Economist CV Example: Expert Tips and Best Practices [2024]

Sobhan Mohmand, CV Writing Expert          24 Oct 2023

Are you looking to write your perfect Economist CV?

An economist’s role involves analysing data, making predictions and offering valuable insights that inform decision-making in various sectors.

In the competitive world of economics, a well-crafted CV is essential. In this comprehensive article, we’ll walk you through the essential steps and provide you with useful tips and examples to help you create an interview-winning CV.

Let’s get started!

• Economist CV example
• Download CV template (Word format)
• How to format your CV
• How to write a perfect CV (a step-by-step guide)
• Personal profile statement example
• Duties to add to your CV
• Useful skills to add to your CV
• Tips on making your CV more effective

CV Example

Preview

What makes this CV good and effective?

• The personal details are concise, including the candidate’s name and essential contact information, without unnecessary information.
• The personal profile statement is a succinct and compelling summary of the candidate’s professional background and key skills, immediately capturing the reader’s attention.
• The CV is tailored to the economist job, emphasising the candidate’s expertise in economic analysis, forecasting, and statistical modelling.
• The formatting and layout are consistent and easy on the eye, with bullet points and a clear, legible font, ensuring that the CV is visually appealing and well-organised.
• The CV wisely avoids using overly technical jargon, making it accessible to a broader audience, including non-experts.
• The candidate refrains from using an overly complicated template, ensuring that the focus remains on content, not design.

Download CV template

Download

Are you writing your CV from scratch or is your CV template outdated? Download this professional CV template to impress employers!

• Free
• Save time and effort
• Guaranteed correct CV structure
• Word document (.docx) format
• Fully customisable

How to save your CV as a PDF document:

• Click on File > Save As > Select “PDF” from the drop-down menu.

How to format your CV

• Maintain a two-page limit: Aim to keep your CV to two pages or less. Economists should be adept at summarising information effectively.
• Ensure an attractive header: Create an attractive CV header with your name and a professional title (e.g., “Economist”) to make your CV stand out. Never write “Curriculum Vitae” or “CV” as a heading.
• Use a consistent colour scheme: If you choose to use colour, do it sparingly and ensure it’s consistent throughout your CV, maintaining a professional and harmonious appearance.
• Include relevant research projects: Detail research projects you’ve undertaken, specifying your role and contributions, to demonstrate your ability to work on in-depth analyses.
• Maintain consistency in tense: Keep the tense consistent throughout your CV. If describing a previous role, use the past tense; for current roles, use the present tense.
• Use industry buzzwords sparingly: While keywords are important, avoid overusing buzzwords, as this can make your CV seem artificial. Focus on relevance.

How to write an Economist CV in a few simple steps

Personal details

The personal details section of a CV is where you provide your essential contact information, such as your full name, phone number and email address.

Potential employers will use these details to reach out to you so make sure the details are correct and up-to-date. Check for any typos in the phone number and email address.

• David Clark
• 32 Oak Avenue, Sheffield, S10 5FL
• Mob: 0114 567 8901       Email: [email protected]

Profile statement

The personal profile section of your CV is like your introduction to potential employers. It’s a short paragraph at the beginning of your CV that tells them who you are and what you can offer. It should include a brief summary of your skills, experience and what makes you a great fit for the job you’re applying for. As this is a summary, make sure it’s concise and to the point.

Economist personal profile example:

With 5+ years of experience in economic research and data analysis, I have a proven track record of providing actionable insights that drive informed decision-making. My work on forecasting models led to a 15% increase in revenue for my previous employer. I’m dedicated to delivering data-driven solutions that impact the bottom line.

Achievements

In this section of your CV, you can include a range of career accomplishments, such as revenue growth, successful projects, awards and certifications, as well as personal life achievements like volunteering or extracurricular leadership, and educational achievements such as outstanding grades, research publications or scholarships.

• Served as the president of the Economics Society at the University of London, organising successful events and workshops.
• Successfully completed a high-impact research project ahead of schedule.
• Received the “Outstanding Analyst of the Year” award in 2023.

Employment history

As its name suggests, the employment section of your CV is where you provide a detailed record of your work history, including your job titles, employers, dates of employment and descriptions of your roles and responsibilities.

