THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Career Planning
UChicago Economics majors pursue diverse career paths, with finance being the most common. Recent graduates have secured positions at leading financial institutions such as Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley. Consulting is another popular choice, with alumni joining firms like Bain & Co., McKinsey & Co., and the Boston Consulting Group. Other graduates continue to graduate school, work in tech at companies like Google, or enter corporate roles at firms such as Bloomingdale’s and Unilever. Some pursue careers in public interest sectors, including education, nonprofits, and government.
Below are some excerpts from recent graduates on how they apply their UChicago Economics degree in their everyday jobs.
William Garcia
Class of 2023 | Economics, Business Track
Business Consultant, Ernst & Young
“My degree provides valuable context that enhances my understanding of how we provide value to our clients. Having studied economics allows me to ask insightful questions, which has helped me establish myself as a valuable team member—especially in engagements with financial institutions. As I advance in my career, my economics background enables me to make well-informed decisions and confidently navigate my path within the context of the broader macroeconomic environment.”
Gabriel Raffa
Class of 2024 | Economics, Data Science Track
Software Development Engineer, Amazon Web Services
“It is pleasantly surprising to see how my time with machine learning and statistics, which I developed in my ECON courses, has helped me build skills that are relevant and highly-prized in what is otherwise a pure software engineering role. The reality is that artificial intelligence and big data have permanently seeped into industry’s decision-making processes. You can expect to make significant contributions to the world if you know how to manipulate and interpret your data and it is the specialized ECON courses at that help you build that foundation. Without them I certainly would not have the confidence to spearhead a research endeavor about using anomaly detection in our team’s operational readiness. Ultimately, the data-focused ECON courses are about making sense of what you see and discovering subtle, but meaningful, truths.”
Sophie Rydzewski
Class of 2024 | Economics, Standard Track
Analyst, Quantitative Economic Solutions
“At The University of Chicago's Economics program, I was taught not what to think, but how to think. This academic philosophy has formed the foundation of my career in economic consulting at Quantitative Economic Solutions (QES) in Boston, MA. Just half a year out from my graduation, pursuing the career I love, my appreciation for the academic rigor I experienced and the knowledge I acquired at UChicago has never been stronger. From the types of analysis and the mindset the work demands, to even the vocabulary I encounter and use on a daily basis, our work at QES requires that I take the economic mode of thinking first instilled in me by UChicago and apply it to the real, high-stakes situations our work confronts daily. My time at UChicago taught me theory, yes, but it also taught me how to reason, how to analyze incentives, and, most importantly, how to translate those ideas in practice.
Michelle Yi
Class of 2022 | Economics
U.S. Economic Analyst, VISA
"In my current role, I focus on forecasting economic indicators by leveraging both external data sources, such as Bloomberg and S&P Global, and Visa’s internal data platform. Using this wealth of data, I support our team in building economic models and crafting presentations tailored to a diverse client base, including banks, merchants, and fintechs. These presentations help clients understand broader economic trends and their specific implications within the payments industry.
At UChicago, my theory-based courses provided a deep understanding of core economic concepts and their application to real-world scenarios. This foundation has been instrumental in my current work, where I connect economic indicators to actionable insights for businesses operating in the payments space. Additionally, my application-focused courses gave me my first hands-on experiences working with data and honing the skill of storytelling through datasets. What initially felt like challenging academic exercises now forms the backbone of my professional work, and it’s a skill I have grown to truly enjoy.
One of the most valuable skills I developed at UChicago was writing, particularly through research-intensive assignments in my economics courses. Crafting comprehensive, research-based reports at the undergraduate level gave me a strong foundation for the type of clear and impactful communication required in corporate research roles. Many of my peers and colleagues in similar or more senior positions did not gain such experience until graduate school, making me incredibly grateful for the early exposure.
I believe that pursuing a corporate research path is both meaningful and impactful, especially for someone with a UChicago background, where research is embedded in the curriculum. The skills I developed in college - both analytical and communicative - have translated seamlessly into solving complex business challenges. I’m deeply appreciative of the education and opportunities I received at UChicago, particularly within the Economics department, as they have laid the groundwork for my career and continue to shape my growth."
Jobs
Students should become familiar with the services of the University’s office of Career Advancement. Additionally, for those students and alumni seeking jobs in the field of economics we ask that you self-subscribe to our Jobs listserv. Job listings are passed on to the listhost.
For those wishing to recruit our economics students please contact Julie Wong.
Internships
Internships can also provide useful experience for employment and graduate studies. As a supplement to the services offered at the offices of Career Advancement, those students seeking internships in the field of economics we ask that you self-subscribe to our Internship listserv. Internship listings are passed on to the Listhost. Internship offerings and interview preparation are available through the University’s office of Career Advancement.
For those wishing to recruit our economics students for internships please contact Julie Wong.
Student Listservs
Economics Majors should consider self-subscribing to any one of the following Department of Economics administered listservs: