Money Matters

I love money. Who doesn’t? As a college student though, sometimes finding spare change can be rather difficult. Student loans, part-time jobs, and worrying about where next month’s rent is coming from can be a stressful time. While at the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference, we heard from speakers about style advice in a professional place, but we also listened to Adam Carroll, CEO of National Financial Educators, on how to be smart with our money.

Adam told us a story about his I-Pod that he wanted so badly but didn’t want to spend the money to buy. Because technology changes so quickly, he decided he needed more of an investment than something that would depreciate so fast. Adam decided to buy a gumball machine. He stuck it in his friend’s store, and within a month he had paid for the cost of the gumball machine, plus earned enough money to buy his I-Pod.

It is funny how passive income can make such a difference. When looking to be wealthy someday, it is vital to save money and spend money wisely. Adam told us to pay ourselves first—to save 10% of what we make each month. I haven’t started yet, but maybe someday I’ll be rich by following this piece of advice!

Earning enough money to stay on track in college and keep my head above water is what matter the most to me. I can’t wait to get out and get a real job where I can begin doing what I love—and also make more than minimum wage. Money does matter for the success of a student, and it all starts in college.

-Charlotte Jackson
Sophomore, Agricultural Education

Live Like You're a Millionaire

When I was a freshman, I heard the phrase “Live like you’re a millionaire” several times always referring to how we should treat college life. As I heard the phrase later in the year it became very clear to me that I had no idea what they were talking about, because frankly my funds had been getting tighter and tighter all year. I later discovered what this phrase truly meant as I was bombarded by the numerous opportunities college offered. From a free (ok...prepaid) gym membership, to career service events on resume building, interview training, salary negotiation, job interviews and delivered to your doorstep, the amount of free opportunities offered to us as college students are astounding. Besides the events you can attend you also have the incredible opportunity to build relationships with your professors who are undoubtedly some of the leaders in your field of interest. So do something for yourself, take advantage of the opportunities our University offers you, milk it for all its worth, and live like you’re a millionaire.

-Chris Perry
Junior, Animal Sciences

Be sure to visit CAFNR Career Services to learn more about these great opportunities. We're here in Ag Building 2-64 to help you prepare for life after college. It's time to take advantage of everything CAFNR has to offer!

Weighing the Options

As I near graduation it becomes more and more evident to me that I am going to need a job very soon. I have no doubts that CAFNR and the Ag Journalism program have prepared me to be successful in just about any career, what I worry about is my ability to choose the path that is right for me.

Luckily for me, I am not the first confused senior that CAFNR Career Services Director, Stephanie Chipman, has dealt with.

I met with Stephanie the other day to discuss my options post-graduation. I went in hoping to find a career, but with no idea what I wanted to do. This seems like an impossible mission, but it was obviously something Stephanie had seen before.

Looking back, the advice she gave me was simple; find the type of job that appeals to you and then find a similar job that fits your location and expertise. But this was different from the approach that I had been taking.

Like many job seekers, I had been looking for it all one place. I wanted the right job in the right place with the right salary. This can be difficult to find.

What Stephanie suggested was to figure out what it was that I liked about a specific job and then look for similar ones that met my requirements.

This is something that should be so natural. I equate it to deciding on your favorite food as a little kid. You know why you don’t like asparagus, and why you do like mac and cheese. You know that if something contains asparagus you won’t like it, but if it contains cheese you most likely will.

This same reasoning can be applied to your job search, just think of a cubicle as asparagus and a six-figure pay check as the cheese. You get the idea.

If you still aren’t sure what career suits you best, bring your ideas in to the CAFNR Career Services office and they will be glad to help you out.

-Taryn Dameron

Senior, Agricultural Journalism

Follow Taryn's advice and find YOUR path to career success. Stop by Ag Building 2-64 today!

Get Involved!

If you’re ever wandering through the Animal Science Research Center and see a student who appears to be talking to the wall, they’re not crazy. They’re just practicing a set of reasons. I know because this semester I’ve spent several weekends analyzing hogs, cattle, sheep, and goats, trying to line them up from best to worst and I’m often one of those “deranged” students. The livestock judging team is one of many competitive intercollegiate teams which CAFNR students can take part in. Maybe analyzing livestock and giving reasons doesn’t sound intriguing to you. Maybe you’re more into meats judging, or soils or agronomy contests. Maybe you like a little more action and would prefer the archery tournaments, shooting sports, or rodeo competitions. Whatever your preference, these competitive teams offer great opportunities for hands-on learning in areas you’re interested in. Here’s your chance to get great experience and build relationships, which can benefit you down the road.

-Chris Perry
Junior, Animal Sciences

Click here for more information about CAFNR organizations and teams.

Interview today!

Are you seeking a summer 2009 internship or a full-time position? Please be aware of the following opportunities to interview here on campus:

Wednesday, November 19
Steak n Shake: interviewing in 2-64 Ag Building for both Internship and Full-time Management opportunities. Please sign up on http://www.hiremizzoutigers.com/. Don’t have an account? Have questions about how to sign-up? Please contact us!

