How To Write an Economist Resume
Writing an economist resume is a lot like creating a report on market data or business spending figures. Start by gathering data: what does the employer want, and what skills and experience do you have to match those needs? Then, present the data in a clear, compelling structure that increases the chance the hiring manager will see your value as a candidate.
This guide offers instructions about constructing that document. It includes tips on writing professional summary and experience sections, as well as including your skills and education on your resume.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your economist qualifications
Your profile section provides an opportunity to introduce yourself in a way that captures the hiring manager’s attention. Pay attention to the most important requirements in the employer’s job listing and address them in this section, customizing it for each resume you send.
This is also a great place to highlight what makes you different from other candidates. For example, if you have a background in health care finance, this is a relevant detail to note when applying for economist jobs in the private or public health care field.
Profile Example #1
Collaborative Economist with 5 years of experience at large corporations. Focused on providing relevant analysis and data-backed suggestions to business leaders and other stakeholders. Experienced and confident public speaker. Master of Economics.
Profile Example #2
Dedicated Economist with 5 years of experience in the federal government. Ready collaborator who builds productive relationships with agency leaders. Focused on helping find new ways to streamline and improve research procedures. Experienced and confident public speaker.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your economist experience
Use this section to build a narrative about your career progression and experience and provide employers with insights into the value you can bring to their organizations.
Begin each bullet point with an action verb before diving into a specific task and result. For example, you might say you “enhanced stakeholder understanding of critical challenges via interactive presentations on analysis and findings.”
Demonstrate your analytical and communication skills further by quantifying results. Whenever possible, provide metrics in relevant dollar figures, percentages, or other specific units.
Professional Experience Example #1
Economist, CKI Corp., San Diego, CA | August 2019 to Present
- Evaluate and pinpoint trends in production of various goods and services
- Perform both qualitative and quantitative analyses of economic factors
- Gather, analyze, and illustrate data using several different software programs
- Helped company navigate a period of rapid growth that saw 136% increased revenue in 8 months
Professional Experience Example #2
Economist, United States Department of Energy, Seattle, WA | August 2019 to Present
Hours per week: 40 | Salary: $72,000 | Supervisor: Aliya Jackson, [email protected] (may contact)
- Analyze and predict spending needs of various government projects to help leaders make sound fiscal decisions
- Gather and assess data on US wages and employment
- Write in-depth reports on research findings for review by multiple agencies
3. Include education and certifications relevant to economists
Most employers filling economist positions want someone with a college degree, and many are looking for professionals with master’s degrees. In these cases, listing your degree helps ensure your resume passes through applicant tracking systems and catches the eye of hiring managers.
You can also include certifications on your resume to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Master’s Degree – Economics
- University of California, San Diego, CA | 2010
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Economic Developer, International Economic Development Council, 2021
4. Outline your most useful economist skills and proficiencies
Create a keyword-rich resume by including relevant skills for the job, especially if they’re mentioned in the employer’s job posting. Mix hard and soft skills to position yourself as a well-balanced candidate. For example, think about how you can show your experience in economic or business trend research and your ability to communicate those findings effectively to others.
Check out our list of common skills for economist resumes. Include some of these if they’re relevant to your experience.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Business trend research | Complex problem-solving |
| Consumer demand and trend analysis | Data gathering and analysis |
| Data visualization | Economic trend research |
| Historical trend analysis | Inflation and interest rate analysis |
| Market trend forecasting | Public speaking and presentations |
| Qualitative and quantitative analysis | Reporting and documentation |
| Spending needs analysis | Statistical modeling |
How To Pick the Best Economist Resume Template
Economists should select streamlined templates and use consistent fonts and minimal design elements. You’re likely including some fairly technical details on your resume. So opt for a template that makes good use of white space to reduce reader fatigue and ensure your document is approachable.
Economist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Cameron Malfara
123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Profile
Dedicated Economist with 5 years of experience in the federal government. Ready collaborator who builds productive relationships with agency leaders. Focused on helping find new ways to streamline and improve research procedures. Experienced and confident public speaker.
Professional Experience
Economist, United States Department of Energy, Seattle, WA | August 2019 to Present
Hours per week: 40 | Salary: $72,000 | Supervisor: Aliya Jackson, [email protected] (may contact)
- Analyze and predict spending needs of various government projects to help leaders make sound fiscal decisions
- Gather and assess data on US wages and employment
- Write in-depth reports on research findings for review by multiple agencies
Economist, United States Department of Agriculture, Seattle, WA | June 2017 to July 2019
Hours per week: 40 | Salary: $67,000 | Supervisor: John Bergsen, [email protected] (may contact)
- Collected and summarized data on economic activity and productivity metrics
- Consulted and advised policymakers, helping ensure new laws accounted for economic factors and implications
Education
Bachelor’s Degree – Business
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Key Skills
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Data Gathering & Analysis
- Data Visualization
- Inflation & Interest Rate Analysis
- Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis
- Reporting & Documentation
- Spending Needs Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions: Economist Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for economist resumes?-
Using the right verbs can help employers see you as someone who is actively engaged in providing value.
For example, you can list “spending needs analysis” as a skill on your resume. But you might also want to pair it with an action verb to create more context in your experience section. “Analyzed spending needs,” “created spending needs analysis,” or “monitored spending needs” all relate to the same skill but provide slightly different context about your experience.
Consider some of the verbs below for your resume.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Conducted |
| Contributed | Evaluated |
| Forecasted | Generated |
| Identified | Modeled |
| Monitored | Performed |
| Presented | Published |
| Researched | Simulated |
| Strategized | Studied |
| Tested | Validated |
| Wrote | |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-
To align your resume with an employer’s job listing, analyze the description posted by the employer. Note specific verbiage used and what types of experience, skill, and knowledge the hiring organization prefers.
Then, include appropriate and relevant information on your resume — just as you’d tailor a presentation about economic development for a specific business or department. For example, if the employer wants someone with expertise in interest rate analysis that you have, use the term “interest rate analysis” in your skills list and your professional experience section.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that job opportunities for economists are expanding at a rate of 6% — that’s faster than average — and are expected to do so through 2032. Aligning your resume with employer needs for every application you send out can make you a more competitive candidate.
What is the best economist resume format?-
Most economists should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
By fusing these two features, a combination resume offers the best of both worlds. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless of whether they’re from that work history or another part of your background. As a result, you can present yourself clearly and strategically. With this format, you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can make an informed decision to call you for an interview.
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