Navigating the Journey to a Public Health Career in the USA: Advice for International Students

A Q&A with Paula Naharros Palacio

Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot of questions from our global audience about how to secure a job working in the public health field within the US. Paula Naharros Palacio kindly agreed to join me for a conversation to answer some of the most frequently asked questions and to offer her advice to other international students and job applicants.

Photo: Paula Naharros Palacio

Q. Thank you Paula for joining us today for a Q&A. I’d like to start off by asking you to share your story briefly with us. 

A. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer this Q&A. My background is pretty unique because my parents and I have always been on the move: my dad is from Madrid, Spain; my mom is from Managua, Nicaragua; I was born in Mexico; most of my growing-up years happened in Venezuela; I went to college in Spain. Thanks to COVID, I spent a year in Ecuador, and now, I've landed in St Louis, MO, where I wrapped up my studies and kicked off my career. 

I graduated from Saint Louis University, where I obtained a B.S. in Public Health and International Studies, with a concentration in Global Health, the environment, and Latin America. I am currently working as a Family Support Liaison at the non-profit LifeWise STL, where I connect families with services and develop educational interventions such as workshops on health, finances, systems and emotional wellbeing. I’ve also been working on the development of screenings designed for schools to identify families at risk and understand their needs. 

Q. Learning more about your unique background and your global perspective makes me want to ask what attracted you to seeking work in the USA?

Of course! Moving from Spain to the US offered me insights on the different healthcare systems and the job market. Since I came here to study for only a year, I felt that I had not been able to grasp the entirety of the public health field and the work that I could potentially be part of. The move to the US offered me insights into different healthcare systems and the public health job market. Overall, so far it has been an excellent choice to gain experience. Even though my intentions are not to stay in the US forever, I am now looking for Masters programs to enhance my capacity to contribute to equitable solutions in global health.

Q. What advice do you have for international candidates seeking a job in the US, based upon your own experiences?

A. When looking for jobs, it is all about consistency and thinking outside the box. Not only start your applications well before you graduate, but also make sure that you have built a network of connections. Moreover, I recommend students to read about opportunities and connect with other international students who have already gone through the job application process. Here’s a website that I found useful for resources to support the international job search and here’s a tool that I developed to keep track of applications.

When you are applying for jobs in US governmental public health, keep in mind that jobs at US federal agencies (including CDC, NIH, USAID) typically require US citizenship. Jobs with State and local public health agencies may also have different requirements for US citizenship and/or local residency, so investigate the requirements before applying and don’t waste your time making the application if you don’t qualify - you’re not going to be able to bend the rules.

Private institutions and organizations including medical centers, hospitals, nonprofits, consulting firms, and others may be a better bet for international candidates. This process is all about the supply and demand: I suggest targeting your job search and developing your skills in areas where the demand is high and the supply of candidates is lower, e.g. biostatistics, health economics, and health IT.

Lastly, I would recommend being open to applying to jobs that might not be in your area of studies. Public health is a holistic and dynamic field, which is perfect for finding more job opportunities. Sometimes jobs that are not related to your field might come up in your research, and they might be the ones hiring you. Either in life, or in general in your job search, it is important to keep your horizons open. Looking for jobs that are not directly related to your major could be a great option and a new learning opportunity. 

Q. If you are not a US citizen, you will require work authorization to get a job in the US. Which kinds of organizations are currently offering visa sponsorship? This is what I did 20+ years ago, but I’ve heard that the possibilities now are very different.

A. Visa sponsorship for non-US citizens seeking employment can vary widely depending on the type of organization that you are working for and the specific conditions at that time. Some of the organizations offering sponsorship could be multinational corporations, universities and research institutions, non-profits, international organizations, and the healthcare industry.

Once again, these opportunities will depend on the organization or company that you are working with. My one recommendation, when going through the interview process, is to ask for the future opportunities that you might have as an employee. Be honest with your employer about being an international student, your future sponsorship needs, and your availability and ambitions for work timing. 

Many, if not all, employers will be curious about your status in the United States. I recommend looking for job application descriptions that include the words “visa sponsorship” upfront. Organizations that have prior experience hiring international students will be more open to sponsoring and hiring you in the first place. Use your network of connections to ask other international students about where they or their friends have been hired. Additional resources used by international students include: CareerShift, International Graduate Student Employer, and H-1B Employer Data Hub.

