Roadmap: Job Search

Introduction

The Economics Department has two Roadmaps that focus on career readiness. The first is Career Prep, which will teach you about résumés, cover letters, and online networking platforms. To begin the Career Prep Roadmap, click here.

The second career readiness Roadmap is called Job Search. You are in the Job Search Roadmap now. This Roadmap will teach you how to perform an effective search for full-time jobs and undergraduate internships. It provides resources and advice on how to find employers and put yourself forward as a candidate. You can come back and complete this Roadmap whenever you are searching for a job or internship.

The Career Prep and Job Search Roadmaps are outlined below for your convenience.

Roadmap: Career Prep

Objective: Fine-tune or create professional documents; establish a professional online presence.

Step 1: Résumés and Cover Letters

Step 2: Professional Online Presence (LinkedIn; Handshake)

Step 3: BYU Career Services

Roadmap: Job Search

Objective: Help you find and secure a job or internship.

Step 1: Job Search Strategies

Step 2: The 2-Hour Job Search

Step 3: Networking

Step 4: Elevator Pitch

Step 5: Interviewing

 

To begin the Job Search Roadmap, fill out the information below and click "Next." Entering your email address will allow you to return to this Roadmap and pick up where you left off if you are unable to finish in one session. Just click the "Save and Close" button to save your progress. The system will then email you a personalized link so you can finish your Roadmap later.

When you have completed the Roadmap, click "Submit Roadmap."

In this step, you'll learn how to efficiently explore job and internship opportunities in your field of interest.

 

Job Search Tips

People with law degrees are hired as lawyers. People with editing degrees are hired as editors. People with engineering degrees are hired as engineers. But people with economics degrees are not necessarily hired as economists. Any job title that includes the word "economist" most likely requires a PhD-level degree, which only a portion of econ grads choose to obtain. So, if you're a student who is not interested in pursuing graduate-level economics, what kinds of jobs are you qualified for with your econ degree? And which job titles should you be searching for? This section will help you answer those two questions.

Hiring Platforms

When you begin job searching, we recommend starting with hiring platforms like Indeed or Glassdoor. These platforms make it easy to get an overview of jobs that might fit your skills or interests. If you choose, you can set up email notifications so you are instantly notified when new jobs open. You can also upload your résumé or build a profile to make it easy for employers to find you.

Here are a few tips for searching for jobs specifically for econ graduates. Generally, econ grads do very well in roles that include the word "analyst." When you are job searching, try these keywords to find various analyst positions:

Here are other examples of jobs our econ grads excel at:

• Project Manager
• Project Administrator
• Financial Assistant
• Leasing Consultant
• Personal Financial Advisor
• Loan Officer
• Field Marketing Associate
• Sales/Marketing/Advertising Manager
• Securities, Commodities & Financial Serv. Sales Agent
• Real Estate Broker and Sales Agent
• Insurance Agent
• Administrative Assistant
• Research Assistant
• Statistician
• Strategy Consultant
  

When you have found a job title that interests you, thoroughly examine the job description. If the job description has these key words/phrases, there's a good chance your econ skills are a good fit for the position:

• Data analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Finding relationships
• Ability to explain complicated issues to a general audience
• Collecting and understanding market data
• Forecasting
• Producing data visually
• Thinking critically
• Finding trends and patterns
• Collecting, summarizing, and interpreting data
  

*This section was adapted from the University of Texas article "What Keywords Should I Use When Searching for a Job?"

 

Economics Department Email Blast

When you start looking for econ jobs or internships, we highly recommend that you sign up for the email blast from the department. This twice-weekly email contains information about all the opportunities shared with us by recruiters. The email blast also includes info about master's and PhD programs around the country. You can register for the email blast by sending an email to economics@byu.edu and asking to be added to the list.

 

Other Job Searching Resources
Beyond the 2-hour job search method, there are other strategies you can use to break down job searching into manageable steps. Here is a list of other resources compiled by BYU Career Services to help you approach job searching strategically:

BYU Job Search Handout

BYU's 7 Steps of a Job Search

BYU Job Search Strategy Handout

The 2-Hour Job Search exercise is adapted from Steve Dalton's book "The Two-Hour Job Search." It will teach you how to scan the internet for companies of interest and prioritize your list of potential employers. The point of this exercise is to spend two hours of concentrated, strategic job searching to save yourself countless hours of anxiety and frustration.

