How do you identify new career paths as an economist?

Technical expertise is one thing. The ability to understand and communicate the practical implications of analytical findings is another. Too often economists are great at the former but weak on the latter. Other social sciences use internships in organizations as part of their graduate training. That's seldom the case in PhD programs in economics. We spend our time interacting almost exclusively with other economists, cultivating arcane jargon to make our work inaccessible to non-economists. Our training breeds insularity. It undermines the practical value of our great discipline. Budding economists who want to move beyond standard economist roles need to address this gap. I did, and it has made for a most fulfilling and rewarding career.

One thing I've realised is that, with time, you must discover the issues/problems that you can truly relate to personally- and then try to navigate your career path/ research projects in that direction.. If it comes from the heart then there is a higher chance of you cracking interviews/ winning pitches / or being successful at your job

When assessing my skills, I realized that I have strong analytical abilities and enjoy working with numbers and data. My academic background in economics has provided me with a solid understanding of economic theories and equipped me with skills in economic modeling. In addition, I discovered that I have a specific interest in development economics, due to my previous experience in research projects on development policies in developing countries.

I specialize in ML and classical statistical forecasting, as well as macro and finance. I work with traditional models linear and non-linear parametric models, as well as ML tree-based techniques, recurrent and traditional neural nets. Communication is central. My job to disassemble other models when they fail and explain why it happened, and design correct ones. When available data shrinks (long-term forecasting) or its quality deteriorates (highly correlated data), then the value of having the economist on the team forecasting team exponentially increases. My drive is to reduce access to foreign markets for little businesses, and allow a farmer in Kenya to sell his honey across the world. That will be a win.

In my personal experience, having a clear view of your own personal interests in the economics field is one of the key factors to identifying new career paths as an economist. When you have it clear in mind, it is easier to assess which skills are necessary to progress in your career and, thus, develop them if needed. However, it is important to note that this can be a two-way road: you can also assess which skills you already have or would like to learn and, based on this starting point, understand which kinds of paths could be tracked and if you would like to go through that road or not. At the very end of the day, what matters is to work with and learn things of your interest, always feeding this endless loop of learn-identity-work.

Studying Economics is an upward trend According to the 10th Adecco Infoemployment Report on degrees with the most professional opportunities (May 2021), university graduates continue to be the candidates most in demand by companies in their job offers. By branches of knowledge, the degrees in Legal and Social Sciences and those in Engineering and Architecture are the most requested by companies. In fact, between the two they bring together almost 8 out of every 10 job offers in our country. Within the branch of Legal and Social Sciences, there is the Degree in Economics, with an increasing trend in recent years.

When researching the job market for economists, I noticed that there is a growing demand for professionals with skills in economic data analysis and econometrics. I also noticed that sectors such as consulting, finance and technology are increasingly looking for economists to help make strategic decisions.

Sourcing market trends for economists is important from a career development perspective. However, one should not feel intimidated by any potential competitors in any field. Economists should know that what matters at the end of the day is that, often, the most productive, capable, and high-performing agents remain in any market while the less efficient ones usually tend to be kicked off with time. This is true for companies but also for economists.

Economics, in its modern vision, dates back to the 17th century and today is more relevant than ever. In the public sector, an alternative is to work at the Central Reserve Bank. In the private sector, economists can work both as analysts of the global economic situation, in macroeconomic issues, and in proposing microeconomic aspects and various business policies.

Updating CVs and portfolios is important for several reasons. One of them is that one never knows when one would have a one-in-life opportunity to be taken and not having them ready-to-go can be a hindrance to further career progression. Additionally, by always keeping them updated one can make an important self-assessment exercise and identify possible gaps in its own development and work to fix them.

Economists are trained to act, but before doing so we need to think. And for this, other social sciences are required. Therefore, an economist must know geography, culture, sociology and politics to understand the panorama and make decisions inside and outside the country. From this it will be possible to venture into a professional scenario, fulfilling a social function. At a macro level, the economy allows us to prioritize social needs. The entity in charge can take political measures that allow for a more equitable distribution of a country's income.

To stand out in the market, I have updated my CV highlighting my experience in research projects related to development economics and my skills in analyzing economic data using software such as Stata and Python. In addition, I have developed an online portfolio where I share my academic work and relevant projects.

Also, through economic laws, the development of an economy can be analyzed and the most efficient measures selected to reduce poverty and provide better living conditions for the population. You should know that in your degree you will study a lot of mathematics. Students of this degree are motivated to know that the economy drives everything that happens in the country and the world, and has a lot to do with politics. At the current time, the race is of great importance due to economic crises, environmental deterioration and population growth. Economists must look for creative solutions in such contexts.

To expand my network of contacts, I attended conferences and workshops related to development economics, where I had the opportunity to meet professionals in the field and exchange experiences. I also became actively involved in LinkedIn, sharing articles and participating in discussion groups on relevant economic topics.

This is essential. The understanding and expectations of our audience are changing. There are modern analytical techniques, styles of presentation, and social concepts that should drive change in our skillset and publications.

Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, I am constantly seeking opportunities for improvement, such as online courses on advanced econometrics and participation in study groups on emerging topics in the field of development economics. I believe that this commitment to professional development is fundamental to achieving my career goals as an economist.

The economists must possess, such as leadership, curiosity, independent thinking, open mind and entrepreneurship, and reminded young people of the importance of ongoing training to have better opportunities and practice the profession with guarantees and security. Remember the need to be up to date in the knowledge and use of new technological tools, such as 'big data' or Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as in disciplines specific to consulting. And concerning the universities, their core shall be to familiarize economists with the main free AI tools currently used and the most used prompts. They also have the obligation to focus on explaining the relationship and interaction of artificial intelligence and the economy in global terms

Reflect on your existing skills and consider how you can use them in different contexts. Skills such as data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving, are valuable across industries, including finance, government, consulting, data science, policy analysis, & research. Economics intersects with various disciplines, such as environmental economics, health economics, behavioral economics, and urban economics. Explore interdisciplinary fields that align with your interests to discover new career paths that combine economics with other areas of study. Be open to trying new things and taking on projects or roles outside your comfort zone. Volunteering & freelancing expose you to different industries and allow you to test new career paths.