Interviewing for Government Jobs: A View

from ERS

Mary Bohman

Economic Research Service USDA

Overview

• ERS mission & economist jobs

• Key knowledge, skills & abilities

• Implications for applying and interviewing

ERS mission & economist jobs

• Mission to support public and private decision makers

• Anticipate policy relevant topics• Produce & disseminate timely, high

quality research findings

Knowledge, skills & abilities

• Interest in policy relevant research

• Timely means flexibility & work in teams to meet deadlines

• Quality critical in policy process—talented economists who publish in top academic journals

Communication: Publishing for impact

Communicating directly

• Meetings, briefings, phone calls …

Implications

• Communicate knowledge of– policy issues in your area of

expertise– ERS research & analysis

• Demonstrate research excellence through papers & seminar– Frame relevant hypotheses– Select appropriate methods– Present intuition behind findings– Communicate policy relevance

Implications (cont.)

• Communication skills– Seminar– Responses to questions &

questions asked

• Meet deadlines & work in teams– Publications– Interest– Leadership through community service– Job experience, including as an intern

Laying the groundwork

• Public policy experience through internships

• Conference presentations & publications

• Networking

For more info…

• ERS website: www.ers.usda.gov

• ERS staff: