ECON Undergraduates Blog

ECON Undergraduates Blog


Seniors and Recent Grads: Apply to be a Research Fellow at Stanford Law School

Posted: 09 Sep 2020 11:57 AM PDT

 


Several Stanford Law School professors are seeking full-time Research Fellows to begin work in the summer of 2021. This is a unique opportunity for graduating seniors and recent college graduates to participate in groundbreaking empirical legal and social science research. Past fellows have found the experience to be valuable preparation for graduate school and have matriculated to a number of prestigious graduate school and law programs.

Successful applicants will be matched with a specific professor based on background and interests. As full-time Stanford University employees, fellows will receive a competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, access to campus athletic and academic facilities (to the extent that any ongoing pandemic restrictions allow), paid vacation time, professional development funds, and the capacity to audit Stanford courses and attend on-campus lectures and seminars free of charge.

Responsibilities

  • Job responsibilities vary by position, but involve all aspects of the research process including:
  • Conceptualization of suitable empirical methodologies and models
  • Collecting, managing, and structuring quantitative datasets
  • Statistical analyses of complex datasets and interpretation of results
  • Communication with government officials, industry stakeholders, and research collaborators
  • Report writing and manuscript preparation


Cornerstone Research - Full Time and Internship Opportunities

Posted: 09 Sep 2020 10:00 AM PDT

 

Cornerstone Research recruiting for our Analyst and Summer Analyst positions at UMD this fall. As a quick introduction to our firm and culture, Cornerstone:

  • Uses financial and economic analysis to support expert testimony in high-profile litigation cases
  • Recruits students from all majors; we find that our most successful analysts have a demonstrated interest in research and desire to learn complex economic and financial concepts
  • Works across industries including antitrust, healthcare, finance, intellectual property, and securities and has a generalist model that provides analysts with opportunities across sectors
  • Supports a diverse staff with a strong analyst culture

Cornerstone is an ideal place to start a career, and Analysts often go on to top M.B.A., J.D., or Ph.D. graduate programs or proceed directly into technology, business, finance, or nonprofit work.

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

  • Analyst (current seniors):  11:59pm on Sunday, 9/27/2020
  • Summer Analyst (current juniors):  11:59pm on Tuesday, 9/29/2020

We will also be hosting the following virtual event:

Information Session (Econ. Consulting 101 + Case Study): Tuesday, 9/22/2020, 6PM – 7PM

Registration Link

Those who can't make these events or have questions about our application process should feel free to reach out to Lauren Allen at lallen@cornerstone.com.


Academic Resources

Posted: 09 Sep 2020 09:31 AM PDT

Need help with the shift to online learning?

Visit keeplearning.umd.edu to learn more about the technology your courses will be using, access software free for UMD students, and learn about best practices for online learning and available support.

There's also information on accessibility and accommodations in online courses.

International Student Scholar Services:
Frequently asked questions and contact information for ISSS can be found here: https://globalmaryland.umd.edu/offices/international-student-scholar-services/faq-during-covid-19

Tutoring:
Tutoring services that are available remotely include:
Other Academic Resources: 
Self-Care:
NEW: this Self-Care, Mental Health, Wellness resources page includes COVID-19 specific help for students.

The Counseling Center services are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After-hours crisis services are available by phone at (301) 314-7651 starting at 4:30 p.m. every weekday and on weekends.

Weekly Wellness Workshops (topics include coping skills, academic success, and general community and support).

Career Advising:
UCC @ BSOS is available to students in a remote format. Students are encouraged to engage with UCC @ BSOS virtually using any of the options listed on their website.

Students can connect with employers at these virtual events.

For those seeking internships/jobs, we continue to encourage students to use this time to researchinformational interview and apply to opportunities.

Accessibility & Disability Services
Students should contact the Accessibility and Disability Service (ADS) office if they have any questions on how to implement course accommodations online. ADS staff is available from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reached at (301) 314-7682 or adsfrontdesk@umd.edu. For full information: https://counseling.umd.edu/ads/.

Library/Research Services
Check out all the resources that are available digitally: https://www.lib.umd.edu/about/coronavirus-updates

They have also compiled this list of free research/textbook resources: https://lib.guides.umd.edu/coronavirus/free

UMD Student Crisis Fund:
The UMD Student Crisis Fund is designed to provide emergency financial assistance when personal crisis and unexpected tragedy wreaks havoc upon a student's life. Through the fund and other campus counseling, academic and support resources, students can rely on the strength of their campus community: http://www.crisisfund.umd.edu/gethelp.html

Bias Incident Support Services:
Learn about BISS or report a Hate-Bias incident: https://diversity.umd.edu/bias/

Stay Active!
Stay active with RecWell! Visit recwell.umd.edu/keepmoving for information and tips, including access to virtual and on-demand workoutsE-Sports Leagues and virtual trivia, and information on staying active outdoors.

