Career Crosswalks is an innovative program created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's 4th District designed to increase awareness of professional opportunities in economics and finance among underrepresented minority and women undergraduate students. This initiative is a collaboration between The Finance Farm League and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's 4th District.”
Career Crosswalks offers a series of structured sessions guided by Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Research Analysts. These sessions cover:
Session 1: What is an RA?
Students will meet with a Federal Reserve Research Analyst (RA) to learn more about their role, the Federal Reserve System, and what economic research at the Fed really looks like. RA's will help students explore potential research topics and support them in deciding on a topic for the remainder of the program.
Session 2: Digging through the data
RA's will discuss the different data tools they work with in their role and provide a demonstration of how to gather and organize data for a research project. Students will then decide what kinds of data they would use to explore their topic selected in session one.
Session 3: Analyzing for answers
RA’s will discuss their experience with data analysis in their role and the ways students can use the work of other professionals to answer similar questions and learn new methods in practice. Using data sets from session two, students will analyze data alongside the RA's and work to draw conclusions. RA's will also help students decide what kinds of analysis would need to be done to answer their research questions from session one.
Session 4: Looking forward
RA’s will share keys to success in landing their role and will discuss their future career plans to help students gain insight into where a research analyst role can take them. Students will conclude this session by sharing their research work that was created over the past three sessions.
Advance college and career readiness for underrepresented populations
Emphasize transferable skills from business and math majors to the economics profession
Provide mentorship and guidance from current economics professionals
Foster understanding of how to connect professional skills, interests, and values to career applications
Deliver measurable outcomes through sustainable, collaborative programming with prioritized Fourth District colleges and universities
- Bi-monthly interpersonal interactions with young professionals
- On-campus "town hall" structured sessions
- Annual trips to Federal Reserve Bank facilities
- Networking opportunities with Federal Reserve professionals
- Access to potential internship and job opportunities
- Exposure to diverse career paths in economics and finance
- Development of professional networks
- Enhanced understanding of the Federal Reserve's role in the economy
- Improved career readiness and employability skills
- Potential for mentorship relationships
Students can participate through their university's partner programs or by signing up directly on The Finance FarmLeague's website. For more information, visit: www.thefinancefarmleague.org