The Thirst for Talent

As the economy creates questions for job-hunting students and alums, we bring you another perspective on the situation. Marketing yourself is key, according to recruiter Michele Holton.

Today companies and individuals grapple with the impact of our current economic conditions. Companies are trying to balance their short term interests against their strategic, long term plans. They are making challenging decisions about their businesses and their people that they may not have had to reconcile in the previous boom times.

At the same time, individuals are struggling financially, rethinking their career choices and their expectations for the future. Added to this complexity are increasing talent shortages. The impending retirement of the Baby Boom Generation (if they can still afford to) is giving way to a new generation in the workplace that have varying expectations for their careers, their development and their relationship with their company.

For most companies, talent is the true differentiator in realizing business results. Having the right talent at the right time in the right role is imperative to success. Companies with the foresight, initiative and resources to invest in talent now, will prevail in the long term.

So what can you do now to find the right opportunity? Today, being clear about what your interests are, taking the initiative to seek out and review available opportunities, preparing for interactions with company representatives and being able to articulate your interest are all extremely important. I would also strongly suggest you pursue an internship or co-op either during or after your college career.

After a careful review, Monsanto made the decision to offer fewer of our intern/co-op and entry level roles for the upcoming year yet we still had nearly 350 openings across the US alone. Internships and co-ops are an important resource for building our pipeline of future talent. Students who access these opportunities have a first hand, realistic job preview and an opportunity to show their skills and experience the company’s culture. In our case, many of the students are converted to full time opportunities contingent upon strong performance.

When considering an internship, having a positive attitude with the flexibility to try a new location, engage diverse viewpoints along with a thirst for learning and exploration will greatly aid your success. As you begin working, an open dialog with your manager, along with a willingness to accept constructive criticism, can help ensure you fulfill your project and overall expectations. One simple behavior that can be overlooked in the quest to network and secure a full time opportunity is simply performing well in your current position by meeting the job expectations.

Also, attend the events the company provides to help you build your knowledge of the organization and your network. Besides demonstrating appreciation for the resources the company expends putting on these programs, these can be great informal ways for the company to get to know you and for you to show yourself outside of your work.

This is a hugely exciting time to be part of agriculture given the global needs related to sustainable food and energy. At Monsanto we are thrilled to be part of this and talent remains a top priority as we go forward. Click here for more information on internships, co-ops and opportunities at Monsanto.

Michele Holton is the University Relations and Employment Branding Lead at Monsanto.

Internships...YOU have to go get THEM!

It's impossible to turn on a television or open the newspaper without hearing about it. It's all over the online headlines. Yes, IT is the economy. Now we ask what IT is doing to your chances in the job market? This CAFNR Alum faced a similar situation during the economic recession of the '80s. He says internships are the key to YOUR success.

I suspect you’re getting more than you really want to hear about how difficult it’s becoming to land that internship. The reality is that the competition is heating-up…and the burden of success falls directly at your feet.

Having said that, take a deep breath and stop trying to figure everything out right now. You really just need to be taking a few simple steps to maximize your options.

First...make sure you have a reasonable idea of what you would like to do….but then consider a broad range of possible areas that might expand your job opportunities after graduation. Frankly….many (if not most) of us don’t really look at all the potential career options available to us….we tend to go with the obvious. If you do have a clear vision of what you want to do….that’s great….but we’re not expecting you to have it all worked out just yet.

Next…take action NOW! This is usually where things fall apart. We all procrastinate…and internships get filled quickly. You need to get going because most of the companies I’m familiar with really hope to have internships filled in January/February. Research potential companies that you feel might be a good fit for your interests. Take advantage of the CAFNR Career Services team and seek their advice. Attend the February 25th Career Fair. Apply for positions that look realistic. Pick-up the phone and call someone.

Finally….follow-up on your applications whenever possible. I frequently hear…"but I don’t want to bother them." Showing interest is not bothering them. This is a business transaction...you’re not calling for a favor. If you feel like you can contribute to their business, then you’ve got every reason to follow-up with them. Of course, execution is everything, so make sure you’ve got a fairly concise script when you call. It’s appreciated on their end…and makes you look professional.

Just remember…companies invest in internships because they want to attract and evaluate future employees. These programs are serious business for the company and they are attracted to students that show drive, enthusiasm, and the ability/willingness to make things happen.

Robbie Wilson is President of Management Recruiters of Chesterfield in St. Louis and a graduate of the University of Missouri (Ag. Econ – 1981). He participated in a summer internship with Monsanto while a student at MIZZOU and credits that program with helping him land a job upon graduation in the middle of a tough economic recession.

10 Tips to Reach Success

CAFNR graduate and Monsanto employee, Megan (Fox) McQuoid shares 10 tips to help undergraduates reach success. She's currently working as the US Commercial Internship Coordinator for Monsanto in St. Louis.

