10 / 40
8
10
11
12
9
7
one common goal — providing food,
fuel and fiber for the world. Within
this diversity, niches exist within the
agriculture community that you can take
advantage of. Women in agriculture
are great resources for female students.
Students of diverse ethnicities can
connect with people of color in the
agriculture industry to learn about their
career journeys and successes. Find
the national associations and other
groups that members of your niche
are members of to begin making these
connections.
Update your LinkedIn profile
No matter your career field, your
social media presence is a vital aspect
of networking. LinkedIn is the primary
social platform industry professionals
utilize to support recruitment, so it’s
important your profile accurately
reflects your skills and experience.
Be sure that your headline – the
sentence listed immediately under
your name – incorporates your career
goals. When your profile is up-to-date
and you engage with your network on
a regular basis, your odds of finding
new opportunities are pretty good. For
example, someone studying agricultural
communication could add “aspiring
graphic designer for a marketing
communication agency.”
Deepen your current
connections
We all have a network of individuals
valuable to us. However, we often find
ourselves connecting with people on
LinkedIn but never take the relationship
any further. Those individuals obviously
have knowledge, skills and a repertoire
beneficial and valuable to us. So,
why not utilize the connections we
already have to reach goals and drive
success? Initiate conversations about
your career goals and take note of
leads given to you. Don’t be afraid to
lean on your network for advice, job
recommendations and introductions to
those who can help you achieve your
goals.
Don’t overdo it
It’s important not to abuse the
connections you’ve made by continually
making asks of those individuals. Rather,
spend time getting to know your current
connections, what they care about
and find ways to bring value to them.
Networking is a two-way street — when
you invest in others, they’ll invest in you.
That’s the sweet spot of networking that
pays off throughout college and even
into your early career.
Do your research
When planning for your future,
it’s important to find a company or
organization that aligns with your career
goals and values. When you identify
companies and organizations of interest
to you, research the company’s website
and LinkedIn page. If you come across
employees in the area you hope to
work in, reach out via email or connect
with them on LinkedIn. Demonstrate
a strong understanding of the mission
behind the company or organization
to showcase your passion about their
work and its importance. You can even
ask for a quick 15-minute informational
interview by phone or video call for a
more personal interaction.
Get involved
Though many events continue
being held on virtual platforms, that
shouldn’t scare you from dipping your
toes in the water. Check your college
or university’s website for a list of
clubs and organizations to get involved
with. Outside of college, attending
events and conferences that build your
technical and professional skills is a
great way to set yourself apart from your
peers. Events like Agriculture Future
of America (AFA) Leaders Conference
develops practical skills for navigating a
successful career. Not to mention, these
spaces provide wonderful opportunities
to network with peers and leaders in the
food and agriculture industry.
Find a Mentor
Seek out structured mentoring and
coaching programs to elevate your
skills and grow as a young professional.
According to MENTOR
(mentoring.org),
young adults with a mentor or coach
are 130% more likely to hold leadership
positions. AFA’s Leader Fellowship™ is
a great place for students to develop
further in six competencies with help
from a trained coach selected by each
student in the program.
To learn more about
Agriculture Future of America,
visit
www.agfuture.org.
Building a network is more than
connecting with individuals on
LinkedIn and calling it a day, they
take time and intentionality to build.
Networks require you to follow
up with those you look up to on a
regular basis, while also providing
value to those you call upon in your
network. Remember these tips for
building a strong network and when
the day comes where someone
asks you to be part of their network,
reflect on those that built you up
and return the favor.
AG
10
AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE