the mental health sector.
- Integral Industry Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights Eva's proficiency in cognitive behavioral therapy, an industry-relevant methodology essential in mental health interventions. This technical depth underscores her capability to address mental health challenges effectively within educational settings, making her especially suited for roles focused on youth support.
Public Health Physician
- Strong Career Progression in Public Health - Sophia Foster's CV presents a clear career trajectory that moves from a foundational role at the World Health Organization to more complex positions at NHS England and Public Health England. This path highlights her growth within the industry, showcasing an upward trajectory that aligns with an increasing breadth of responsibilities and impact, from a general public health officer to specializing in tuberculosis control and epidemiology.
- Impactful Achievements with Quantifiable Outcomes - The CV lists critical achievements with specific metrics, such as leading a national tuberculosis reduction strategy that decreased cases by 20% and a community immunization project that boosted vaccination rates by 40% in marginalized areas. These figures not only demonstrate her ability to implement effective health interventions but also underscore the substantive impact her contributions have had on public health outcomes.
- Cross-functional Collaboration and Leadership - Foster's experience section emphasizes collaboration across different health sectors, highlighting her ability to establish effective partnerships with local health departments and correctional facilities. Her role in spearheading epidemiologic research and policymaking underscores her leadership qualities, further illustrated by her successful mentorship of teams that improved project delivery times by 20%, demonstrating both her adaptability and leadership skills in multifaceted environments.
Public Health Veterinarian
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is well-organized and easy to navigate, with each section clearly labeled and concisely presented. The use of bullet points in the Experience section ensures that achievements and responsibilities are highlighted succinctly, making it easy for the reader to identify key accomplishments quickly.
- Demonstrated Career Progression - Noah's career trajectory is evident, moving from a Veterinarian at Blue Cross to a Senior Veterinarian at RSPCA. This progression, along with the diversified roles within the same industry, signifies growth in both responsibility and expertise, showcasing a strong commitment to animal welfare and professional development.
- Emphasis on Community and Public Health Initiatives - Unique elements of Noah's CV include a strong focus on community engagement and public health collaborations. This is particularly highlighted through the development of spay/neuter programs and volunteer expansions, which not only serve the immediate needs of animal care but also integrate more significant public health considerations, illustrating a broader impact on the community.
Public Health Nutritionist
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV employs a well-organized structure, ensuring clarity and conciseness throughout the document. Each section is logically ordered with bullet points under each experience, which allows for quick comprehension of Olivia Turner's responsibilities and accomplishments. This clarity in presentation helps reader focus directly on her key competencies and achievements.
- Demonstrated Career Growth and Trajectory - Olivia Turner's career progression from Registered Dietitian to Public Health Nutritionist II is evident and impressive, showcasing her advancement in both responsibility and scope of work. Her transition from providing direct nutritional counselling to developing comprehensive public health programs reflects significant professional growth and adaptation to more complex roles within the health nutrition sector.
- Achievements Highlighting Community Impact - The CV emphasizes achievements with substantial community impact, such as the creation of strategic nutrition interventions that led to a 10% reduction in obesity rates. By illustrating such measurable outcomes, the document not only lists accomplishments in numbers but also underscores the real-world implications and benefits of her work on public health in communities.
Public Health Epidemiologist
- Commitment to Data-Driven Improvements - Thomas Walker's CV is distinguished by a clear emphasis on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement. His experiences from enhancing reporting efficiency by 30% to improving data collection processes by 15% are testament to his focus on tangible improvements through data analysis and health informatics.
- Progressive Career in Public Health - Thomas's career trajectory exhibits a focused journey in public health and epidemiology. From his beginnings as a Research Assistant to his current role at Public Health England, his path shows steady progression and increasing responsibility, underscoring his commitment and growth in the sector.
- Leadership in Cross-Functional Projects - The CV highlights Thomas's leadership in cross-functional and multi-agency projects. His experiences in directing teams and collaborating with healthcare agencies to enhance project outcomes demonstrate his capability to work within complex systems and deliver results through cross-functional leadership and collaboration.
Public Health Microbiologist
- Structuring and Clarity in Content Presentation - The CV is presented with a well-structured layout that organizes sections logically, allowing for easy navigation and comprehension. Key elements such as experience, education, and skills are clearly delineated, and concise bullet points succinctly convey complex responsibilities and achievements, making the document clear and effective.
- Comprehensive Career Trajectory and Growth - The career progression of Isaac Scott demonstrates significant professional growth and expert recognition in the field. Starting as a Microbiology Specialist, progressing to a Senior Microbiologist, and then achieving a Consultant role, reflects a clear upward trajectory. This progression showcases his evolving responsibilities and the trust placed in him to lead critical initiatives within the public health sector.
- Significant Achievements with Industry-Relevant Impact - The CV highlights remarkable achievements that not only list improvements in efficiency and cost reductions but also emphasize their contribution to public health and safety. Strategies like reducing outbreak duration by 15% through genomic techniques and streamlining pathogen response protocols by collaborating with global agencies underline the candidate's ability to achieve meaningful impact in the field of medical microbiology.
Public Health Inspector
- Structured Career Progression - The CV demonstrates a strategic career path with upward mobility, transitioning from Environmental Health Officer to Senior Public Health Officer within the Public Health sector. This progression illustrates the candidate's capability to take on increased responsibilities and leadership roles over time.
- Emphasis on Leadership and Problem Solving - Leadership capabilities are evidenced by the effective management of public health emergencies and improving compliance rates through strategic initiatives. The CV highlights the candidate's ability to tackle complex issues, spearhead outbreak management, and drive improvements in health safety metrics, showcasing strong problem-solving skills.
- Industry-Specific Certifications and Training - The inclusion of certifications like the Certified Food Protection Manager and MA PHIT Housing Certificate underscores the candidate's commitment to staying abreast of industry standards. These qualifications enhance their technical depth in food safety management and housing sanitation, essential for a Public Health Inspector role.
Public Health Social Worker
- Clear and Well-Structured Presentation - The CV is organized with a logical flow starting from personal details and a professional summary, followed by distinct sections for experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. This clarity ensures potential employers can easily navigate through the content, quickly identifying relevant information about the candidate’s qualifications and expertise.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Grace Bailey’s career path showcases consistent growth, moving from a Mental Health Social Worker to a Senior Social Worker. Each role builds upon the previous one, reflecting an upward trajectory and increased responsibilities, such as mentoring junior social workers and leading projects, which demonstrate her leadership abilities and commitment to professional development in the mental health sector.
- Impactful Achievements with Real-World Relevance - The CV presents notable achievements that clearly indicate the candidate's positive impact in the workplace, such as reducing crisis intervention cases by 15% through strategic initiative implementation and increasing compliance rates during audits. These accomplishments not only emphasize her dedication and effectiveness but also highlight her ability to drive meaningful changes that benefit both organizational efficiency and client well-being.
Public Health Administrator
- Structured Presentation - The CV is exceptionally well-organised, offering a clear layout that enhances readability. Each section is distinctly outlined, covering essential areas like experience, skills, and education, ensuring the hiring manager quickly grasps the candidate’s credentials and how they align with the role of an administrator.
- Career Development and Industry Focus - Emily’s career trajectory is indicative of steady growth within the administrative field, showcasing promotions that align with increasing responsibilities. Progressing from an Administrative Assistant to an Administrative Coordinator within healthcare-related organizations underscores her dedication and expertise in this specific domain.
- Technical Proficiency in Industry-Relevant Tools - The CV emphasizes Emily’s adeptness with industry-specific tools like Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and ERP Gold, demonstrating her capability to enhance administrative processes. Her advanced training in these tools through courses adds a layer of technical depth that is crucial for managing complex projects and improving operational efficiency.
