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Careers

Related Skills

  • Critical thinker
  • Good math and computer skills
  • Ability to prepare reports
  • Strong oral and communication skills
  • Flexible and adaptive to new ideas
  • Logical thinker
  • Ability to research and explain market phenomena
  • Ability to collect data
  • Ability to make sound predictions

Being Successful in the Field

  • Obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, or internship experience to enhance career path. For example, complete a finance-related internship if interested in a career in banking.
  • Earn a graduate degree in economics, business, or other related fields for increased marketability.
  • Choose a career focus and structure curricular and extra-curricular activities to achieve goals.
  • Do informational interviewing with professionals to learn more about fields of interest.

Related Fields

Government

  • Cost Analysis
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Trade Analysis
  • Public Administration
  • Transportation Management
  • Urban Planning

Employers

Government departments involved in agriculture, business, finance, labor, transportation, urban economics, and international trade including: USDA, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the United Nations, and the General Accounting Office

Strategies

  • Become active in student government.
  • Complete an internship in a government agency.
  • Earn a graduate degree in economics, statistics, public administration, or related field for promotion and advancement.
  • Become familiar with government hiring practices.
  • Develop excellent computer, analytical, and quantitative skills.

Economic Market Research

  • Research Analysis
  • Consulting

Employers

  • Market research firms
  • Consumer goods manufacturing firms
  • Business firms
  • Consulting firms

Strategies

  • Supplement curriculum with courses in business, political science, research design, survey design, statistics, and computer science.
  • Earn a graduate degree to obtain advanced research and consulting positions.
  • Obtain experience in business research.
  • Become a student member in related professional associations.
  • Getinvolved in student or community organizations to develop leadership skills.

Banking & Finance

  • Credit Lending
  • Operations
  • Systems
  • Trusts
  • Securities: Sales, Research

Employers

  • Commercial banks
  • Regional banks
  • Savings and loan associations
  • National and regional brokerage firms
  • Discount brokerage houses

Strategies

  • Develop a solid background in business including finance, marketing, and accounting.
  • Gain experience through part-time, summer, or internship positions in financial service firms.
  • Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a diverse clientele.
  • Become the financial officer or treasurer of a campus organization.
  • Get involved with an investments club.
  • Earn an MBA for positions in investment banking.

Insurance

  • Underwriting
  • Sales
  • Operations
  • Claims

Employers

Insurance firms

Strategies

  • Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Earn a business minor.
  • Gain sales experience.
  • Participate in campus organizations.

Healthcare

  • Hospital Management
  • Healthcare Analysis

Employers

  • Private (LLC) corporations
  • US Department of Health
  • Hospitals
  • Health Maintenance Organizations

Strategies

Earn a master's degree in public health or hospital administration. Gain experiencein healthcare through internships.

Other Business Areas

  • Management
  • Buying and Purchasing
  • Human Resources
  • Hospitality
  • Sales

Employers

  • Department, grocery, drug, specialty, and variety store chains
  • Hotels, resorts, and tourism councils
  • Restaurants
  • Large corporations

Strategies

  • Gain related business experience through internships or jobs.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm and flexibility.
  • Secure leadership positions in campus organizations.
  • Earn a business minor. Obtain sales experience.

Teaching

Employers

  • Colleges and universities
  • Secondary public and private schools

Strategies

  • Earn a Ph.D to teach in post-secondary institutions.
  • Gain research experienceby assisting a professor.
  • Obtain certification for public school positions.
  • Get experience working with young people.
  • Develop strong public speaking skills.

Other Professions

  • Bank Officer
  • Bookkeeper
  • Budget Coordinator
  • Business Forecaster
  • Business Manager
  • Buyer
  • City Manager
  • Consultant
  • Cost Analyst
  • Credit and Loan worker
  • Demographer
  • Economist
  • Entrepreneur
  • Estate Planner
  • Insurance Sales
  • Insurance Underwriter
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Litigation Analyst
  • Loan Officer
  • Market Researcher
  • Politician
  • Public Utilities Manager
  • Research Analyst
  • Retail Sales Manager
  • Securities Analyst
  • Statistician
  • Trust Officer

Career Industry Liaison

Name Office Email Phone
Kristy DeWall  223 Bone Student Center  ksdewal@ilstu.edu  (309) 438-2200 

Internship Coordinator

Name Office Email Phone
Susan Chen  Stevenson Hall 426E  jchen4@ilstu.edu  (309) 438-3616