The Job Search Process(Overview)

1. Figure out what you want to do or would enjoy doing.

2. Obtain information on job opportunities, especially those related to #1 above.

3. Market yourself aggressively, professionally, enthusiastically, etc.

The Job Search Process(Overview)

Step #1: Figure out what you want todo or would enjoy doing.

Step #2: Obtain info on job opportunities,especially related to #1

above.

Step #3: Market yourself aggressively,enthusiastically,

professionally.

Alternative Job Search Processes

1. Do It Yourself

2. Use On-campus Career Service Offices

3. Use Off-campus Agencies

Q. Is it better to graduate in the fall or the spring from a ‘job opportunity’ perspective?

A. Typically, of ISU Ag Bus graduates each year, about ¼ to 1/3 graduate in the fall. It doesn’t really matter. While the number of job interviews in the fall is lower, the number of job opportunities per graduate is about the same. It doesn’t make too much sense to delay your graduation for job placement reasons. If you don’t find a job you like at graduation time, you can always come back to school as a ‘special’ student (after graduating) and continue to search for a job.

Things NOT to do in the job search process:1. Do NOT show up for a job interview.2. Do NOT prepare for an interview3. Do NOT have a high-quality resume.4. Do NOT take advantage of career-related

work opportunities.5. Do NOT participate in leadership development

activities.6. Do NOT add depth or rigor to your academic

program.7. Do NOT continue to interview after you have

accepted a job.8. Do NOT back out of a job offer ‘prematurely’.

“Electronic” Mistakes(Job Search Process)

1. Communicate by e-mail and treat it too informally or make writing mistakes.

2. Put a message on your answering machine that is NOT professional.

3. Put ‘incriminating’ information about yourself on the internet (e.g. Facebook).

Sad Facts About ‘Planning’

Many people spend more time on planning short-term, relatively unimportant activities than they do on long-term, significant matters.

Examples:

Vacation vs. Retirement

Tailgate vs. Job After Graduate

Deciding on a Career

1. Learn about the career before graduating

a. Related internships/part-time jobsb. Listen to people talk about their jobs

• Club meetings• Career seminar classes• Career day exhibits• Personal interviews

c. Read brochures, do research, etc.

2. Do what you enjoy

SWLD Analysis in Job Search

Likes Dislikes

Strengths

Weaknesses

It’s only work if you’d rather be doing

something else!!

Find a job you love and you’ll never have to

work a day in your life.

Jim Fox

Characteristics of Careers Taken By Ag Business Graduates

ChallengingInterestingVaried ActivitiesPeople OrientedMoney FocusRewardingOpportunities for Advancement

Outstanding ISU Ag Business Alumni Award Winners

Year Name Position

1996 Roger Underwood President & CEO, Becker Underwood

1997 Doug Barinsky Vice President, Cargill Animal Nutrition

1998 Jeff Plagge President & CEO, First National Bank (Waverly)

1999 Jane Stautz Global Diversity Leader, Dow AgroSciences

2000 Lyle Campbell CEO, Founders Group

2001 Jamey Grafing Senior VP, Syndicated Finance

2002 James Borel President DuPont Crop Protection

2003 David Petersen Owner, Majestic-Manor Dairy

2004 Nancy Brannaman General Services Officer, U.S. Dept. of State

2005 Tim Fevold Farm Manager, Hertz Farm Management

2006 Paul Maass Vice President, ConAgra Mills

2007 Doug Dashner Exec. Dir., DeKalb Co. Farm Bureau

2008 Dwight Seegmiller President, Hills State Bank

Examples of Companies that Recently Hired ISU Ag Bus Graduates

Kraft Foods IBP Incorporated West Central Co-op Roche Inc. Ag Chem Equipment Asgrow Golden Harvest Seed

Co. Ft. Dodge An. Health General Mills

Rolling Hills FS (& other local co-ops)

Meredith Publishing U.S. Commodities (&

other market advisory co’s.)

Northwestern Mutual (& other insurance co’s.)

Iowa Pork Producers

Examples of Companies that Recently Hired ISU Ag Bus Graduates

Archer Daniels Midland Cargill GROWMARK Farmers Co-op Co. Pioneer Hi-Bred

International Hormel Foods Dow AgroSciences

CHS ConAgra Foods John Deere CNH Monsanto Farm Credit Services(& numerous other banks)

Job Possibilities for Ag Bus Majors

Agricultural SalespersonCommodity MerchandiserAg Loan OfficerCrop Production SpecialistAgribusiness ManagerFarm ManagerFood BrokerAgronomistProduct Manager

Advertising AgentPublic RelationsAppraiserMarket AnalystCooperative Extension AgentAccountantLawyerUnderwriterTechnical Support

Factors Influencing Career Opportunities for Ag Business Graduates

Supply of and Demand for Ag College

Graduates

Academic Record

Extracurricular Activities

Work Experiences

Skills/Traits

Personal Decisions (e.g. driving, drinking,

Facebook)

Fall Ag Business Enrollment

Job Information for S09 Ag Business Graduate Placements

No. Offers: Avg. 1.05

Range 0-3

Salaries: Avg. 40.6

Range 20-53 (000)

Offer Satisfaction

Duties: Very Satisfied 64%

Satisfied 23%

Salary: Very Satisfied 50%

Satisfied 32%