If you are pursuing a career in public health, your CV must do far more than list qualifications and job titles. It needs to demonstrate impact, leadership, analytical strength and a genuine commitment to improving population health outcomes. As a UK based career coach with over 25 years of experience supporting professionals across the NHS, local authorities, charities and global health organisations, I can assure you that a well crafted Public Health CV opens doors.
Start with a strong professional profile
Your professional profile is prime estate. This is where you position yourself as a credible public health professional. In three to four concise paragraphs, outline your level of experience, your area of specialism and your key achievements. Use high value keywords such as public health strategy, health promotion, epidemiology, health protection, population health, service improvement, safeguarding, stakeholder engagement and data analysis.
If you are applying for NHS roles, reference your experience aligned to NHS values and public health competencies. For academic or research focused roles, highlight research methods, quantitative analysis, qualitative research and publications. For international or NGO positions, reference global health, health systems strengthening and programme management.
Showcase measurable achievements
Recruiters in public health want evidence. Your CV should demonstrate outcomes. Instead of stating that you supported a vaccination campaign, explain that you contributed to a 15 percent increase in vaccine uptake across a target population. Rather than saying you conducted research, state that your findings informed commissioning decisions or influenced public health policy.
Use metrics wherever possible. Examples include reduced health inequalities, improved screening uptake, enhanced safeguarding compliance or cost savings delivered through service redesign. A results driven Public Health CV stands out immediately.
Structure your employment history effectively
List your experience in reverse chronological order. For each role include your job title, organisation, location and dates. Under each position provide a short overview of your remit followed by bullet points outlining key achievements and responsibilities.
Ensure you reference core competencies such as needs assessment, health impact assessment, commissioning, partnership working, risk assessment, project management and report writing. If you have worked with multi disciplinary teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups or integrated care systems, say so clearly. Public health is collaborative by nature and employers value professionals who can influence across systems.
Highlight education and professional development
Public health is academically rigorous. Your education section should clearly list degrees such as a Master of Public Health, MSc in Epidemiology or related qualifications. Include awarding institutions and completion dates.
Professional registration and memberships are equally important. If you are registered with the UK Public Health Register or affiliated with relevant professional bodies, make this visible. Continuing professional development, training in statistical software, safeguarding training and leadership development programmes should also be included.
Demonstrate technical and analytical skills
Modern public health relies heavily on data. Your CV should reference your proficiency in data analysis tools, statistical software and reporting platforms. Mention experience with health intelligence, surveillance systems and performance dashboards.
Employers search for keywords such as data interpretation, public health intelligence, needs analysis, service evaluation and quality improvement. Including these terms naturally within your Public Health CV will also improve applicant tracking system compatibility.
Communicate leadership and soft skills
Technical expertise is only part of the equation. Public health leadership requires communication, diplomacy and resilience. Demonstrate examples of stakeholder engagement, community consultation, partnership development and influencing senior leaders.
If you have led programmes, supervised staff or managed budgets, include this clearly. Show that you can translate complex epidemiological data into accessible recommendations for decision makers and communities.
Tailor your Public Health CV for each application
One of the most common mistakes I see is sending the same CV for every application. A successful Public Health CV is tailored. Carefully review the job description and person specification. Mirror the language used by the employer. Address essential and desirable criteria directly within your experience.
For NHS applications in particular, ensure alignment with the Knowledge and Skills Framework where relevant. For academic roles, expand on research grants, publications and conference presentations.
Keep the format clean and professional
A Public Health CV should be clear, structured and easy to read. Use consistent formatting, professional fonts and logical headings. Avoid excessive graphics or unnecessary design elements. Focus on clarity and content. Aim for two to three pages depending on your level of experience.
Proofread meticulously. Public health is detail oriented and errors undermine credibility.
Optimism and purpose matter
Above all, let your passion for improving population health shine through. Whether your focus is health protection, reducing health inequalities, mental health promotion or global health development, convey your purpose with confidence. Employers want to see commitment as well as competence.
After 25 years of guiding public health professionals across the United Kingdom, I have seen talented individuals transform their careers simply by presenting their experience strategically and confidently. Your expertise deserves to be showcased properly.
If you would like expert support to strengthen your Public Health CV, enhance your LinkedIn profile and position yourself for senior NHS, academic or global health roles, I warmly invite you to book a consultation. Together we can craft a compelling, keyword rich CV that reflects your true value and accelerates your career progression.
Book your appointment with me, Jerry Frempong, or one of CVLondon’s expert CV writers today at https://www.cvlondon.net/book-an-appointment/ and take the next decisive step towards your future in public health.
Public Health CV Sample
