Mary Donovan ‘15
Title: Principal and Economist
Employer: ndp | analytics
Major: Masters, Applied Economics
What do you enjoy the most about your position?
The diversity of industries and policy issues in our research portfolio.
What is a typical day like in your position?
Every day is different. In general, I spend time working directly with current and potential clients, managing our workflow, conducting or reviewing qualitative and quantitative research, and drafting materials to summarize the findings.
How did you find your current position?
LinkedIn.
Which undergraduate experiences did you find most helpful in preparing you for your current position?
I received a BA in a different field at a different university, but I always recommend internships to undergraduates preparing for their first professional job. The "real world" experience is tremendously helpful.
How has your coursework helped you in your current position (i.e. quantitative skills, research techniques, communication skills)?
Quantitative skills and critical thinking/problem solving prepared me most for my current work.
Any job or internship advice for students seeking a position in your field?
Before you can get creative, you need to know the fundamentals. For economic research/consulting, show that you know can be relied on for the basic - yet critical - tasks (e.g., finding and understanding data, checking for errors, conducting lit reviews).
What advice do you have for students trying to find jobs or internships during the pandemic?
Ask for help. Share your resume a with friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who might know of job openings and could pass your resume on to others in their network.