The employment section is often considered the most important section of a CV because it directly demonstrates your practical experience, skills and achievements, enabling potential employers to assess your qualifications, track record and suitability for the role based on your past work. Make sure it is perfect!

Economist duties to add to your CV

• Conducting economic research and analysis to assess market trends.
• Developing and maintaining economic models for forecasting and budget planning.
• Analysing economic data to provide insights and recommendations.
• Preparing reports and presentations for senior management and stakeholders.
• Evaluating the impact of economic policies on business operations.
• Monitoring key economic indicators and their implications for the organisation.
• Staying updated on economic developments and their potential impact on the industry.

Formal education

The formal education section of your CV contains a record of your academic history, including degrees, institutions, dates of attendance and any relevant certifications or qualifications.

Professional training

In this section, you can list your professional qualifications and training, highlighting any relevant certifications, licenses or vocational courses that showcase your expertise in economics and related fields.

• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) – CFA Institute
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Statistical Analysis – The Open University
• Advanced Excel Certification – Microsoft
• Certificate in Econometrics – Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Skills and abilities

In this section, you should showcase a range of competencies and abilities that make you a valuable professional in the field.

Include both technical skills, such as data analysis, econometric modelling and proficiency in software like Excel or statistical tools, as well as soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving and effective communication.

These skills help demonstrate your capacity to analyse complex economic data, provide strategic insights and collaborate with diverse teams to drive informed decision-making within an organisation.

• Econometric modelling: Proficient in conducting advanced econometric analysis to identify market trends and forecast economic indicators, such as using a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model to predict inflation rates.
• Data analysis: Skilled in data manipulation and analysis using software like Stata, R, and Python, with experience in handling large datasets, as demonstrated in my research on employment patterns in the manufacturing sector.
• Effective communication: Strong communicator with experience presenting economic findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, as seen in my presentations to the board of directors, which led to the approval of key economic policy recommendations.

Useful economist skills to add to your CV

• Statistical analysis: A skill in applying statistical methods to interpret economic trends and patterns.
• Financial analysis: Analysing financial data and evaluating the economic impact of financial decisions.
• Quantitative research: Conducting empirical research using numerical data to address economic questions.
• Macroeconomic analysis: Understanding and analysing the performance of economies on a broad scale.
• Forecasting: Predicting economic trends, such as inflation rates or market behaviour, based on historical data.
• Cost-benefit analysis: Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of specific economic actions or policies.
• Data visualisation: Presenting economic findings through clear and informative visual representations.
• Market research: Investigating market conditions and consumer behaviour to inform business decisions.
• Critical thinking: The ability to think analytically and solve complex economic problems logically and creatively.

Personal interests

Including this section allows you to showcase your passions outside of work, which can demonstrate some of your skills and talents.

For example, mentioning hobbies like reading financial literature, volunteering for a non-profit organisation or even participating in a local economic debate club can reflect your commitment to continuous learning, community engagement and the ability to discuss economic topics in a casual setting.

However, ensure that your hobbies and interests are genuinely engaging and relevant to your personal and professional life, as employers may ask you about them at the interview.

References

In the final part of your CV, you may provide the details of people (known as “referees”) who can vouch for your qualifications, character and abilities to employers.

Referees can include supervisors, managers, colleagues and even teachers, especially if you have a strong academic or professional relationship with them.

Note: You can also include “Available upon request” in the references section, which indicates that you are ready to provide this information when asked by potential employers. This can help maintain your referees’ privacy until it’s necessary to share their contact details.

Tips to make your CV stand out

• Use powerful language: Start each bullet point with dynamic action verbs like “analysed”, “developed” or “implemented” to showcase your accomplishments. For example, “Analysed market trends to predict future economic shifts.” Read more: The best keywords to use on a CV.
• Demonstrate forecasting skills: Discuss instances where your economic predictions or forecasts positively impacted decision-making within your previous roles.
• Underline financial expertise: Discuss your financial analysis skills, including budget management, risk assessment or investment analysis. Refer to the job’s personal specification to decide which expertise to highlight for the role.
• Proofread and format carefully: Ensure your CV is free of typos, well-structured and easy to read, to demonstrate attention to detail.