Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Future of Hiring...Agriculture

OK, so some of you may not be in your "dream" job. With news of the economy, more seniors turned to plan B this year: graduate school. Others were willing to accept a position that just a few months ago, they may have considered unacceptable. To all of you who identify with the difficulty of job "search and find" this year, take heart. There is good news.

The 2008 Agribusiness Job Report by AgCareers.com reports that 63% of their companies foresee retirements in the upcoming years that will create many new opportunities. Even better news, many companies are turning to college relations as a way to fill positions, as evidenced by an increase in the number of internship programs and entry-level leadership development programs.

So, what to do now? Use this time to hone your skills. Think about your ideal position. Find several job descriptions online; use websites like AgCareers.com to search for jobs that sound enjoyable and interesting. What can you do in your current job or in graduate school to prepare yourself better for that next position? Pursue those projects, tasks, classes and contacts that will ensure that your next position is close to, if not, ideal.