Economists

Students should obtain as much experience in the field as possible by participating in internships and fellowships—especially those that involve collecting and studying data, conducting surveys, and writing reports on their findings.

Economists' work is detail oriented. They do extensive research and enjoy working with abstract theories. Their research work must be precise and well documented. In addition, economists must be able to clearly explain their ideas to a range of people, including other economic experts, political leaders, and even students in a classroom. Other important traits include excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, curiosity, and an openness to new ideas and other points of view.