Your Career in Health
A guide to getting started, growing and thriving in the health workforce
For more information about this resource, please contact:
Anna Yankelev, Director of Strategic Workforce Initiatives, ayankelev@hmprg.org
Health is about more than hospitals and clinics. It is shaped by our homes, schools, jobs, neighborhoods, food, transportation, and more. When we expand our understanding of what health is, we can see there are many ways to build a career that helps people live long, healthy lives in strong communities. This guide shows that health careers can take many forms—and that people from all different backgrounds belong in this work.
Your Career in Health helps you explore what is possible. Whether you are just getting started, changing careers, or planning your next step, this guide can help you find a path that fits your interests, skills, and goals.
The full guide includes over 300 pages of detailed career information. Use the table of contents and navigation buttons to jump to the section you need.
The mini guide includes a 16 page sample of the full guide to give you an idea of what’s included. This is a great version to print and have on hand for career fairs and other events.
The two-page companion guide offers guidance on how to use the full guide for those working with students or job seekers, like a career coach, guidance counselor, parent, or mentor.
What’s included
- Why Work in Health? This section explains what affects people’s health and how different jobs can help. We recommend reading this section first.
- Health Career Directory: A list of more than 130 different jobs across the health workforce. This section is helpful if you’re curious about different job options and want to learn more about their requirements, salaries, and outlooks.
- Career Pathway Guide: Eighteen examples of how you can move between different jobs and grow your career.
- Worker Profiles: Stories of how real Chicagoans built their careers in health.
- Career Support Resources: Tools and resources from our partners to help you in your career journey.
Why this matters
Too many communities have been left out of jobs in health care and public health, even though these fields can offer good pay, stability, and the chance to make a difference. The guide explains that health is shaped by social and community conditions, and it calls for a workforce that reflects and understands the communities it serves.
When more people can see themselves in these careers, communities are stronger and healthier.
Watch health professionals share their career journeys
Hear directly from health professionals about how they got started, what they learned along the way, and what their work means to them. These short video interviews offer honest advice, real experiences, and encouragement for anyone thinking about a career in health.