Thursday, November 20
Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers: interviewing in 2-64 Ag Building for the following full-time positions to start in January. ONLY interviewing December ’08 graduates. Sign up online at http://www.hiremizzoutigers.com/.

Grain origination. The role includes learning and utilizing grain trading methods including board of trade hedging, options, and a variety of other buying and hedging methods. The originator will communicate directly with our farmer and commercial accounts to buy and sell grain for Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Inc. This role will prepare a person to progress to more complex trading and manage grain or other commodity positions.

Operations Management. The candidate will work directly for our area operations managers to learn facility operations in grain and agronomic products. Our modern operation requires both mechanical and computer knowledge for successful managers. In addition our operations managers work directly with our farmer customers to meet their needs in a timely manner.

Additionally, if you missed the fall recruitment events and hope to get started on a search for full-time positions or internships, we are glad to meet with you individually. Please call or e-mail to schedule an appointment.

Be sure to check out these Interview Tips to prepare today! Call CAFNR Career Services for more information...573-882-0088.

What is My Passion?

When I was five years old, I wanted to be a country music singer. I wanted to go to Nashville and be just like my American Idol—Leann Rimes. Ever since I can remember, I have been belting out Leann’s songs. But since that time as a young child many years ago, my goals for life have changed a little bit.

I wanted to be anything and everything in the world when I was a little girl. I dreamed of being an Olympic gymnast, a beautician, and now what I am pursuing today—an Agricultural Education major with an emphasis in Leadership—is much different.

Finding your passion is so important. The problem is… sometimes it changes. But change can be good. When I first began thinking of what to seriously do with my life, I decided I wanted to be music teacher. I have loved to sing for as long as I could remember, but in making this decision I forgot about the other thing I had loved for as long as I could remember: being on the farm.

Finally, as a sophomore in high school, I realized agriculture was for me. I had grown to appreciate that warm, family-like feeling that you can’t find anywhere else but in agriculture. It just took me finding what meant the most to me in life. I realized that I could not live one day without the scent of freshly cut hay, cow manure, or the milk barn. Agriculture is my passion—and I’m so glad I finally found it!

CAFNR Career Services can help you realize that agriculture is for you too…check out all the opportunities or stop by the office in 2-64 today.

-Charlotte Jackson

Sophomore, Agricultural Education

Top 20 Interview Mistakes

It's that time of year. Employers are interviewing students for internships and full-time positions. Do you know what the top mistakes are so you can avoid a slip-up that could cost you the job?

Take a look at these to make sure you're not giving companies a reason to say goodbye:

• Showing up late.
• Being unprepared.
• Answering questions with a "yes" or "no."
• Fidgeting.
• Speaking too quickly, quietly or loudly.
• Avoiding eye contact.
• Lying.
• Not answering the question asked.
• Telling too much.
• Belittling past jobs.
• Being inappropriately dressed.
• Not asking company questions.
• Not sending a thank-you note.
• Not thanking the interviewer at the end.
• Forgetting to bring copies of resume and references to interview.
• Chewing gum, smoking or eating.
• Allowing the cell phone to ring.
• Interrupting the interviewer.
• Talking too much.
• Using qualifiers — I believe, perhaps, maybe, I think.

This list is also available on the CAFNR Career Services site. Need help resolving one of these problems? Now's the time to stop by Ag Building 2-64 to work on your interviewing skills!

When the Going Gets Tough

So you've gotten to make your own choices, now it's time to find balance and motivation.

Often times when this time of year rolls around, studying has become a difficult venture. Midterm exams are over, and all those five page papers have already been turned in. It seems like it should be time to relax—but the next week only brings more homework and assignments that make those five page papers look simple. Then all the extra-curricular activities added on top of the homework can cause some serious stress. So how do you stay focused in college when the going gets tough?

Last year as a freshman, studying was so simple. I knew the reason I was at Mizzou—to learn as much as I could in my classes as well as outside my classes. I did this through getting involved as I could—I became president in one organization, officer in two others, and a member of one more. I pushed myself to the limits or way past my limits even sometimes. After being so worn and stressed with all my activities and homework, I got really sick last February. I had the flu; then I had an allergic reaction to the medicine the Student Health Center gave me. That incident taught me I needed to slow down.

This year in school, my priorities are different. Rather than being involved in everything, I am finding what I love and devoting myself to that. Some days I feel like I am still too busy, but living a full life is what I strive for. Studying is still a priority for me, but I have learned that staying up until the wee hours of the morning cramming for a test really doesn’t help that much. I feel as though in my second year of college, I am much more efficient and focused than I was last year as a freshman.

When the going gets tough—get going. College classes are difficult, but every student understands that. Just know your limitations, but still push them as far as classes are concerned. Don’t over-dedicate yourself to activities that only seem like they look good on a resume. Find what you love, and stick with it. When the going gets tough—get going.

-Charlotte Jackson
Sophomore, Agricultural Education