Structuring and formatting your public health CV for an excellent first impression
The experts' best advice regarding your CV format is to keep it simple and concise. Recruiters assessing your CV are foremost looking out for candidates who match their ideal job profile. Your white space, borders, and margins. You may still be wondering which format you need to export your CV in. We recommend using the PDF one, as, upon being uploaded, it never alters your information or CV design. Before we move on to the actual content of your public health CV, we'd like to remind you about the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS). The ATS is a software that is sometimes used to initially assess your profile. Here's what you need to keep in mind about the ATS:
- All serif and sans-serif fonts (e.g. Rubik, Volkhov, Exo 2 etc.) are ATS-friendly;
- Many candidates invest in Arial and Times New Roman, so avoid these fonts if you want your application to stand out;
- Both single and double column CVs can be read by the ATS, so it's entirely up to you to select your CV design.
PRO TIP
Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a public health CV
- Education and Qualifications reflect academic background relevant to public health, showing foundational knowledge.
- Relevant Work Experience demonstrates hands-on experience in the public health field.
- Key Public Health Skills outline specific competencies, like epidemiology or health education.
- Research and Publications highlight contributions to public health knowledge and expertise.
- Professional Memberships and Associations show active engagement with the public health community.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your understanding of epidemiology and biostatistics, showcasing experience in managing and analysing public health data to develop evidence-based policies.
- Demonstrate your communication skills by describing campaigns or programmes you have designed or contributed to that address public health issues within communities.
- Detail your experience with various public health methodologies, such as needs assessments, program evaluation, and intervention strategies, to show your practical skills in the field.
- Include any partnerships or collaborations with healthcare providers, non-governmental organisations, or communities, illustrating your ability to work effectively across different sectors.
- Showcase your commitment to continuous professional development by listing relevant conferences, workshops, or additional coursework in public health topics that you've completed.
Recommended reads:
What information should you include in your public health CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their public health CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for public health:
Dr. Jane Smith | Lead Epidemiologist | Infectious Disease Prevention | PhD in Public Health | 10+ Years
Michael Johnson | Public Health Advisor | Health Policy Analysis | MSc Global Health | 5 Years Experience
Dr. Emily Clarke | Sr. Environmental Health Officer | Risk Assessment Expert | Chartered Status | 15+ Years
Tom Bennett | Health Promotion Specialist | Community Engagement | BSc Health Studies | Certified | 3 Years
Dr. Laura Evans | Deputy Director of Public Health | Strategic Planning | Doctorate in Epidemiology | 8 Years
Alice Roberts | Public Health Nutritionist | Diet & Wellness Programs | MPH | Registered Dietician | 6 Years
Your public health CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
public health candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you public health CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a public health job:
The best formula for your public health CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Highlight any epidemiological research you've participated in, detailing your role in the study design, data collection, and analysis.
- Specify your experience with public health campaigns, including objectives, your contribution, and the outcome or impact on target populations.
- Detail your involvement in policy development or health promotion, outlining the scope of policies you've influenced and the extent of your input.
- Include your experience with community health interventions, focusing on your engagement with communities and your role in implementing strategies.
- Mention any experience you have in managing public health crises or outbreaks, describing your decision-making role and the results of the actions taken.
- Provide examples of grant writing or funding acquisition for public health projects, highlighting the amount of funds secured and the objectives of funded projects.
- Document your experience in interdepartmental collaboration within public health systems and the outcomes of these collaborations.
- Outline your skills in data management and statistical analysis, including familiarity with specific software and the extent to which you've used these in your work.
- Cite any teaching or mentoring experience in public health, describing the subjects taught, the level of students or professionals mentored, and the impact of your teaching.
- Spearheaded a community health initiative that increased vaccination rates by 40% in underserved areas within 12 months through strategic outreach and partnership with local organisations.
- Designed and implemented a health promotion campaign on sexual health education reaching over 20,000 residents, resulting in a 15% reduction in reported STIs within the targeted demographic.
- Managed a budget of £500,000 for public health programs, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and a 10% cost reduction through effective contract negotiations with service providers.
- Oversaw the deployment of a mobile health application to track infectious diseases, leading to a 25% improvement in reporting speed and accuracy among health care providers.
- Collaborated with non-governmental organisations to develop a nutrition awareness project that reached over 30 schools, improving students' understanding of healthy eating habits by 60%.
- Initiated a workforce wellness program that improved employee productivity by an average of 20% and reduced sick leave by 30% through comprehensive health screenings and wellness workshops.
- Conducted epidemiological research on the impact of pollution on respiratory illnesses, influencing local government policy on air quality standards.
- Facilitated multi-sectoral partnerships leading to the successful procurement of £2 million in funding for sustainable urban health projects.
- Analysed public health data to identify trends and disparities, contributing to the development of targeted intervention strategies that benefitted over 50,000 residents.
- Led a team of health educators in delivering training sessions to over 5,000 healthcare professionals on new maternal health protocols, boosting maternal health outcomes by 35%.
- Pioneered a digital health record system for maternal care in the region, enhancing data accessibility for 300 healthcare providers and improving patient follow-up care efficiency.
- Orchestrated an international conference on public health innovations, attracting 500+ attendees and securing partnerships with 15 global health organisations.
- Established a mental health awareness campaign that reached 10,000 individuals, significantly reducing stigma and improving access to mental health services by 25% in the community.
- Evaluated the efficacy of mental health interventions using qualitative and quantitative methods, providing critical insights that shaped future mental health policies.
- Streamlined cross-department communication, resulting in a 30% increase in care coordination and a more integrated approach to mental healthcare delivery.
- Developed and executed a strategic plan for combating obesity in children leading to a 20% reduction in overweight children in surveyed schools over a 5-year period.
- Authored and disseminated public health guidance on childhood obesity that became the reference material for 120 local health departments across the United Kingdom.
- Supervised a cross-functional team of nutritionists, educators, and epidemiologists, enhancing program efficiency and employee engagement through targeted professional development opportunities.
- Championed the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) into health monitoring, improving disease outbreak response times by 50% within the municipality.
- Presented geographic health findings at 10+ national conferences, raising the profile of the department and securing an additional £150,000 in research funding.
- Supervised a team of 20+ public health professionals, achieving a 90% staff retention rate over 4 years through mentorship and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Implemented an innovative school-based vaccination program which led to a 95% immunisation rate among eligible students within the first year.
- Collaborated with local media to launch a public health awareness campaign achieving a reach of over 1 million views across various platforms and a significant increase in community engagements.
- Drove a 20% improvement in operational efficiency by revamping internal processes for health intervention reporting and data analysis.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your public health CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your public health CV:
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Health Policy Development
Program Evaluation
Environmental Health
Health Promotion
Disease Surveillance
Research Methods
Data Analysis
Grant Writing
Communication
Leadership
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Adaptability
Cultural Competency
Ethical Judgement
Attention to Detail
Time Management
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
CV education and certificates: your academic background as proof of your skill set
A common misconception about your public health CV education is that you only need it, if you have less professional experience. That is completely false. The CV education section serves to back up your technical (and sometimes personal) capabilities, fill in gaps in your work history, and show you have the initial industry background and know-how. When creating your education section:
- List your degrees in the reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent (and relevant) ones first;
- Include your degree and university names, start and graduation dates. It's optional to also denote you received a "First-Class Honours" for diplomas that are more relevant to the role;
- Curate your relevant university coursework, projects, or thesis work if you happen to have less professional expertise and need to integrate more job keywords and skills.
Your professional qualifications don't need to stop at your academic background. It's advisable to also select up to three of your most noteworthy (and relevant) industry certificates and feature them in a dedicated section. Once more, include the certificate name, the institution that issued it out, and the date you obtained it on. You could feature both hard skills and soft skills certificates, as in the examples below:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your public health CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.