If you don't have time to complete this exercise right this minute, we strongly encourage you to make time for it in the coming days or weeks. At that point, please come back to this page to get all the tools for the exercise.

If you are not currently looking for a job or internship, we anticipate that it will still be very helpful for you to go through these steps. The LAMP list will help you to better understand what kinds of jobs you are interested in and qualified for and which employers are hiring.

When you sit down to do the 2-Hour Job Search—whether that be right now, or a little later—make sure you carve out a solid two hours to work on it. A PDF of the 2-Hour Job Search has been embedded below. To open this PDF on your browser, click here.

The 20-minute tutorial video below describes LAMP lists in depth.

 

Sometimes it really is about who you know. Thankfully, BYU alumni form a strong network of accomplished professionals who are often willing to help you navigate the post-graduation job pool.

Career Exploration Interviews

One way to tap into BYU's alumni network is with career exploration interviews. These interviews typically last 15 to 20 minutes (don't let them go longer than 30) and allow you to get a feel for an alum's career path. You can set up these informational interviews by reaching out to alumni on LinkedIn. Here's a sheet with helpful tips on making initial contact with alumni and setting up informational interviews.

When you reach out to a BYU alum, don't expect that they will hand you a job. Rather, expect them to honestly answer your questions about their career and their company. You can learn a lot from these interviews and start establishing a vibrant professional network.

One last thing—always send a thank-you note or email to every alumni you interview. Click here for "Thank You" best practices.

Other Networking Resources

Designing Your Career: The Informational Interview YouTube Video

BYU Career Services Networking Page

If you haven't already, please take the time now to reach out to a BYU alum who works in a field that interests you. You will be asked about this experience below.

Learning how to articulate your competencies is one of the hardest yet most important skills of career readiness. In this step, you'll learn a couple methods you can use to present your best you.

Elevator Pitch

Have you ever answered the prompt, "Tell me about yourself"? Often this is the first thing an employer will say to you at a career fair, job interview, or informational interview. If you haven't rehearsed your answer, it can be very difficult to articulate.

Follow these guidelines for writing an elevator pitch, and record your pitch in the box below. As you do so, remember that you only have one chance at a first impression.

How to Prepare Your “Elevator Pitch”

One of the best things you can do ahead of any recruiting event is to prepare a few talking points to succinctly make the case about why you’re a great candidate. In other words, your elevator pitch. The employers that you meet with want to learn more about you! So think of a short overview about your background, studies, and career goals. Practice with a friend or family member ahead of the virtual fair so you’re ready when it’s time to introduce yourself to a recruiter.

Read our tips below for how to prepare an elevator pitch.

What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short and sweet synopsis about yourself for a prospective employer. It’s called an elevator pitch because it’s meant to be brief enough to deliver convincingly during a quick elevator ride to your floor.

How long should my pitch be?
Think about the length of your average elevator ride. Not long, right? It’s a best practice to keep your elevator pitch to a minute or less! The key to an impactful elevator pitch is to stay short and sweet, avoid rambling, and prioritize truly pertinent information.

What should I include in my elevator pitch?
Focus on the skills and qualifications that’ll make you uniquely appealing to your audience. Give some top-level bullet points about what makes you an awesome candidate! 

• Your field of study
• A couple relevant skills or certifications
• A nod to relevant experience 

Here is a formula to help you remember your pitch:

Present (what you are studying / currently doing) plus Past (relevant experiences) plus Future (aspirations / why you are interested or a good fit for their company)

Your elevator pitch should also touch on your professional goals: if you hope to find a job at a mission-driven startup or want to relocate to Denver or aim for a role where you’ll flex your coding skills, mention these. 

If you plan to meet with a few different types of employers during your career fair, don’t be afraid to tailor your pitch to different industries and roles. For example, your proficiency in Photoshop might not be relevant to a corporate sales role, but it is for marketing! Be aware of your audience. 

How to deliver an elevator pitch
When it comes to your elevator pitch, practice makes perfect. You might feel silly running through a 30-second spiel about yourself, but becoming confident in your delivery can make a huge difference when you’re face-to-face with a recruiter! Aim for your pitch to be brief, persuasive, and confident—not boastful. Ask a trusted friend or family member to run through your pitch with you a few times, give constructive feedback, and help you nail it! 

How should I wrap up after my pitch?
Typically, it’s a best practice to have a business card or a copy of your resume to hand to somebody after delivering your elevator pitch during a career fair. However, if you’ll be meeting recruiters during virtual fairs, have a link to your Handshake or LinkedIn profile handy to send via chat! If relevant, you can also share a digital portfolio during this time.

Elevator pitch examples:

• “I’m Brinton, and I just graduated UC Davis with a degree in English. I’ve worked as a freelance writer for lifestyle publications like Bustle for the past two years. Now I’m looking to grow as a full-time reporter in the entertainment, travel, or breaking news space. I’m proficient in Photoshop, certified in Google Analytics, and have experience managing social media channels for small businesses.”
• “I’m Luke, and I’m a software engineer with a background working with high-growth e-commerce startups in the Los Angeles area. However, I am looking for an opportunity that will bring me closer to my family and friends in Raleigh. I specialize in iOS and have four years of experience writing C++ code in a POSIX environment.”
• “I’m Rey, and I’m a rising senior at UT Austin. I’m studying finance and spent last summer as an analyst for Goldman Sachs, where I focused mainly on comparative financial performance analysis. Now that I’m graduating in June, I’m hoping to find a full-time role as an investment banking analyst.”

These tips were adapted from "How to Prepare Your Virtual Career Fair 'Elevator Pitch'" on the Handshake blog.

Now that you've prepared your application materials, searched and applied for jobs, and determined how to network, it's time to prepare for interviews.

When a company brings you in for an interview, it's an excellent opportunity for both them and you. For them, it's an opportunity to see if your personality and work ethic—in addition to your qualifications—are a good fit with company culture. For you, it's a chance to learn about the company's work environment and your potential role within it. In a sense, you are interviewing the company at the same time they are interviewing you, so it's important for you to come prepared.

That doesn't mean you should memorize your responses or act like a cardboard cutout during your interview. While you should be professional throughout the interview process, you should also be yourself. Research the company and the position you're interviewing for. Be educated on what is important to your interviewers. Call to mind some of your past experiences that demonstrate your skills and problem-solving capabilities. Then, when you make it to your interview, try to relax. Represent yourself honestly and make sure you ask questions. If you're a good fit for the company, they will probably know it. You will, too. So take a breather and just do your best. (It may also be helpful for you to remember that if you have made it to the interview phase, you're probably doing better than you think.)

For resources on interview preparedness, explore the links below.

Interview Resources

BYU Common Interview Questions Handout

Glassdoor Interview Tips

BYU Interviewing Rubric

Sarah's Strengths (YouTube video about articulating strengths)

Sarah's Weaknesses (YouTube video about articulating weaknesses)

What is Your STRENGTH and WEAKNESS? How To Answer This Interview Question (YouTube video)

Interview Practice

BYU has a contract with Big Interview, a website that helps you practice interviewing via video. If you're ready to get some interview practice, check it out!

For one-on-one interview practice, schedule an appointment with a Career Mentor at the BYU Career Services center. Career Mentors are student employees who are trained in career readiness. They can walk you through a mock interview and give you personalized feedback!

 

Make and attend an appointment with your Career Director. If you already completed this step as part of Roadmap: Career Prep, please indicate so in the final text box.

Career Mentors

Previously in this Job Search roadmap, we directed you to seek help from Career Mentors. The Career Mentors are students who work in BYU Career Services (2590 WSC). They are trained to help you with career readiness, including résumés, cover letters, and mock interviews. If you are seeking personal advice on any of these topics, you can make an appointment with a Career Mentor at the Career Services website.

Career Directors

While Career Mentors are students who can help with general materials, Career Directors are administrators who can counsel you on your specific career goals. Career Directors are assigned to cover specific departments so they can be up-to-date on career fields in your area of study. To find your Career Director, head to this Career Services webpage. Scroll down until you find the Career Director who covers your major. (Currently, the director who covers economics is Amanda Peterson.)

You can make an appointment with your Career Director by clicking "Schedule Now" and filling out the information. Make sure you select the appropriate Career Director in the first dropdown box. You can also make an appointment by calling BYU Career Services at 801-422-3000.

At Your Appointment

When you meet with your Career Director, you can ask about internship and job opportunities and learn about job searching resources. Your Director will counsel with you and help you feel personally prepared for whatever comes after graduation. Make sure you prepare questions or application materials before your meeting so you can use your time with your Career Director effectively.

 

If you have not already done so, please schedule an appointment with your Career Director now. Once you have met with your Director, return to this Roadmap and fill out the following response.