Ishita Bagchi

While continuous learning is vital for upskilling, one thing to keep in mind is that you are picking up relevant courses and workshops that are aligning with your career paths and interest areas. Why is this important? Because in the age of internet, we have access to almost any and every kind of learning materials, however, that doesn't mean that every economics course is meant for you or relevant for you. Take up courses which make sense to you and are useful for your career growth and not because your peers are doing or it will look cool on your resume. :)

One thing to be mindful of when we look at education pathways is to be aware of your existing skills and how those skills can intersect with your interest areas in the field of economics. For instance, if gender economics is your interest area and you are someone from a public health background, you can find an intersection in the field of gender and public health (Such as reproductive health, impacts of various health policies on women and queer folks and so on). This will help you to not only strengthen your existing skills but also work in your interest area without completely deviating from your existing field.

No matter how much of an expert you consider yourself, it is important to continue to analyse case studies. Case studies provide an opportunity to apply economic theories to real-world scenarios. Analyze and understand case studies from various sources, such as newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. Constantly read through the current socio-political and economic scenarios and apply your own understanding to get a sense of what would it look like if you were the one making the decision. Write that down, engage in healthy conversations and debates with peers who are also open to various view points and will provide you with constructive criticism.

Here are a few resources that you can use: 1. Ideas of India podcast https://www.mercatus.org/ideasofindia 2. Macro Musings https://www.mercatus.org/macro-musings 3. The Gender Justice brief https://www.genderjustice.us/podcast/ 4. Busted https://www.gendereconomy.org/busted/

As someone who has gone through similar experiences and didn't really have particular preferences, the best way to choose which program to go for is to see which program interests you the most. Yes, that's right. Just focus on which program curriculum looks intriguing to you. Look at the curriculum thoroughly. If it's a flagship program of a famous university, then make sure to reach out to the alums of that program and ask them about their experiences. Lastly, take all the advice that you get but do not emulate someone else's journey. Rather focus on creating one of your own and pick a course that makes learning economics interesting for you.

Prioritise mentorship needs depending on what is it that you want the most and then connect with mentors as per shared interests. For instance, if higher education is your immediate priority then find mentors who can support you in your applications and accordingly keep that as your top priority. If your next priority is to upskill then look at mentors who would support you in that. Prioritising your goals when you desire to have multiple mentors is essential. And the best way to do this is to make a written checklist for yourself as to what do you expect and list down each and everything you want from the mentors.