Seniors! Apply Now for this Two-Year Research Assistantship at the Chicago Federal Reserve Starting Summer 2021

Posted: 09 Sep 2020 09:30 AM PDT

 

The research department at the Chicago Fed is looking to hire a number of research assistants to start in the summer of 2021. This position is structured as a rigorous two-year research assistantship meant to provide empirical and theoretical skills in preparation for graduate school. Most of our RAs enroll in a graduate program upon departure from the Fed.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce. We recognize the benefit derived from different perspectives and experiences, and we look carefully at candidates' records to identify individuals whose perspectives could benefit our work. As such, we especially encourage submissions from groups traditionally less represented in economics.


Research Assistant

In this role, Research Assistants will utilize analytical skills in the areas of Economics, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics and Computer Science to support academic research and policy work by staff economists. Tasks include quantitative research analyses using economic and financial data; computer programming; preparation of briefings and educational outreach materials; and financial and economic database management. The position requires a two-year commitment and is ideal for students considering further graduate work, particularly in the fields of economics or finance. The level of work required is considered entry-level and staff work under direct supervision. This job has no direct reports. This position is structured as part of a two-year program.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

  • Conducts statistical and economic analyses of current macroeconomic, microeconomic, and regional data, and provides research support for the economists
  • Supports the economists in their basic and applied research by following instructions to perform tasks including collecting data, conducting moderately complex statistical analysis, writing statistical software programs, and organizing the presentation of results.
  • Prepares a variety of charts, tables, and descriptive text for Department management or other staff economists to use in their briefings of the President and the Board of Directors.
  • Researches economic topics for economists' articles; on some of these occasions, the efforts will be substantial enough to constitute collaboration with the economists (or department management), leading to jointly authored articles.
  • Recommends, initiates, plans, and executes research projects under the guidance of manager and department researchers. Coordinates research projects and directs activities of research assistants and other staff, as assigned.
  • Performs other duties, as requested


Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Business, Mathematics, or related field with emphasis on quantitative and/or analytical skills.

Knowledge and Skills

  • Knowledge of and ability to apply economic theory and quantitative analysis techniques under the general supervision of department researchers.
  • Ability to use PC and standard software packages, such as but not limited to ArcGIS.
  • Ability to use PC statistical programs, such as but not limited to SAS, STATA, and MATLAB to organize data into files and to perform advanced statistical and econometric analyses.
  • Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
  • Strong organizational and planning skills.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
 Application Requirements
  • To be considered, all applications must include a Cover Letter, Resume, Unofficial Transcripts, and Letter of Recommendation.
  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or hold green cards with the intent to become a U.S. Citizen.
  • Please have your Letter of Recommendation submitted to: ResearchAssistantLOR@chi.frb.org

Please have your letter writer include your first and last name in the subject name of their email.


Smith Investment Fund Interest Meeting

Posted: 09 Sep 2020 08:28 AM PDT


The Smith Investment Fund (SIF) is recruiting new members who are interested in Fundamental Finance. SIF's fundamental team manages a long-only, equity-only portfolio of high-quality businesses and is focused on investing our capital to achieve the highest absolute returns. If you are interested in investing, finance and want to pursue a career on Wall Street, SIF could be the perfect fit for you. We do not require any experience and encourage everyone to apply! Our first interest meeting is on 9/14 at 8 PM EDT on Zoom. The applications, more information about the club, and a link to the interest meeting can be found on our website smithinvestmentfund.com.

Learn More About Employers at the Fall ECON Pop-Up Shop, Sept 17 4-5:30 pm

Posted: 08 Sep 2020 06:10 PM PDT

 

Date: Sept 17, 2020

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Register

For the past few years, alumni and employers with strong ties to the ECON department have interacting with students on campus by making a short presentation during classes and holding office hours to talk one-on-one and in small groups. This year, we'll be continuing the tradition virtually. A small group of employers will join the Zoom meeting and you'll have the opportunity to meet with them in break-out room in a small group to ask questions. You can visit more than one!

