This document discusses strengths, weaknesses, and career opportunities for economics graduates. It notes that economics graduates have strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills but may lack communication skills and experience working in teams. When considering career options, it advises starting with personal interests, skills, values, and circumstances rather than just one's degree. Many employers will consider graduates from any subject area. National statistics show most economics graduates work in business, finance, or management. The document encourages exploring a wide range of potential career paths that could suit economics training.

1. ECONOMICS AND
EMPLOYABILITY
Dr. D.ELANGO
ASST.PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
GOVT. ARTS COLLEGE
COIMABATORE

5. Strengths of Economics Graduates
• Analytical way of thinking
• Problem-solving
– Recognition and clarifying
– Problem analysis
– Identifying and comparing alternative solutions to
problems
• Scepticism over possible misuse of data

6. Weaknesses of Economics Graduates
• Communication skills
– written; oral; empathising
• Ability to work effectively in teams / groups
– lack of group work in many ‘traditional’ degrees
• Problems in applying theory to real-world situations
• Lack of understanding of the requirements of employers

7. Starting with yourself ….
 Your interests
 Your skills
 Your values
 Your personal circumstances
 Any other factors

8. Starting with your degree
 What do Economics graduates do?
 What careers will use your subject knowledge?
BUT ….
 There is more to you than your degree!

9. STARTING
WITH
YOURSELF

10. Your interests
“I want something interesting”
 What sort of things interest you?
– your degree subject?
– your leisure interests?
– working in a particular way?
 How important are these interests
when other factors are taken into
account?

11. Your skills
 Motivation & enthusiasm
 Team working
 Communication skills
 Flexibility & adaptability
 Initiative & self-reliance
Some of the skills which employers
look for in graduates

12. Your values
“Values are what gives purpose to a job in
the eyes of the person who does it”
 “I want to do something worthwhile .. “
 “I want to earn a good salary”
 “I want to be my own boss eventually”
What motivates you?

13. There is more to you
than your degree!
 Many employers will recruit graduates from
any degree background
 Even where they do specify a particular
degree subject or class, this is just the start!
 It is the skills you can offer that will be the
deciding factor for employers
 and your own values and interests that will
affect your decision

14. STARTING
WITH
YOUR
DEGREE

15. What do Economics graduates do?
(National statistics for 2007 graduates)
 Employed 55%
 Further study 13%
 Working and studying 15%
 Not available 6%
 Seeking employment 6%
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD

16. What do Economics graduates work as?
 Business & Financial 47%
– Accountants; financial and business analysts; brokers;
economists; finance and investment advisers
 Commercial, industrial and public sector
managers 14%
 Marketing, sales and advertising 5%
 Others 34%
– inc. teaching; surveying; police; marketing; IT; sports
National statistics for 2007 graduates: www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD

17. STARTING
WITH
YOUR
OPPORTUNITIES

18. Some of the options available
Advertising
Armed Forces
Arts admin
Broadcasting
Central & Local Gov’t
Computing/IT
Finance
Guidance/Counselling
Journalism
Law
Library/Information work
Market research
Marketing/Sales
Management Consultancy
NHS Management
Personnel
Police
Public Relations
Publishing
Purchasing
Retail
Self-employment
Social Work
TEFL
Teaching
Tourism
Transport

19. WHAT ECONOMICS TEACH
TO SOLVE THE ANY FORM OF SOCIO-
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN
ANY TYPE OF CORPORTATE
COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT, ANY
FORM OF BUSINESS HOUSES AND
THE ECONOMY, etc.,

20. THANK YOU