The Office of Career Services offers workshops, employer events, Career Prep Days, resource sessions, and other programming throughout the semester to help you build your skills and prepare for professional conversations.

Register for and attend as many Career Services events as you can before Virtual Speed Networking on October 28. Each event is an opportunity to learn something new, practice engaging with professionals, and build confidence before your networking sessions.

EXPLORE UPCOMING CAREER EVENTS

Want personalized support before the event? Stop by Career Coaching Drop-In Hours to connect with a Career Coach for help with your resume or CV, networking, interviewing, career exploration, job or internship searches, or next-step planning.

No appointment is required—drop in for as much or as little of the session as you need.

Once you have selected your sessions, revisit the Host Bios and learn a little more about each person you’ll be meeting. Pay attention to their career path, organization, areas of expertise, and networking advice.

Use what you learn to prepare at least one question specifically for each host.

Your resume is optional for Virtual Speed Networking, but this is a great opportunity to make sure it reflects your most recent experience, skills, fieldwork, academic projects, and accomplishments.

If you would like feedback before the event, bring your resume to Career Coaching Drop-In Hours or an upcoming Career Prep Day event.

Keep your bio brief and focused. Consider including:

1. Your name, degree program, and concentration, if applicable
2. Your current role or professional background, if relevant
3. Your areas of interest within public health
4. Relevant experience, skills, fieldwork, research, or academic interests
5. Your career interests or what you hope to explore next

Who you are + what you study/do + what you’re interested in + where you hope to go next

Your bio will look different depending on your background, experience, and career goals. Use these examples for inspiration, but make your bio specific to your own experiences and interests.

Example: Current Student

Jordan Lee is an MPH student at CUNY SPH concentrating in Community Health. Jordan is interested in maternal and reproductive health, particularly improving access to culturally responsive prenatal and postpartum care. Through fieldwork with a community-based organization, Jordan has supported health education programming and conducted qualitative research on barriers to care. Jordan hopes to pursue a career in maternal health program development and evaluation.

Example: Student with Relevant Professional Experience

Alex Rivera is an MPH student at CUNY SPH concentrating in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and has three years of experience working in community-based public health programs. Alex is interested in environmental justice, climate-related health risks, and the disproportionate effects of environmental exposures on historically underserved communities. Their experience includes community outreach, health education, and supporting neighborhood-based environmental health initiatives. Alex hopes to build a career in environmental health policy and community-engaged research.

Example: Career Changer

Taylor Smith is an MPH student at CUNY SPH concentrating in Health Policy and Management. Before entering public health, Taylor spent six years working in K–12 education, including four years coordinating student support programs. Taylor is interested in healthcare access, Medicaid policy, and the ways health and social service systems can better address patients’ non-medical needs. They hope to apply their experience in program coordination and stakeholder engagement to a career in healthcare program management or policy.

Example: Recent Alum

Morgan Davis is a recent CUNY SPH graduate with an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Morgan’s interests include infectious disease epidemiology, vaccine surveillance, and the use of population health data to identify disparities in disease burden. During graduate school, Morgan completed fieldwork involving surveillance data analysis and developed skills in R, data visualization, and communicating epidemiologic findings. Morgan is interested in epidemiologist and public health data analyst roles in government and healthcare settings.

Tip: Write your bio in the third person and focus on the information that will be most useful to a professional meeting you for the first time. You do not need to summarize your entire resume.

Want to see more examples before writing your own? Explore these resources for professional bio examples, templates, and ideas:

1. MIT Sloan Career Development Office: Professional Bio Examples & Templates — A collection of professional bio examples and templates showing different ways to summarize your experience, education, accomplishments, and skills.
2. Penn State: Public Health Graduate Student Professional Bio Example — See a real professional bio from a graduate student pursuing an MPH, including how they describe their academic background, research focus, and public health interests.
3. Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health: Professional Bio Guidance — Public-health-specific guidance on what graduate students can include in a professional bio, including relevant academic and professional experience, current work, and career goals.
4. Indeed: How to Write a Short Bio — Examples & Video — Includes several short professional bio examples, guidance on what to include, and a video on creating a concise professional bio.

