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Help me find a Job.

I recently completed my Master’s in Economics, and I am currently feeling quite lost about what direction to take.

While people often assume that completing a master’s degree means having a clear career path, I honestly do not feel that way right now. My course was largely theoretical, and I have realized that I lack many of the practical and quantitative skills that seem to be expected in today’s job market.

Initially, I wanted to become a professor. I genuinely enjoy teaching, and the idea of being in academia, doing research, and engaging deeply with a subject is something that still interests me. However, I have not been able to clear the exams required to become eligible for teaching positions, and it has made me question whether I should continue pursuing this path or consider other options.

I want to clarify that my goal has always been to become a professor rather than simply take up teaching as a job. At the same time, I am now open to exploring other career paths if they align with my background and interests. The challenge is that I do not know where to start.

If I decide to switch roles or move into a different field, I feel like I would be starting from scratch. I do not have a strong practical or quantitative skill set, and I am unsure about what I should learn, how to learn it, and which career paths would actually be realistic for someone with my background.

Before suggesting internships or entry-level roles as the first step, I want to mention that I have already tried applying for them. Unfortunately, I have struggled to even get interview opportunities, which has made me realize that I may need to first build the right skills and profile to become a stronger candidate.

For people working in economics, research, data, consulting, academia, or related fields, I would really appreciate your advice:

* What skills should someone with a theoretical economics background build to become employable?
* Should I start with quantitative tools like statistics, econometrics, Python, R, SQL, etc.? If yes, what would be the right order to learn them?
* What career options are realistic for someone with a Master’s in Economics but limited practical experience?
* Is it possible to transition into research-oriented roles, and what steps would help make that happen?
* If I decide to move away from academia, what fields would make sense to explore?

I would genuinely appreciate guidance from individuals who have experience in this area or have undergone a similar transition.


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Steward "Tony"’s Answer

Your education does not make you the king of the hill. What make you the "Go To" guy is the experience in real world environments. though you may not want to start at the bottom, you may have to start lower than what originally was your intent.

As a retired head hunter, I have helped many find jobs that lead to career paths and those who learn an industry from the inside have better results in the future. How does one teach if all they have done is learn? That would make them more a parrot than someone who can add value to those they teach from real world experience.

Paying Your Dues is not the same as paying for university. It takes some bumps and bruises, some deflated egos, some humble pie to fully grasp any industries intricate bugs and fixes. Pick an industry and get in a door, before AI erases any opportunity once available.
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Debra’s Answer

Apply for jobs to teach at a community college.

Debra recommends the following next steps:

Teach at a community college
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Liam’s Answer

I often have the same sort of questions and I have watched a few videos that addressed the 'how' and 'what' parts of your question.
https://www.youtube.com/live/2uFclxPrw5Q
https://www.youtube.com/live/JxNp01jim24
https://www.youtube.com/live/kyaBBn7nF-0
https://www.youtube.com/live/nnJoNIpZdM0
This insight into how people are selected for jobs is really helpful. The parts on what qualifications mean to what employers is helpful as well. I hope these are worth the watch for you!
If your goal is to become a professor, maybe try to lean into a different field where it is easier to become one. Just a thought, not an absolute. If you want to work in economics so you can be a better professor later on, I think that's a great idea. Focus on one goal for now setting up steps for the other later.
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