1. The ideal job candidate: ready for policy research Mary Bohman Director, Resource & Rural Economics Division Economic Research Service, USDA

2. Overview ERS mission & economist jobs Key knowledge, skills & abilities Implications for ideal candidate Laying the foundation

3. ERS mission & economist jobs Mission to support public and private decision makers Anticipate policy relevant topics Produce & disseminate timely, high quality research findings

4. Knowledge, skills & abilities Keen interest in policy relevant research Timely means flexibility & work in teams to meet deadlines Quality critical in policy process—talented economists who publish in academic journals

5. Communication: Publishing for impact

6. Communicating directly Meetings, briefings, phone calls …

7. The ideal job candidate on paper Commitment to public policy research –Empirical research in thesis and dissertation –Public policy experience through internships –Leadership and service activities

8. Ideal candidate (cont.) Communication skills –Conference papers, teaching –Public speaking experience (toastmasters, debates) Meet deadlines & work in teams –Publications –Interest –Leadership through community service –Job experience, including as an intern

9. Meeting the ideal job candidate Communicate knowledge of – context for your research –policy issues in your area of expertise Demonstrate research excellence through thesis and dissertation research –Frame relevant hypotheses –Select appropriate methods –Present intuition behind findings*** –Communicate policy relevance***

10. For more info… ERS website: www.ers.usda.gov www.ers.usda.gov