Keep your introduction to about one minute and include:

1. Your name and degree program
2. Where you are in your SPH journey—for example, your year in the program or whether you are an alum
3. A relevant interest, experience, or career goal that connects to the host’s work
4. Why you wanted to meet this host specifically

Use this simple structure as a starting point:

Hi, I’m [Name], and I’m a [degree program] student/alum at CUNY SPH. I’m particularly interested in [area of interest/career goal]. I was excited to speak with you because [specific connection to the host’s background]. I’d love to learn more about [topic you hope to discuss].

Hi, I’m Jordan, and I’m an MPH student concentrating in Health Policy and Management. I’m particularly interested in healthcare administration and improving access to care. I was excited to speak with you because of your experience working in hospital operations, and I’d love to learn more about how you built your career in that area.

Your introduction should sound like you, not like a memorized elevator pitch. Practice saying it out loud a few times so you feel comfortable with the key points, but leave room for the conversation to develop naturally.

Before each session, take another look at your host’s bio and adjust the last part of your introduction to reflect why you chose to meet with that particular person.

Want more help developing and practicing your introduction? Explore these additional resources:

1. CUNY SPH Career Workshop: The Essential Resume: Translating Classroom Knowledge to Work Experience — Learn how to showcase your public health knowledge by effectively incorporating academic projects, fieldwork, and other relevant experiences into your resume.
2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Tips for Giving a Powerful Elevator Pitch — A public-health-specific guide to developing a concise and compelling introduction and communicating your public health story.
   
3. University of Florida: Professional Introduction (Elevator Pitch) Guide — A helpful guide for building a 30–60 second introduction and tailoring it to the person you are meeting.
   
4. University of Pennsylvania Career Services: Networking — Elevator Pitch — A short video focused specifically on using an elevator pitch while networking.
   
5. University of Connecticut: Networking — Includes short videos on developing an elevator pitch and networking at conferences and professional meetings.
   

Career Journey

1. What first interested you in your current area of public health?
2. How did you know this career path was right for you?
3. What experiences were most valuable in helping you get where you are today?
4. Was there a particular opportunity or decision that significantly shaped your career?

Skills & Experience

1. What skills are most important for succeeding in your field?
2. What is one skill you wish you had developed earlier in your career?
3. Are there particular experiences you recommend students pursue while in graduate school?
4. What makes someone stand out early in their career in your field?

Networking & Professional Growth

1. What advice do you have for building meaningful professional relationships?
2. How has networking played a role in your own career?
3. Are there professional organizations, communities, or other resources you recommend exploring?
4. What advice would you give someone at my current stage who is interested in this area?

The strongest questions often come directly from something you learned about the host.

For example, instead of asking:

“How did you get into public health?”

Try:

“I saw in your bio that you transitioned from clinical work into health administration. What led you to make that transition?”

Or:

“I noticed that your work focuses on health equity and community partnerships. What experiences helped you develop expertise in that area?”

You only have 15 minutes, and a good networking conversation should feel natural. Two thoughtful questions can lead to a much stronger conversation than trying to work through a long list. Listen to what the host shares, ask follow-up questions when something interests you, and let the conversation develop from there.

1. Test your camera and microphone before the event and make sure Zoom is working properly on the device you plan to use.
2. Update your Zoom display name to your first and last name so hosts and Career Services staff can easily identify you.
3. Use headphones when possible to improve audio quality and minimize background noise.
4. Charge your device or connect it to power before your first session.
5. Use a reliable internet connection and close unnecessary programs or browser tabs that could slow down your device.
6. Keep your session schedule easily accessible so you know which host you are meeting with and when.

1. Find a quiet, well-lit location where you can participate without interruptions.
2. Position your camera at or near eye level and make sure your face is clearly visible.
3. Choose a clean, professional background or use Zoom’s background blur feature.
4. Minimize potential distractions and silence notifications on your phone and computer.
5. Keep your prepared questions and a place to take notes nearby.