My top ten pieces of advice to an undergraduate:

1. Foreign Language
Many companies are changing and evolving into a worldwide work environment, which involves having employees interact or even run the company’s business within a different country. It is very important when conducting business within these companies that multiple languages are used. Having a second, third, or even a forth language you will be very valuable to a company in the future due to the changing workplace.

2. Study Abroad
Studying abroad provides you an opportunity to learn about another country’s culture and way of doing business, but it also provides you an opportunity to look at the world in a different light. Many of us have various perceptions on how the rest of the country operates with their business practices but it is until we truly experience these practices during opportunities like study abroad that we realize their significance. These experiences will prove to be beneficial to future employees due to the fact that you will be able to see the “big” picture!

3. Take Diverse Courses
It is very important to take diverse courses within college because college is a great time to find out what your interests are and to learn about other industries that you could possibly work with in the future as well as developing a stronger network. Having a wide range of knowledge and network is important to growing companies such as Monsanto, because the employees within Monsanto change roles very often and it is important to be aware of the different aspects and issues within our company, the agriculture industry and the world!

4. Find passion
It is very important for your future career that you find what your passion is. This does not have to be an exact job, but it can be more focused around what subjects you are passionate about and what aspirations you have for life. Having a passion and having your work evolve around your passion will inspire you to do great work, which is what employers will want out of a new hire!

5. Get involved
Getting involved on campus and off campus provides you the opportunity to connect with other people but to also learn from them! Every person has a different experience that can be valuable to your knowledge!

6. Leadership Roles
By taking on leadership roles you are gaining valuable experiences that will help you within you future especially your career. By holding leadership roles you will realize the importance of responsibility, collaboration, communication and delegation, which are all important competences that employers look for in future hires!

7. Get Experience
Gain real experience in multiple ways. For instance you can be an intern for a company two years in a row, however it is very important that you will be provided with different learning experiences your second summer! It is also important that you have valuable experiences where you are provided with the opportunity to truly learn and develop!

8. Excel
Do you best at all times!

9. Network
They say a majority of the time a person gets a job or is successful do to who they know. I believe this is very true and it is very valuable to network with everyone you meet, including classmates, executives, parents, relatives, co-workers and much more! Who know they could be your potential new boss, co-worker, or could help you with your next career move!

10. Learn
Dive into your classroom learning, but also learn about various different issues within the world! I can tell you that you can never know everything or learn everything, so keeping your eyes and ears open to new learning is very important for your personal growth!

Visit with Megan and other employers at the Ag & Life Sciences Career Fair or the Hospitality Fair on February 25th. Stop by the Reynolds Alumni Center from noon-4 p.m. See you there!

Living Your Company’s Brand

Gearing up for graduation so you can start that full-time job? You've learned how to network. Now read what Cody Cheetham has to say before you head to the office:

Think about the last time you had an important exam. Did you study or just wing it? How did you find the information you needed? Did you take notes from the lectures, read the book, or reach for a lifeline and phone-a-friend? Well, preparing for a new job is a lot like studying for an exam.

At this point, you’ve aced your interview, signed your acceptance letter, and gotten your new work wardrobe ready, but how much do you really know about your new employer? With so much information out there, where do you start?

A great starting point is your future company’s brand. Companies with a focused brand strategy filter all aspects of their business around their brand promise. Learning about your company’s brand before you decorate your new office is beneficial for a number of reasons:

1. A company’s brand reflects how they want others to perceive them. It’s the framework for managing clients, projects, and interacting as a group. A company’s brand shows you who they are and what they stand for, and can help you get a basic understanding of how you’ll fit.

2. Taking to heart the company’s brand values and promise makes you a more efficient and reputable employee. Asking questions, being knowledgeable on diverse aspects of the organization, and understanding the company org chart are all ways to help you tune in to your company’s brand (Hint: These are especially helpful if your company’s brand values and promise aren’t posted all over its website!).

3. Several Human Resources guides also suggest that as employees digest the company’s brand, success becomes a byproduct of their actions. In doing so, your actions are well-aligned with the company’s brand and goals, thus accelerating your work performance.

Authors of the book Brand from the Inside, Libby Sartain and Mark Schumann offer advice in understanding your company’s brand. They believe appreciating the company’s brand is a necessary part of professional development. This helps employees develop the skills necessary to deliver the company’s promise (a.k.a. results).

Each company’s brand is a sum of its employees’ personal brands . As part of your brand, you can proudly sport your Mizzou colors in the office. But before you pick out the perfect Tiger to decorate your desk, consider what questions you’ll ask, what parts of the company you could learn more about, and how to incorporate your company’s brand promise in your work.

Cody Cheetham recently joined the Adayana Branding and Communications team as a Communications Specialist. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and has prior experience in both Branding and Communications, including work with Red Bull North America and Suite Dreams Project, a not-for-profit charity in Indianapolis. Cody also represented her class as the student responder at their commencement ceremony last May.

