but using the strategy of Dr. Stephanie Wilson, group vice president - International of Abt Associates, Inc., will help. "Pick a growth industry. Pick a global industry. Remain flexible to the opportunity of working outside of the traditional corporate structure. Keep skills well toned and avoid 'glass walls.'"

Your college's career services center should come in handy. Their role is to link you to potential employers through career fairs and job postings. With the Internet, many additional resources are at your fingertips. The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration-America's Career InfoNet provides detailed information about wages, employment trends, the education, knowledge, and skills required for most occupations. Many organizations now advertise openings on the Internet and describe the skills and backgrounds needed.

A number of organizations exist whose missions are to increase the number of African Americans in economics and public policy. The National Economic Association, founded over 30 years ago, maintains a Web site with information about educational and employment opportunities.

The American Economic Association has been running a "pipeline" program for over 25 years. The program brings together talented students and provides a taste of the content and pace of graduate school. After completion, you are then paired with a professional economist, who serves as your mentor. The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management runs a program for undergraduates who are interested in pursuing a career in public policy.

One comment that I consistently hear about these programs is the deep satisfaction from being able to spend a significant period of time with a critical mass of African-American scholars. Many professional relationships and lifelong friendships are built as a result of these programs.

Economics is one of the most powerful careers any college student can pursue. It is relevant to so many issues. If you asked me whether I would choose another path, the answer would be a definite "no." The analytical training has enabled me to actively contribute to academic and policy debates on a wide array of interesting social problems.

Given our economy's continued move to an information-based economy, economics provides you with an invaluable set of lifelong quantitative skills, and with a mindset to be a lifelong learner.

A Few Resources for Economics Students

General Resources:

•  Resources for Economists on the Internet
http://rfe.wustl.edu/

•  Sample Economics Handbook for Majors, Minors, and Interested Students Department of Economics, The College of William and Mary
http://www.wm.edu/economics/

•  The Review of Black Political Economy
http://giorgio.catchword.com/vl=55784761/cl=11/nw=1/rpsv/catchword/tranpub/00346446/contp1-1.htm

•  The Journal of Economic Perspectives
http://www.aeaweb.org/jep/

•  The American Economist
http://www.cba.ua.edu/~ode/

Information on Careers in Economics and Business:

· America's Career InfoNet, U.S. Department of Labor
http://www.acinet.org

· African Development Bank
http://www.afdb.org

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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