Serena Bonomi’s Post

a very promising opportunity

Invaluable experince to work for people interested in Labour Economics.

For a young student from social sciences considering a career in policy research in a think tank. 🚀 Think tanks and #research #institutes are growing rapidly. Their working models may vary, they share a common goal: to #influence #policy. They employ various #strategies to achieve this #objective. 🌐 For #young_students and #scholars in social sciences aiming for a #career in #policy_research, understanding what policy research entails and building the right #skill_set is crucial. Here are key skills, based on my experience working in a think tank: 🔍 Analytical Skills: Ability to critically #evaluate #information, #identify patterns, and draw #insightful #conclusions from #data. 📊 Research Skills: Proficiency in #qualitative and #quantitative research methods, including data collection, #analysis, and #interpretation. ✍️ Writing and #Communication_Skills: Strong writing skills for drafting #policy_briefs, #reports, and #articles, along with the ability to present #complex #ideas clearly and concisely. 🎓 Subject Matter Expertise: In-depth #knowledge in fields such as #economics, #political_science, #international_relations, #public_policy, or other related #disciplines. 🏛️ Policy Understanding: A solid grasp of the policy-making #process, including how policies are #developed, #implemented, and #evaluated. 🤔 Critical Thinking: Ability to question #assumptions, evaluate #evidence, and develop well-reasoned #arguments. 📅 Project Management: Skills in #planning, #organizing, and #managing #research_projects, including #time_management and attention to detail. 🤝 #Networking and #Collaboration: Ability to work with diverse #stakeholders, including #policymakers, #academics, and other #researchers, and to build #professional #networks. 📢 Presentation Skills: Competence in presenting #research_findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, including #public_speaking and the use of visual aids. 🔄 Interdisciplinary #Approach: Ability to integrate #perspectives and methodologies from various social science disciplines to address complex #policy_issues. 💻 Technological Proficiency: Familiarity with #digital #tools and #platforms for data collection, #analysis, and dissemination of #research. 📈 Policy Advocacy and Impact: Understanding of how to translate research into #actionable #policy_recommendations and #advocate for #policy_change effectively. For those passionate about influencing policy and driving change, building these skills is essential. #PolicyResearch #ThinkTanks #SocialSciences #CareerDevelopment #Skills #Research #PolicyInfluence #AnalyticalSkills #Networking #ProjectManagement #CriticalThinking #PolicyResearchCareer

sharing this with my former Competive intelligence/ market intelligence network.

The Power of Being a Skilled Researcher In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to research effectively is one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop. It’s not just about finding information; it’s about finding the right information, analyzing it, and applying it in practical, meaningful ways. For professionals, being a good researcher can: 1. Enhance problem-solving abilities. 2. Provide deeper insights into your field. 3. Drive innovation by uncovering new opportunities. 4. Foster continuous personal and professional growth. Research isn’t just for academics; it’s for anyone who wants to excel in their area of expertise. A good researcher isn’t just someone who looks for answers but someone who searches smartly, learns continuously, and adapts creatively. By improving our research skills, we not only expand our knowledge but also gain a competitive edge, allowing us to make better decisions and contribute more effectively in our fields. What are your thoughts on the importance of research skills? How do you apply them in your professional journey? #Skills #research #Development

ABOUT TO COMPLETE YOUR PHD AND WONDER WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? PhD doesn't close doors outside academia, so know your worth! While professorships are the most considered path for PhDs, only about 15-20% of graduates secures permanent academic positions. But that statistic shouldn't discourage you from doing a PhD. Your PhD equips you with valuable skills that are sought-after across diverse industries. Here are just a few exciting options to consider: * Industry: From R&D roles in tech giants to data science positions in startups, your research expertise is valuable for innovation. * Government: Influence policy and make a real-world impact through roles like science advisor or policy analyst. * Nonprofit: Lead research initiatives, manage programs, or advocate for change in organizations that align with your values. * Science communication: Share your passion for science with the world as a science writer, editor, or media specialist. * Consultancy: Leverage your research and analytical skills to solve complex problems for clients in various industries. The best path for you depends on your unique interests and goals. Note it is not uncommon to jump between these jobs throughout your career. I encourage you to explore, network, and find what works for you! #phd #professor #sciencecareers #science #consultancy #academia Image source: ercLife

I keep hearing reports of a shortage of scientists, yet I there are so many graduates, post graduates and post docs who have left their chosen fields. Either they fell off the post doc merry-go-round, failed to publish or found research incompatible with a family. Skilled, intelligent, adaptable researchers should have better opportunities to retrain in other fields. This would diversify their skills base from their niche areas. Positions are too niche and inflexible, with employers only willing to pick someone from the ether that fits their ideal skills set. With overseas candidates being turned away by the UK's hostile approach to immigration employers may have to turn to disillusioned ex-researchers. I would love to return to science in some capacity but there is little opportunity to. Maybe there is less of a shortage then people think. Maybe employment practices have to change and be more relevant to modern life. You get more opportunities doing an apprenticeship than a doctorate these days.

Thanks to David Rubenstein, the co-founder and chairman of private equity firm The Carlyle Group, for this acronym. Rubenstein states: “The reasoning skills that come with a well-rounded humanities education actually result in higher-paying jobs over time." So what are the reasoning skills that a background in Humanities provides? And how do languages feature in their development? Xaymaca Awoyungbo in his article in The Guardian* on 22 August explains: - The ability to digest information and form an opinion is key in Humanities, and a grounding in these subjects develops the skills needed to articulate opinions to colleagues and make persuasive arguments. - In private equity, as in other sectors, business and teams are often split by international region. An understanding of languages and cultures is a big advantage to working with and across teams. - Understanding reports in other languages and being able to relate to colleagues with other languages and cultures can give an employee in this sector an advantage over other colleagues. As corporate recruiter, Andrew Osayemi, who is quoted in the same article, says: “One of the key skills employers are looking for is problem-solving. Whether you use technology to solve a problem or your hard work and intelligence, employers don’t care. They just want the problem to be solved.” You could use your language skills directly or the reasoning skills developed alongside language learning; either way, a background in languages will add weight to either side of the equation. #LanguageLearning #Employability #Humanities *Study arts and humanities because you love them (and so do employers, by the way)

Replace these words with quantifiable metrics: ❌ "Passionate" ✅ "Taught [number] students across [number] courses, receiving an average evaluation score of [number]." ❌ "Resourceful" ✅ "Secured [$ amount] in competitive research grants, including [specific scholarships, grants, fellowships]." ❌ "Analytical" ✅ "Developed and implemented a [specific method], saving [number of hours] in data processing time." ❌ "Organized" ✅ "Managed [number] junior researchers to complete [number] research projects with a lab budget of [$]." Don't TELL hiring managers that you have a quality. SHOW them.