Plan to join 10–15 minutes before your first scheduled session. This gives you time to make sure everything is working, connect with Career Services staff, and be ready when your first conversation begins.

Tip: Do a quick practice Zoom call beforehand and look at your setup from the other person’s perspective. Check your lighting, camera angle, background, sound, and display name so there are no surprises on event day.

1. Be present and listen actively. Give the host your full attention and respond to what they share rather than focusing only on your next prepared question.
2. Let the conversation develop naturally. Your prepared introduction and questions are there to guide you, not serve as a script.
3. Ask follow-up questions. If something the host says sparks your interest, explore it! You do not need to get through every question you prepared.
4. Keep your notes and questions nearby so you can reference them without losing focus on the conversation.
5. Be mindful of the time. Leave a moment at the end to thank your host and wrap up the conversation professionally.
6. Ask to stay connected, if it feels appropriate. You can ask whether the host would be comfortable connecting on LinkedIn or staying in touch after the event.

Between sessions, take a moment to:

1. Jot down one or two things you learned or want to remember from the conversation.
2. Note any specific topic or follow-up you may want to mention when you reconnect with the host.
3. Review the bio and prepared questions for your next host.
4. Take a quick reset—get some water, breathe, and get ready for your next conversation.

The goal is connection, not perfection. You don’t need to deliver a flawless introduction, ask every question you prepared, or impress the host with everything you know. Be professional, engaged, and genuinely curious about the person you’re speaking with.

Start with your brief professional introduction. Share who you are, what you’re interested in, and why you were excited to connect with this particular host.

Remember: Keep it conversational—you don’t need to recite a memorized elevator pitch.

This is the heart of the conversation.

1. Ask one of the thoughtful questions you prepared.
2. Listen actively and ask follow-up questions based on what the host shares.
3. Look for opportunities to connect their experiences or advice to your own interests and goals.
4. Don’t worry about getting through every question on your list—a meaningful conversation is more valuable than covering everything you prepared.

As your session comes to an end:

1. Thank the host for their time and insights.
2. Mention a specific takeaway you appreciated from the conversation.
3. If appropriate, ask whether they would be comfortable staying connected after the event.
4. End on time so both you and the host have the full five-minute transition before the next session.

Take a moment to write down what you want to remember, note anything you’d like to reference in a follow-up message, and review your next host’s bio and questions. Maya specifically recommends using the transition period to capture follow-up ideas and prepare for the next conversation.

Keep in mind: This is a guide, not a formula. Some hosts may take the lead, some conversations may jump straight into questions, and others may naturally go in a direction you didn’t anticipate. That’s okay—the goal is to have a genuine professional conversation.

After the event:

1. Visit the Host Bios page for host contact information.
2. Send a brief thank-you message by email or LinkedIn.
3. Personalize your message by mentioning something specific you discussed or a piece of advice you appreciated.
4. Follow through on anything you discussed. If a host recommended a resource, organization, article, or next step, take the time to explore it.
5. Stay connected thoughtfully. If appropriate, connect on LinkedIn and engage with their work over time rather than only reaching out when you need something.

Subject: CUNY SPH Virtual Speed Networking – Thank You!

Hi [Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me during CUNY SPH Virtual Speed Networking. I especially appreciated hearing your perspective on [specific topic or advice]. Our conversation gave me a lot to think about as I continue exploring [area of interest or goal].

It was a pleasure connecting with you, and I hope to stay in touch.

Best,
[Your Name]

A networking conversation doesn’t need to lead immediately to a job, internship, or other opportunity to be valuable. The goal is to build genuine professional relationships over time.

Keep track of the people you meet, what you discussed, and any advice or resources they shared. When you have a meaningful reason to reconnect—an update, a question, or something relevant to a previous conversation—reach out.

Before you move on from the event, take a few minutes to ask yourself:

1. What did I learn about careers or organizations I’m interested in?
2. What advice came up more than once?
3. Did I discover a new career path, skill, organization, or resource to explore?
4. What is one action I can take next based on what I learned?