<p>I was just wondering what can you really do if you have an economics degree? Is it still possible to go into the finance industry?</p>
<p>You should probably tell us what school you are going to and what GPA you have(or expect). </p>
<p>With a 4.0 in Economics from MIT you can go anywhere.</p>
<p>With a 3.0 in Economics from University of Phoenix you can super-size my #4.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/487185-who-majors-economics.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/487185-who-majors-economics.html</a></p>
<p>Most economics majors end up in Finance/Business/Economic/Accounting jobs or they go to grad school.</p>
<p>You cannot get a job in accounting with an economics degree.</p>
<p>Yes you can.</p>
<p>Economics majors being taken for accounting jobs is very, very very, VERY rare. Unless you’ve actually taken accounting courses, rarely included in the econ major, there’s a 95% chance you won’t get the job just on account of your major.</p>
<p>Maybe bookkeeping. I was an economics major prior to being an accounting major, and took all the classes anyone with an economics major is <em>required</em> to take(i.e. Intermediate Micro and Macro, statistics, but still had lots of advanced electives to take). I didn’t know the difference between a debit and a credit. Obviously if I had taken a bunch of accounting classes also then I could’ve gotten a job doing some kind of non-public accounting without a CPA, but that’s it. You can get a job being a bookkeeper without even bothering with college at all.</p>
<p>my understanding is that econ majors generally hate accounting and vice versa</p>
<p>My friend graduated from duke with an econ degree a couple of years ago and he got an offer from an accounting firm. they also paid for him to get his masters of accountancy which he finished up this year. I don’t know how likely it is to be able to do this but I can say that I know a real case of a person getting an econ degree and going into accounting.</p>
<p>There are different jobs at accounting firms, especially the Big 4 and other large firms. Some economists do work at accounting firms. But that doesn’t mean if you major in economics you can get a job being an accountant. That is like saying that you majored in biology and work as a nurse.</p>
<p>The federal government has lots of Economist positions. Go to [USAJOBS</a> - The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site](<a href=“http://www.usajobs.gov%5DUSAJOBS”>http://www.usajobs.gov) and search for “economist”. Entry jobs require a bachelor’s degree and have a promotion potential to GS-12 within 3 years. Agencies hiring economists include the Departments of Labor, Treasury, Homeland Security, Agriculture and Transportation, among others.</p>
<p>I’m doing quite while with my econ degree carving out a niche in the entertainment/television industry. So far I’ve interned with Time Warner and NBC Universal. I have an interviews lined up with MTV Networks, HBO, ABC, and possible Nielsen Media Research. I’ve been working more in the production management end so far, but am branching more into business development/audience research.</p>
<p>We’ll see though what happens when it comes to finding a full time position. Nielsen Media Research has a two year program that looks like a pretty amazing launching pad for a career.</p>
<p>My D has a friend with a BA in Econ who is working with a boutique IB firm in NYC fwiw.</p>
<p>I had a degree in economics, with a business minor (only took one accounting class and hated it ;)), and was hired as a gas accountant at a large oil company in their pipeline division. This was back in the 80’s :)</p>
<p>My son just graduated with a double major - econ/English and was hired in commercial banking.</p>
<p>My D, with an undergrad degree in economics from an LAC, had several job offers roughly three years ago. She accepted one with an economic consulting firm (got the job in part because of her fluency in Spanish, which was helpful dealing with their clients in Latin America). D has had excellent mentoring. This past fall she spoke on a panel at their conference – the only employee under the level of director to do so. Her top boss is frequently interviewed by the media these days re the current economic stiuation. It has been a wonderful first job experience for her. </p>
<p>She has decided, however, to go to grad school in applied economics at this point, feeling that she needs the graduate degree to go further in her field. She is interested in eventually doing something in public policy.</p>
<p>See [Jobs</a> - Am I Eligible for the Young Professionals Program?](<a href=“http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTHRJOBS/0,,contentMDK:20519680~pagePK:64262408~piPK:64262191~theSitePK:1058433,00.html]Jobs”>World Bank Group - International Development, Poverty, & Sustainability) for one idea (World Bank Young Professionals Program).</p>
<p>Jyber, it will be interesting if perchance our D’s wind up at the same grad school. Mine’s undergrad was Government/Math (as you know) but she’s working as an Econ research assistant and is looking to go into an Econ PhD program, also with a focus on public policy.</p>
<p>This post made me chuckle a bit. Then I realized how it pertains to me… The truth is, this is sad but true. I graduated from California State University, Chico (Chico State) with a 3.0GPA with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2004. I don’t think it matters that my option was in Environmental Economics with a minor in Environmental Studies. I went to work for a local lumberyard for like $8/hour. I worked several temp jobs after that that did not go anywhere. My problem was I did not have any solid work experience right after school. I highly encourage students to do an internship/co-op to get on-the-job training. I had my intership/volunteer work with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service the summer before I graduated. My grades were good, it is just the fact that I worked part-time off and on all through college without any real solid full-time work. </p>
<p>Finally, I had to move back home with my parents at the age of 26 again. I could not afford to live on my own. There I got a job with the Salvation Army in Chico, CA for minimum wage. It was then I realized that I needed more education but I could not afford the time nor the money for a MBA (Masters in Business Administration). I picked up some more Accounting at Butte Community College. WHY would anybody want to go backwards to a CC? My parents told me I was on my own for college after my Bachelor’s degree, so I went for what I could afford working min. wage. </p>
<p>I applied for some more temp jobs that paid more than minimum wage, but those did not go anywhere. Finally… I applied at a local Walmart and they hired me there. Walmart and Salvation Army have been partners for years and years. My work experience showed that I am a steady worker and my education proved that I was “smarter than the average bear”. (Yogi Bear reference) I have been with Walmart for the past 4 years. I have medical benefits, 401(k)/stock plan, an employee discount card, and many many wonderful co-workers. Even though I am part-time, I believe my schedule gives me more time to study accounting/bookkeeping and look for other jobs if I need to. Walmart has been the number 1 or 2 Fortune 500 company for a few years now. I am happy to work for them… even with my degree. I believe happiness comes before material possessions. I am very close to my family, have a steady part-time job, (which is good to have a grasp on in this economy of high unemployment) and I have enough income to get by even though I have to budget quite a bit. </p>
<p>Best of luck to all of you!</p>
<p>-Matt</p>
<p>That is the attitude to have, Matt! Focus on the important things. I graduated in 1987 and it was not the smooth sailing I thought it would be. My recession started in 2004 and I am still temping and learning about the non-monetary things that are important. I did not want to go to college. I wanted to get work experience but I was 17 and my parents had a different idea. I told my Dad just before I lost him that I am now glad they forced me into college because exposure, education, and critical thinking are their own rewards.</p>