Q. If you have studied at a US university (e.g on an F1 student visa), what is the time period during which work is permitted? 

A. Regardless of your career field, it is very important for all international students to understand the rules behind training for students on a visa. There are 2 types of practical training that allow international students to be able to work in the US while on a student visa: curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT). CPT allows you to work during your schooling for up to 20 hours a week. OPT allows you to apply for a work authorization after graduation for a year, or up to three years if you belong to a STEM field. 

After the end of the OPT or CPT periods, if your employer wants to continue to employ you, they can apply to sponsor you with an H-1B visa - however, keep in mind that this can be a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive path, and not every employer will be willing to engage. Keep in mind, don't take it too personally if they have a policy that does not support this process! 

Q. What should an international candidate keep in mind when they present themselves to a US employer?

A. A US-style resumé presents itself to an employer very differently to a European CV. Even though they contain a lot of the same information, they can look very different. There are many online guides on how to adapt your European-style CV into a US-style resumé. 

Q. What are some other systemic barriers to entry that international candidates like us might be facing in the job seeking process? 

The lack of access to information on places where to find jobs such as CPT, OPT and are all part of the systemic barriers that international students are subjected to. A lot of organizations and companies don't have the information on how OPT and work authorizations work. This makes it more complicated when applying to jobs. I would often get interviewed for a position and after explaining my background and the time period that I would be allowed to work, the employer would lose interest. 

If you’re coming from outside the US, not holding a US degree, the process can be even more complicated. You have to consider how to demonstrate the right credentials to be able to work in the US. In public health, many employers might ask for a certificate of equivalence of your degree, a translation of your transcripts, and/or an apostille of your degree. Preparing the right documentation is of great importance. 

When it comes to finding jobs that are open to international students, I would recommend using databases such as Handshake, LinkedIn, and United OPT, and look for options to filter jobs that accept OPT and CPT. 

Q. Do you have any other advice for international students? 

When building your resumé or preparing for interviews, highlight the different skills and cultures that you have experienced as an international student. These skills are very valuable within public health, as we interact with many cultures and we understand many populations. Apart from that, going to study in the US as an international student also makes you learn skills such as challenging yourself, cross-cultural understanding, understanding diverse points of views, and even personal responsibility. Knowing how to use your experience as an international student and use it as an advantage in your resumé will earn you a lot of points when trying to convince your employer that you should be hired. 

Additionally, through my experiences in the US job application process, I’ve come to realize that life can offer flexibility and changes in plans. It is acceptable when things don't go as planned. Rejections or setbacks shouldn’t deter you from continuing your job search. As a recent graduate with a bachelors in public health aspiring to work in the international context, there are numerous opportunities with international organizations that may involve placements in the US and other countries. 

Other valuable resources for exploring opportunities with international organizations include: United Nations Jobs, Monster International, EUROjobs, Indeed Worldwide, and HigherEDJobs International.

My experience applying to jobs in the US as an international student has been hectic, complicated and tiresome. Nevertheless, it has been a gratifying experience. Please embrace the richness that you bring to the workforce as an international student. Take this challenge and turn it into determination, flexibility and commitment to your goals. Lastly, your journey is uniquely yours, with the right mindset and strategy, it will result in achievement and growth.

Thank you Paula for so openly and generously sharing your wise advice, based upon your own lived experiences.

Paula Naharros is a recent graduate of Saint Louis University. She holds a B.S. in Public Health and International Studies, with a specialization in Global Health, the environment and Latin America. Paula is interested in Global Health and addressing healthcare inequalities through multicultural perspectives. She has recently launched her public health career as a Family Support Liaison at a non-profit organization called LifeWise STL.

Are there other public health folks out there at ANY career stage who would like to share their perspective in a Q&A or as an opinion piece? DM me and tell me what your angle is.

Join Paula to continue the conversation in Notes or Chat or Comments or Threads:

• Have you been an international candidate seeking a job within public health in the United States? What have you learned from your experiences? What advice would you like to share?

• What questions would you like to ask Paula about seeking public health work in the US as an international candidate?