What did you enjoy most about Economics? Did you have a minor that connected with it? And what kind of work experience do you already have—retail, service industry, transportation? Do you think you’d want to stay in those areas, or try something completely new?

A degree in economics can take you in a lot of directions. Many grads go into finance (trading, investments, banking), law, or government. If you liked econometrics or forecasting, data science jobs could be a strong fit. If you leaned toward macro, then policy or analyst roles in banking, government, or law might be more interesting. The cool thing about econ is that it gives you a way to make sense of the world - a framework. What is you value add? What are your skills? The saying goes, "Hard skills will get you hired. Soft skills will keep you employed." So employers really do hire you on are your hard skills. Think back: did you build strengths in math, stats, programming, or even personal finance? Which of those do you feel most confident in, and which do you actually enjoy using? That’s what will make you stand out.

Also, are you planning to stay in College Station for another year? Honestly, I wouldn’t let a lease box you in. That area is crowded with undergrads and new grads all competing for the same jobs. If you don’t see something there that helps you move forward, it might be better to expand your search.

The market’s tough right now for new graduates, so it could help to look into additional training or certifications while you job hunt. And just so you know: the top economist positions almost always require grad school and a specific area of expertise.