Participating Employers

  • White House Counsel of Economic Advisors, Aparna Mathur
  • Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Quentin Johnson, Lead Management Analyst
  • Morgan Stanley, Kaitlyn Hays, Human Resources
  • Bureau of Economic Analysis, Michelle Robinson, Economist
  • NERA Consulting, Robert Kulick, Associate Director
Before you go, prepare yourself by going through the following steps:
Determine your goal(s) for the fair to guide your actions during the pop-up shop. Select from the list below or make your own. The goals listed give you some suggested questions or action steps that you can use to meet your goal. 

☐  Learn more about the industry you are interested in
  • Possible questions to ask:
  1. What kinds of jobs are most common in this industry?
  2. What skills are most needed in this industry?
  3. Are there any specific qualities or personality traits that would set a person up for success?
  4. What is one thing I could do during my final year of college that could help position me for a job in this industry?

☐  Learn more about the company you are interested in
  • Possible questions to ask:
  1. What kinds of economics-related jobs are most common in this company?
  2. What skills are most needed in this company?
  3. Are there any specific qualities or personality traits that would set a person up for success?
  4. What is one thing I could do during my final year of college that could help position me for a job in this?

☐  Learn more about a specific type of job
  • Possible questions to ask:
  1. What would most set a person up for success in this kind of job?
  2. What is one thing I could do during my final year of college that could help position me for this type of job?

☐  Learn more a person's history and why they chose their job. Click or tap here to enter text.
  • Possible questions to ask:
  1. What courses taught you skills you currently use in your job?
  2. What would you do differently as an undergrad knowing what you now know?
  3. How did you get your current job?
  4. How did you get your first job out of college?
  5. How can I best spend my remaining time here to set myself up for employment?


Did you Know?

Some of your courses may offer this activity for extra credit. Check your course announcements for information.

ECON Does What?! COVID Edition: Brittany Leventhal, Senior Manager of Product Support at Daily Pay, Inc.

Posted: 08 Sep 2020 04:51 PM PDT

 

ECON Alumni Career Profile

Senior Manager of Product Support

What were you expecting or hoping to do after graduation as an undergraduate?
I was expecting to work in finance as soon as I graduated. I had interned at Smith Barney and moved to New York to start working there full-time. This was in 2008. 

What actually happened?
That job fell through, so I set up interviews and I networked, but no one was hiring. I found one contingency job at Goldman Sachs, but it wasn't a finance position. I was coordinating events, setting up conferences, making copies, etc. One of my co-workers set me up for a permanent position… and then there was a hiring freeze. I actually got to the final round at Oppenheimer for an entry level position but they hired someone who already had 10 years of experience. I wasn't expecting to compete with someone in the field for that kind of position, but that was common back then. People who had been laid off work willing to take entry-level positions and someone who had just graduated couldn't compete with that.

I had my information on LinkedIn and Ross Stores contacted me for a location planning analyst position. I didn't even know that a position like that existed! My data analysis skills that I learned at Maryland caught their eye and Ross Stores, which sold discount clothing, thrived during the last recession. I ended up working there, learning about a completely different industry, and discovering that I enjoyed a client-facing position.

How long did it take you to get your first full-time job?
It took me 6 months to get my job at Ross. It felt much longer!

What did you do to support yourself after graduation and before your first job?
I did a lot of contingency (temporary) work. That actually helped me make some connections and gave me some job leads, but it wasn't until I started thinking beyond financial institutions that I was able to get some traction. I did get other job offers besides my job at Ross, but I focused on jobs that could use my economics and data analysis skills. 

What job search strategies did you use?
I kept my LinkedIn profile up-to-date, I made a lot of connections through my friends and network, and I worked with a head-hunter. They were all useful in helping me find both temporary and permanent positions.

What helped you to actually land your first job?
It helped that I listed all my technical and data analysis skills on LinkedIn. Recruiters will search for what they are looking for and I was a match. Being open and curious about a new industry was also helpful. Plus, I had a lot of experience interviewing at that point so I knew how to talk about my transferable skills and what I could contribute.

What's your current job title?
I actually just got a promotion! I am now the Senior Manager of Product Support at Daily Pay, Inc. They are a rapid growth Fintech start-up and I joined them when there were just 70 employees.

Do you have any other advice for students looking for jobs during this economic downturn?
This is a different kind of recession than what I went through and a lot of the typical econ jobs haven't been affected like they were in 2008-10. I recommend that you work with a head-hunter, network, especially with ECON alumni, and to apply for jobs that you really want. A lot of my friends found jobs as admin assistants and then got stuck in jobs that they didn't like. Everyone who graduates with an ECON degree at Maryland has valuable skills! Don't take a job just to have a job. You can always support yourself with contingency jobs while you look for what you really want.

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