What we are looking for
In compiling our shortlist, we look particularly for excellent academic results and for an interest in and understanding of how economic theory can be used to improve public policy. Research Economists carry out research to a high academic standard, with an awareness of the policy context, and communicate the results to a wide audience.
Successful applicants to a Research Economist position will have gained, or be expected to gain, at least a very good 2:1 on an undergraduate degree course with a significant economics component (e.g. economics, or a degree with economics as a major), or a relevant master's degree. Candidates with relevant work experience in the public, private or not-for-profit sector and those who have or expect to have a strong PhD, who are interested in doing general microeconomic research, may also apply. Many staff have previous computing, econometric or theoretical skills; these are not essential, although strong numeracy and the willingness to learn are. Undertaking econometric and other data analysis using various programming languages are an important part of research roles at IFS, but many staff join IFS without prior experience in this area.
You will be expected to be able and willing to present your work to a range of audiences, including the academic and broad public policy communities. This may include addressing conferences and seminars, writing for newspapers, and appearing on radio or television. Relevant training – for instance, in broadcasting skills – will be provided.
Diversity
We strive to foster a respectful and inclusive environment, in which people from all backgrounds feel welcome. Our approach to flexible working has helped to ensure that we employ a balance of men and women at all levels of seniority. Staff of many nationalities work together at the IFS, along with a range of visiting academics from the UK and other countries.
Our selection decisions are made on the basis of potential to carry out and communicate excellent research, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion or social class.
When short-listing and interviewing we are looking for potential and enthusiasm for economics, an ability to think using an economic tool kit and to communicate this clearly: the process is designed to draw these out and to identify the positive attributes that a candidate has, rather than to catch them out with trick questions or find out what they don’t know.
Application process
We ask candidates to fill in an application form, so that short-listers can compare like with like when looking at information about applicants. As part of our efforts to increase diversity among our staff, IFS uses BeApplied, a job application platform designed to encourage applicants from all backgrounds and to decrease bias in the hiring process.
As well as information about academic performance, we ask candidates to answer the following question:
"What is it about IFS and the type of research we do that makes you want to work here?"
This question will be read and scored anonymously, separately from the rest of your application.
You will be asked to provide contact details for two referees. These should usually be academic referees, unless you are not a recent graduate and have relevant work experience. We will contact all academic referees for short-listed candidates.
Aptitude tests
As part of the application process, we also ask you to take a short online numeracy test. The test results will be used in combination with the information you provided on your application form when shortlisting candidates.
Process for short-listed candidates
We aim to shortlist around 30 candidates We usually receive applicants from from 300 to 400 candidates.
The videos below contain examples of the sorts of questions we might ask and examples of the sort of answers we're looking for. Candidates should note that these are merely illustrations. Interview questions may be of a different style (e.g. more technical in nature), and successful answers could be different from those in the videos (e.g. a successful candidate might use more or less technical economic 'jargon' in their answer). The key thing we're trying to assess is a candidate's ability to think through an economic problem in an intelligent way and to explain their reasoning, and these videos are intended to give candidates some sense of what to expect.
First interview
Each candidate will attend two consecutive interviews on the same day, where the discussion will focus on applying economic theory to policy-relevant questions. Each of the interviews will take approximately 30 minutes. The interview panels are made up of three people per panel. These include senior managers and team leaders, most of whom have a space in their team for a new economist.
Candidates will be asked to use economics to analyse a topical policy question, such as the impact of tax changes or government policies on education. Four different topics will then be covered across the two interviews, each focusing on a different aspect of the Institute’s research. We select candidates based on the potential we believe they have to think in an intelligent way about economics and its application to policy questions. Each interviewer will privately note down a score after every question to indicate how well they think candidate answered the question. The scores are entered into a spreadsheet at the end to allow the panels to reach a fair assessment.
Second interview
A smaller number of candidates (about 10) will then be called back for a second interview. This time, there will be one interview with a panel of six people. Candidates are asked to prepare a presentation in advance which they give at the start of the interview.
Approximately 45 minutes before the interview, candidates will be asked to leave their phone outside and given 30 minutes to read a brief paper. The panel will then ask follow-up questions on that paper.
We then follow up with a set of questions about the issues raised in the presentation. We then have another question or two similar in nature to that asked at the first stage.
Interview expenses
Where possible, all interviews will be in person at our offices in London. For the first interview, if candidates are overseas and would have difficulty attending in person, some interviews may be carried out online. We will pay all reasonable travel – and accommodation, where needed – expenses for candidates coming from within the UK. We will typically cover expenses for any candidates coming to the second interview (regardless of where they are located in the world), as we would prefer to carry these out face-to-face rather than remotely.
Job offers
We expect to be able to make job offers during the week following the interview.
We will give feedback on their application and interview performance to all candidates who came to an interview and have not been offered a job.
Candidates from outside the UK can apply, and the role is eligible for a Skilled Worker visa. Any job offer will remain conditional until the visa application to the Home Office is successful.
Using AI tools to help with your application
The purpose of the application process is to understand candidates' potential to undertake first-rate economic research and communicate it to a wide audience. AI tools are used within our organisation to support our work. You are welcome to use AI tools to assist with written parts of the job application, though we strongly recommend not relying on them to substitute for your own thinking. Please do not use AI tools to assist with other parts of the application including the numeracy test and the interview process.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in person and will not have the opportunity to consult their phones or other devices during the interview. Anyone who needs to be interviewed online (which would only occur in first round interviews) must not use any AI tools to give prompts for the answers. Online interviews will be recorded to give us the opportunity to check back if we suspect that candidates have been assisted by AI tools during the interview.
