Internship & Career Opportunities

Here you will find a list of perennial internship opportunities you might consider, as well as several searchable databases to help you locate an internship.

Perennial Opportunities

Private Sector and Consulting Internships

• Amazon
• Analysis Group
• Deloitte
• Johnson & Johnson
• Kaiser Permanente
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
• U.S. Bank
• Wells Fargo

Non-profit and Think Tank Internships

• AIR
• Environmental Defense Fund
• National Academy of Social Insurance
• Peterson Foundation
• Pew Research Center
• RTI International
• Urban Institute

Government Internships

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Federal Reserve Board of Governors
• Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, and St. Louis
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• U.S. Department of State
• United Nations
• World Health Organization

Databases

Tulane Databases

• Handshake is a database of current internship and job opportunities, posted by companies and organizations that want to recruit Tulane students
• The Center for Public Service maintains a database of current public service opportunities in the New Orleans area

Government Internship Databases

• USAjobs.gov is the official job and internship list for the U.S. federal government. Click on the “Students & recent graduates” hiring path to review the different internship programs available as well as to learn how to identify opportunities specifically for students on the USAJOBS site
• CampusGov has a database to connect students with internship opportunities at the federal, state, and local level
• Search NOLA.gov for local government internship opportunities

General Internship Databases

• Glassdoor is a database that allows you to search for current internship and job opportunities, as well as see reviews and read about experiences from people who have worked there previously
• Going Global contains thousands of resources for finding internships and jobs in the U.S. and abroad
• Idealist provides a general database and other resources for finding internships and jobs
• Indeed searches companies’ and organizations’ websites for internship listings. Narrow your search by including interests or skills, as well as “internship,” as keywords
• Chegg’s Internships.com is a comprehensive database of internship opportunities. Give it a try by searching “economics.”
• See the University Career Action Network (UCAN) for current internship opportunities. To start, create an account or login to the UCAN intern database
• The Vault allows users to browse for internships as well as search by region and industry

The following entities on campus offer competitive grants for students undertaking unpaid internships.

• Newcomb-Tulane College (NTC) offers Grants for Academic Engagement to support internships and other scholarships. These opportunities are open to all undergraduates in NTC
• The Newcomb College Institute Internship Program offers grants to support undergraduate women pursuing women- or gender-focused opportunities. Click for details about the Summer Internship Program funding
• The Taylor Center offers internship support for Tulane students interested in pursuing careers related to social innovation and entrepreneurship

The Economics Department does not award academic credit for internships. However, students who must receive credit to complete an internship may register to enroll in the course INTR 1990: Liberal Arts Internship.

Prior to enrolling in INTR 1990, international students desiring credit for internships should also complete the Curricular Practical Training Application, which includes a recommendation form that should be completed and emailed to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Economics for signature. Note that the Office of International Students & Scholars may also require a letter from the organization stating the nature of the internship and how it relates to your studies.

The following resources and databases are available to students looking for research assistantship (R.A.) opportunities. These are useful for developing hands-on research skills -- including greater experience working with datasets and programming softwares such as Stata, R, Python, and ArcGIS -- which are important for careers in academia and data analysis.

R.A. for a Tulane Professor

Are you interested in working as an R.A. for a current Tulane economics professor? Just like students, many professors are seeking research assistants yet do not know where to look! Here is some useful advice for students:

• Examine our faculty by field. If a professor’s research strikes you as interesting, do not be afraid to reach out to them and inquire about R.A. opportunities! Some professors, like Professor Nora Lustig, are almost always looking to bring new R.A.s aboard
• Are you currently enrolled in an upper level field course, especially one that involves a research paper or proposal? Carefully read the course syllabus for mentions of R.A.-ships -- and do not hesitate to ask your professor about potential R.A. opportunities regardless

Non-Tulane Research Assistantships

• The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) provides databases of R.A.-ships both within and outside the NBER
• EconJobMarket provides a running list of R.A. and pre-doc opportunities for economics students
• See FedEconJobs for possible R.A. opportunities at the many Federal Reserve Banks (of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, and St. Louis)
• A group of professional economists on Twitter actively post new R.A. opportunities located around the world

Hear From Other Students

• See Tulane Connect, a social networking platform on which you can connect with Tulane Alumni to learn more about their current industries and experience

Resources for BIPOC, LGBT, and Minority Students

• The American Economic Association (AEA) maintains a Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economics Profession (CSMGEP) to increase the representation of minorities in the economics profession through its Mentoring Program, Summer Training Program, and Summer Economics Fellows Program
• The AEA similarly maintains a Committee on the Status of LGBTQ+ Individuals in the Economics Profession to provide support for LGBTQ+ economists and economic research relevant to LGBTQ+ populations

Career Services Center

The Career Services Center offers multiple services for helping students to identify internships and other professional opportunities that match their interests:

• Schedule a meeting with their Career Advising Center
• Meet with a Career Peer Advisor
• Check out their Premium Online Services, which features a list of resources and databases for finding internship opportunities

Other Contacts

• Dr. Myriam Huet
  Program Manager for Internships
  Center for Public Service
  102D Alcee Fortier
  (504) 862-3357
  mhuet@tulane.edu 
• Alexa Schwartz
  Senior Program Coordinator, Internships & International Programs
  Center for Public Service
  102A Alcee Fortier
  (504) 862-3355
  aschwar@tulane.edu
• Kabir Hingorani Punjabi
  Employment Advisor
  Office of International Students & Scholars
  6901 Willow Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
  (504) 865-5208
  khingora@tulane.edu 

“I wanted to work in a position that would allow me to use the data science and research-based writing skills I had developed in my economics degree. I found positions through my professors, Handshake, and postings on LinkedIn and other websites. Most required a writing sample, cover letter, and resume. Make sure to mention particular projects you've worked on, and run all these documents by a professor ahead of time. You’ve got this!”

Murad Laradji (Tulane ‘22)

Studying economics entails some of the best and most exciting career prospects, as well as opportunities for advanced study. Explore some of these job databases and resources:

Searchable Databases

• See the perennial opportunities listed in the internship section above for a specific list of professional opportunities
• CareerShift offers an easy-to-use website to conduct and organize a job search
• Glassdoor is a database that allows you to search internships and jobs, as well as see reviews and read about experiences from people who have worked there previously
• Handshake is a database of internships and job opportunities, posted by companies and organizations that want to recruit Tulane students
• Idealist provides a database and resources for finding internships and jobs
• Indeed searches companies’ and organizations’ websites for internship listings. Narrow your search by including interests or skills, as well as “internship” as a keyword
• Teach for America offers opportunities in teaching for recent college graduates
• USAjobs.gov is the official job and internship list for the U.S. federal government

Other Resources

• InterviewStream is an innovative learning tool that you can use to enhance your job interviewing skills and develop an edge over the competition. You will be able to simulate job interviews by responding to pre-recorded interview questions and practice both verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• The Career Services Center offers multiple services for helping students to identify jobs and other professional opportunities that match their interests. For example, schedule a meeting with their Career Advising Center , meet with a Career Peer Advisor , or check out their Premium Online Services , which features a list of resources and databases for finding job opportunities
• Search the American Economic Association’s (AEA) student resource page , which has various resources for students interested in careers in economics. Also see the following video from the AEA:

Advice

• Read this recent comprehensive guide written by several incoming Ph.D. students at UC San Diego, Boston College, and other top programs on how to navigate the application process -- including an extensive review of materials required (e.g. statement of purpose, letters of recommendation), the expectations of admissions committees (e.g. on GRE scores, grades), and how to optimize one’s application strategy (e.g. how broadly should I apply?)
• Professor Patrick Button maintains an online list of miscellaneous resources and advice on how to apply for, prepare for, and excel in economics Ph.D. programs

Prepping for Ph.D. Programs

Boosting Quantitative Skills

• Consider applying for admission into the 4+1 masters in policy economics while at Tulane to boost your quantitative credentials prior to applying to Ph.D. or other post-graduate programs
• The AEA offers a summer program geared toward increasing diversity in economics Ph.D. programs. If admitted, students interested in pursuing an economics Ph.D. can gain access to additional math and stats education, develop research mentorships, and get exposed to the rigors of graduate school
• Columbia University offers a Bridge to the Ph.D. program to boost skills for STEM fields, aimed at individuals from underrepresented groups

Pursuing Pre-docs and Post-baccalaureate R.A. Programs

• Use the PREDOC database to look for pre-doctoral programs and advanced research assistant opportunities for after graduation, in order to boost your chances of getting into top Ph.D. programs
• See EconJobMarket for another database of pre-docs and post-graduate R.A.-ships
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) funds a two-year R.A. program for economics students with a bachelor’s degree
• Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) Research Scholar Initiative is a non-degree granting post-baccalaureate program that provides mentored research and training for individuals interested in pursuing doctoral studies. 
• Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy Research (IEPR) offers a Predoctoral Research Fellowship program, which is a full-time, one- to two-year post-baccalaureate program designed to prepare individuals wishing to gain valuable training and experience toward a career in academic research in economics or public policy
• The PhD Excellence Initiative (PhDEI) is a post-baccalaureate program in New York City that identifies high-achieving students of color and prepares them for the rigors of pursuing a PhD in economics
• The Hoover Institution offers a four-day Summer Policy Boot Camp for current students and recent graduates in economics, public policy, and politics
• The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) provides databases of post-baccalaureate R.A. opportunities both within and outside the NBER
• A group of professional economists on Twitter actively post on new R.A. opportunities, including post-baccalaureate programs, from around the world