Background: Fellowships in global health are increasingly popular and seek to equip physicians with the skills necessary to be effective global health practitioners. Little objective guidance exists on which skills make graduates competitive applicants from the perspective of potential global health employers.
Objective: We sought to provide objective evidence for the qualifications that make applicants competitive for global health positions by analyzing the listed qualifications for current job openings in large global health organizations.
Methods: The websites of 48 global health employers were systematically searched for current job postings between May and August 2017. Jobs were included for analysis if a medical degree was listed among the primary degrees accepted, and the job was based primarily in a low- or middle-income country.
Results: A total of 5849 employment opportunities were posted during the search period, and 81 (1.4%) of these met inclusion criteria. Twenty-two (27%) jobs required and 35 (43%) preferred a relevant master's degree. Few jobs requested a candidate with a PhD and none mentioned tropical medicine training as a requirement or preference. Twenty-three jobs (28%) required and 19 (23%) preferred candidates to speak another language. Most jobs (69%, 56 of 81) required more than 5 years of relevant experience. Only 11 (13%) jobs were primarily clinical positions.
Conclusions: For physicians pursuing a career in global health, most publicly searchable jobs require substantial previous experience and involvement in global health activities beyond clinical practice. Master's degree and language skills are frequently requested candidate qualifications.