General
- Are you accepting volunteers?
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Yes! There are many ways to volunteer, such as mentoring, speaking on a panel, or providing a professional development opportunity. Check out the Get Involved page for more info.
- What educational qualifications do you need as a Pathways Professional?
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We are recruiting non-traditional public health professionals, so you need minimal educational qualifications. Some applicants may have extensive experience but do not hold a degree. Qualifications outside of education will depend on the specific project within the placement site.
- What kind of career background do you need as a Pathways Professional?
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Pathways professionals have a range of experience, typically entry-level. We look for experience and skills that can meet work needs across DOH. Please visit the Pathways Professionals and Interns page to learn more.
- How will Pathways Professionals spend their time?
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Professionals spend about 30-32 hours a week on projects by their assigned professional placement site. They spend up to 8-10 hours a week on mentorship, professional development, and other cohort activities as part of the Workforce Pathways Program.
- What qualifications do you need as a Pathways intern?
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We are recruiting students ranging from the associates to graduate degree level. You must be an actively enrolled student at a Washington state college during the summer internship to qualify. Students who are graduating in May or June and students enrolled in out-of-state schools are not eligible.
- Who can be a mentor?
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Anyone can be a mentor. We welcome public health professionals from any field, all career levels and all communities in Washington to mentor our Pathways Professionals. To learn more about mentoring, visit the Mentorship and Professional Learning Opportunities page.
Professional Placement Site
- What does it mean to be a professional placement site for a Pathways Professional or intern?
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To serve as a professional placement site means to house a Pathways Professional or intern in your team. Professional placement sites are responsible for providing direct coordination of Pathways Professional or intern project activities, as well as a unique professional development experience.
- Does the agency professional placement site handle the hiring process for Pathways Professionals?
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Yes, professional placement sites handle the entire hiring process. This includes writing job descriptions, postings, and interviewing.
- How do you select professional placement sites?
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We place Pathways Professionals across the agency and select placement sites with projects that match the interests of our priority communities. We also select placement sites that can provide mentorship to new hires from diverse, underrepresented populations. We use standardized scoring criteria to find workforce gaps in the agency.
- Who supervises the Pathways Professional or interns?
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Professional placement sites at the Department of Health supervise their own Pathways Professionals and interns.
More Questions?
Contact the Workforce Pathways team at workforcepathwaysprogram@doh.wa.gov.