The Power of Networking

The employer series continues with Robin Kim's take on the importance of networking.

When I was in college, mentors and peers always talked about the importance of networking. I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people, but I remained skeptical. How important is networking, really? Some studies say that at least 60% of jobs are discovered through networking, and a recent study by Stanford University sociology professor Mark Granovetter cites that 70% of jobs are discovered through networking. 70 percent? Doesn’t that seem high?

As I look at my own team, the power of networking becomes more real. On our five-person Branding & Communications team here at Adayana, all of us found our jobs through networking. Two had worked with current Adayana team members in previous jobs; one had gone to high school with our recruiter’s husband and reconnected through Facebook; another’s relationships at Purdue University brought her to us; and I had known part of the Adayana team through my FFA experiences. Even outside our team, two of our five most recent new hires came through networking!

So we know that networking is important, but how does it happen? Successful networking depends on your personal brand, which is the perception others have of you based on their experiences with you. In Karl Speak’s book Be Your Own Brand, he says “a strong personal brand will help you succeed because it means you are communicating the sense of purpose, vision, and values that reflects and embodies the real you.” When your personal brand is developed consistently with everyone you meet, you can capitalize on the power of networking. Social networking vehicles such as Facebook and Linked In can simplify networking and increase the importance of consistency in your personal brand, for potential employers have more ways than ever to learn about you!

Networking begins from the first time you greet someone at a job fair and continues through your summer internship and how you maintain relationships with those you work. It includes the relationships you build with your classmates, or those you meet in leadership organizations such as FFA and AFA. Once you’re working in your first career, those mentors can serve a crucial role in securing future job opportunities. Even if you find your job through traditional methods, networking makes your professional life more fun as your business connections turn into friendships and professional meetings become like reunions. Networking is important, and it can be your strongest advantage to getting the job of your dreams. The relationships you’re building today, and those you’ve already built, may be more beneficial than you ever realized.

Robin Kim brings experience in communications and a passion for the agriculture industry to her role as a Supervisor of Branding & Communications Associate at ABG. She works with organizations to define and brand strategies and develop targeted marketing tactics, and her internal communications initiatives at ABG have earned Regional NAMA awards. Robin served as a National FFA Officer and earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business at Iowa State University, where she also minored in Journalism.

The Importance of Having a Mentor

CAFNR students are back in the classroom, so it's time to get back into the world of blogging. We're excited to present Amy Jo Clark as the first author in our employer series.


In today’s professional world, new graduates are technically and tactically savvy, but they are often missing an important piece of the puzzle that previous working generations relied upon: the human connection. The reliance on technology, the ease of quick communication modes, and the trend of autonomous work styles have created the need for companies to implement organized mentoring programs to pinpoint rising leaders in their organizations and transfer crucial knowledge from one generation of workers to the next. By definition, a mentor is similar to a personal coach. Gaining a mentor can help a newbie understand how things function in her workspace, giving valuable insight on procedures and the idiosyncrasies that are applicable to that particular work environment. In addition to increasing employee retention and satisfaction, a mentoring relationship can catapult the one mentored into increased professional success. In fact, some human resource studies have shown that a mentored employee, on average, makes more money than her non-mentored counterparts.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50 percent of federal employees and 70 percent of federal senior managers will be eligible to retire by 2010. Now more than ever, a seamless transfer of knowledge and corporate know-how are crucial for both businesses and individuals to thrive. Mentoring is key in cultivating leadership skills and transferring these types of critical competencies. Much like that amazing professor you remember from undergraduate school, a good mentor can be influential beyond just a work environment. Although a mentoring relationship is professional in nature, a truly good mentor is someone you will more than likely emulate on an ethical and personal level as well. Most often, it’s the employer/subordinate model that lends itself to a natural mentoring relationship. However, there are many other avenues one can take to obtain a mentor. While some companies offer built-in mentoring programs, others have sought out mentors through professional and trade entities, by networking at local and regional industry events, or through external training classes given by these types of organizations. Extending yourself beyond your daily work walls may prove to be the best way to get out and see what other people are doing in your industry, thereby increasing your chance to meet potential mentors. And expect to have more than one mentor during the course of your career, as they may vary as much as the work you’ll do.

For more information on setting up a mentoring program in your company, see http://www.ehow.com/how_2076455_set-up-company-mentoring-program.html

Amy Jo Clark brings communications consulting and management experience to her role as Communications Associate at ABG. For over 14 years, Amy Jo has been delivering communications solutions to clients in the pharmaceutical, financial, and information technology fields. She has been an Adjunct Professor of Communications at IUPUI in Indianapolis for four years and has developed curricula and learning deliverables in both university and corporate settings. Amy Jo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Rhetoric and Composition from Georgia State University and a Master of Science in Communications from Southern Polytechnic State University.