An economist is a professional who conducts, studies and analyses trends. They then give the data they collect to the business that they work for in order to help them forecast future consumer demands. Basically, they are the essential counsel that all business owners turn to when something needs to be done to get more custom and more money!
If you think you have what it takes to fill the very important boots of being a business’s go-to economist, then follow the advice below and get started on your career path.
Get yourself educated and qualified
You can’t just turn up at a business and start dishing out your advice, no matter how good it might be, because the owner won’t pay any attention to if you don’t have the proper qualifications behind you.
First, you should be majoring in Economics at bachelor’s level — here, you’ll delve into all the theories behind micro- and macroeconomics, amongst other areas, and you’ll get the ticket you need to land yourself an entry-level role. If you want to get off to a running start with your career, however, then you should seriously consider going one step further and getting yourself into a master’s course, such as the Applied Economics Boston College. Here, you’ll learn about everything from data analysis to forecasting, and these advanced skills are career-enhancing credentials that’ll see you rise up your ladder far quicker.
Seek an internship
Preferably during your time of studying, you should be seeking an internship program that consists of you assisting a professional economist with their research. By doing so, especially if you land yourself an internship with the government, you will give yourself a head start when it comes to an understanding of how the real-world problems of the day are dealt with in a professional economist manner.
Taking part in and completing an internship program will give you case studies to write about in your assignments, and it’ll provide you with invaluable experiences to look back on when you find yourself thrown into the world of work.
Land yourself a worthwhile first job
Once out of education, you need to get yourself a job that is going to kickstart your career progression, not falter it. A consulting firm, whether you want to work for one in the long run or not, is a good place to start. Doing so will give you the chance to get to grips with professional counseling, and it will teach you invaluable skills when it comes to getting your own counsel across clearly and concisely.
If you really don’t want to work in consulting, then that’s okay. You have to do something worthwhile with the first few years of your career, though, and this could mean stepping into teaching. With a master’s degree, you will be able to find work in most community colleges, and teaching in such establishments will help you to keep your finger on the pulse of all the latest economic trends and tactics.
The earliest stages of this career path can make or break an economist going forward — if you want yours to be the making of you, then make sure to remember all of the advice above.
