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Agricultural Economist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Agricultural Economist resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Agricultural economists study how we can produce more food with fewer resources. They’re experts in the fields of labor, finance, and natural resources, and they advise businesses, governments, and nonprofits on how to become more efficient and sustainable.

If you’re interested in a career that combines business, data analysis, and environmental stewardship, then you might want to become an agricultural economist. And if you want to work in an area that’s growing rapidly, with opportunities across industries, then this is the right field for you.

Here are some tips and an example resume that will help you write an agricultural economist resume that hiring managers will love.

Jennifer Thomas
Chicago, IL | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Agricultural economist with experience in research, policy analysis, and consulting. Proven ability to synthesize data into clear and concise insights for both technical and non-technical audiences. Experienced in stakeholder engagement and working with multidisciplinary teams.

Education
University of California, Davis Jun '06
M.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics
University of California, Davis Jun '04
B.S. in Agricultural Economics
Experience
Company A, Agricultural Economist Jan '17 – Current
  • Conducted applied research on the economic impacts of climate change and biosecurity threats to agriculture, including drought, heat stress, invasive pests and diseases, and air pollution.
  • Developed models for estimating agricultural losses due to weather events using statistical methods such as regression analysis and time series modeling.
  • Analyzed data from surveys of farmers in order to assess their exposure to risks associated with climate change or biosecurity threats (e.g., drought).
  • Assessed the potential impact of new technologies that could mitigate these risks by conducting cost-benefit analyses based on estimated adoption rates among producers under various scenarios.
  • Communicated results through written reports, presentations at conferences, webinars, etc., as well as outreach efforts aimed at engaging stakeholders such as Extension agents and other industry partners.
Company B, Agricultural Economist Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Conducted research on the economic impact of climate change and its effect on crop yields, resulting in a new grant worth over $1M
  • Collaborated with international researchers to study the effects of trade liberalization on food security in developing countries
  • Assessed the feasibility of introducing genetically modified crops into developing nations; concluded that it was not economically viable
  • Developed an index measuring agricultural productivity based on labor inputs for different crops; published paper in peer-reviewed journal
  • Designed a survey instrument to measure household consumption patterns among rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa
Company C, Agricultural Research Assistant Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Conducted research on various topics related to agriculture such as crop rotation, irrigation, and soil fertility.
  • Presented findings from research projects to colleagues and clients.
  • Wrote reports detailing the results of research projects.
Certifications
  • Certified in Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • Certified Professional in Agricultural Economics
  • Master of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Farm Management, Supply and Demand, Cash Flow, Economics, Labor Economics
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, SPSS, Stata, Matlab, R
Soft Skills: Communication, Leadership, Time Management, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking

How to Write an Agricultural Economist Resume

Here’s how to write an agricultural economist resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And they have to be compelling enough to make them want to read the rest of your resume.

The best way to do this is to use specific numbers and statistics to demonstrate your experience and knowledge. So rather than saying you “analyzed data,” you could say you “analyzed data to identify trends in crop yields and livestock mortality rates, resulting in a 15% increase in crop yields and a 10% decrease in livestock mortality rates over two years.”

The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for an agricultural economist role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This program will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the job, like “market analysis” or “agricultural trends.” If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of commonly used agricultural economist keywords as a starting point:

  • Agricultural Economics
  • Econometrics
  • Applied Economics
  • Agricultural Policy
  • Quantitative Skills
  • Economics
  • R (Programming Language)
  • Agribusiness
  • Financial Analysis
  • Analytical Skills
  • Agricultural Economics Research
  • Financial Modeling
  • Financial Risk
  • Agribusiness Consulting
  • Stata
  • Modeling
  • Statistics
  • Teaching
  • Data Analysis
  • Agribusiness Consulting Services
  • Agricultural Productivity
  • Economic Development
  • Quantitative Research
  • Economics Research
  • Food Security
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Agricultural Economics Teaching
  • International Agriculture
  • Agricultural Policy Analysis
  • Applied Microeconomics

Showcase Your Technical Skills

Agricultural economists use a variety of software programs to do their work, including statistical analysis software, spreadsheets, and mapping programs. They also need to be proficient in the use of economic databases, such as the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) database. If you have experience with any of these programs or databases, be sure to list them on your resume.

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