STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

PinkPixie · Nine West

Economic Major Here

sfclinevandy · Coach

My best friend majored in Econ and now she is an investment banker. If you want to make lots of $$$ but work like a fiend, then that's an option. But it's also really competitive and hard to get into.

nikkib222 · BCBG

You could also go into Consulting or do a management training program that a lot of companies have. I found wetfeet.com and vault.com very helpful in my job research. I just graduated in May and I did so much research for my job search. I also recommend doing an internship in a field that you are interested in if you have the opportunity.

mikacat · Coach

i was an econ and business management double major in under grad and then went back and got my MBA. I then joined a company with a fast track executive manangement program where my job changes every 3 to 9 months. I really enjoy it b/c it is always changing and it focuses on the big picture of learning to run a company.

I think an Economics major lends itself to all types of possibilities....management, banking, even HR, finance, sales, in just about any industry, teaching, MBA school....the possibilities are endless really. Starting your own business, consulting work, Alan Greenspan's job!!

Joina · Kenneth Cole

I was an Economics major when I graduated. I went on to work in Consulting, which I love. Feel free to ask any question if you are interested in finding out more.

PinkPixie · Nine West

Just had a long talk with my parents when i went home this weekend. Wanting to know what I plan to do after under grad. Did you all go straight to grad school afterwards or did you get a job? I have no idea how it all works.

Joina- Um not to sound stupid but what does a consultant do exactly? Is it interesting and fun? what is the work environment like? This is quite personal and u dont have to answer it but what is the salary range in it? No offense.

Thanks everybody for all the help so far!! Im such a lost and confused person right now. And Im getting increasingly worried about my future.

~Pink Pixie

Joina · Kenneth Cole

PinkPixie - I have been working for Accenture (www.accenture.com) for 5 years now, it is one of the largest Consulting firms in the world and we deal mostly with Business Processing consulting. To put it in easier terms, we are hired by big companies to come in and improve their processes (it could be anything from building a new trading system to building a new website). This sounds technical, which it is somewhat, but I find that a lot of the work can be process related (e.g., gathering business requirements).

I love my job because it is constantly changing and I have had a lot of opportunity to travel (have worked in Italy, Switzerland and now China). Projects are usually short-term in nature, hence you never get bored and you are alwasy learning something new. Also, the biggest plus of working here is the people. I love that everyone I work with is so energetic and motivating.

As for salary range, I am not sure if it has changed much, but I think that entry level consultant will probably make anywhere between 45,000 - 60,000. Consulting is also a rewarding field, meaning that salaries do go up faster than some of the other fields.

I would check definitely check www.vault.com for more information on the company and other consulting firms (examples: ibm, deloitte & touche, pricewaterhouse coopers, ernst & young).

PinkPixie · Nine West

Joina, wow that sounds so cool to be travelling all over the place!! id love that. Thanks for your help. im going to that site now :)

Joina · Kenneth Cole

Remember that consulting always has a double side... some people hate it, some people love it.

Glad I could help.

jah · Dooney & Bourke

My major in college was Econ. with an emphasis in International Markets. I originally majored in Econ because it is one of the most respected and accepted undergrad degrees for law school acceptance, but a year before graduation I decided not to go to law school.

I have found Economics to be a very accepted major. I've been a corporate merchandiser for a major retail firm, a network manager for a technology company, a business consultant and now a software consultant. I agree with Joina that consulting is definitely one of the largest areas of opportunity for Econ majors.

In terms of salary, I would say starting you would be looking at $40K+. $40K would be where smaller offices in smaller cities would start you. On the salary note, a few of my fellow grads and I have seen 2-3X increases in our salaries since graduation.

I have also found that my Econ major has opened up a lot of interview doors for me. If you are going to go with consulting you need to like travel, otherwise it isn't going to work for you. You also need to think in terms of "work travel" and not "vacation travel" since they are two very different things. I would also note that it is not uncommon to put in 70-80 hours a week sometimes when a project needs to complete or a client is having issues. Good thing I love my job--last week my time report submission was 89 hours!

PinkPixie · Nine West

ok, thanks for all the info guys. but can i ask just one more thing?
This might sound stupid but i really have no idea what to do after graduation and the point up till. Am i suppose to take any sort of special exams? I hear people preparing for this or that but I dont know if I should be preparing for anything. THanks guys

jah · Dooney & Bourke

There is not test that you need to take beyond a competency exam you might need to take to graduate (I think in my college this had to be taken junior year). Anyway, you don't take exams like the CPA, Bar exam, etc. like you would take if you were going to be a Certified Public Accountant or wanted to practice law.

Do you have an advisor at your college? I would suggest that you schedule an appointment with him/her if you do have one to discuss paths for your future and any requirements that need to be met for graduation.

PinkPixie · Nine West

yeah, ive had to go to her for awhile now. ill just see her tuesday.
thanks all