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AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE
RESUME & COVER
LETTER Preparation
The first way employers learn about you
is through your resume, so make it stand
out! Do not fabricate yourself, but make
sure you are transparent with your skill
set and be genuine. Make your resume
as “you” as possible! Adkins gives the
advice to make sure your resume is
constantly being updated. “I always had
at least two people look at and read
over my resume and cover letters before
I attached them to an application,”
Adkins said.
You should also know your resume.
When an employer brings up your past
experiences in an interview, you should
be able to know this without having
your resume in front of you. This shows
a lot of preparation and also a lot of
confidence.
THE INTERVIEW
Preparation
Once you have scored an interview, do
not take this lightly!
Adkins mentioned she would not
let herself get anxious and worry about
the interview until two days before, and
then she would prepare and research
the company. “I feel like if you come
to an interview and you don’t know
what the company does, or what their
main mission statements are, you are
probably not 100% prepared for the
interview,” Adkins said. This is a strong
way to set yourself apart from another
candidate in the interview process.
Connect with your interviewers
before the interview on LinkedIn and
try to learn more about them. Find
some common ground with those who
will interview you. This will make you
feel more comfortable and make the
interview more conversational.
APPLY EVEN WHEN YOU
DON’T FEEL QUALIFIED
Just do it — apply!
I talked to so many people during
school who I would recommend a job
to. I would say, “this looks great for you!”
However, they would come back saying,
“well I don’t have experience in XYZ...”
That may have been true for them, and
maybe you don’t have one particular
skill that is listed in the job description.
Have confidence in yourself
and think about it, you might have
an additional skill not listed in the
description that sets you apart. That
employer may think this could add even
more value to the team.
Adkins agreed. She applied to
several positions in her job hunt where
she did not meet all the qualifications.
Her advice is to be truthful and
transparent, but don’t sell yourself short
before you even have a chance. “If they
bring up the issue of qualifications, let
them know you are a very motivated
individual and would love to learn that
skill to better yourself and the company,”
Adkins explained.
know you are not
alone in this
Talk to your college advisor or find a
mentor. I did this all the time while I was
a student! This is their job, and they
have been in our shoes. They might not
be able to hand us the perfect job, but
they can give some pretty great advice.
Adkins was also very grateful to have
a careers specialist in her college’s
department who had her back during
her job hunt.
Know that your friends and
colleagues are going through the
exact same thing. Find support from
people around you and also support
them. Reach out, vent, and support one
another. “Try and find the little rays of
sunshine during this process,” Adkins
said.
One thing I did with my friend
during my job search was celebrating
the victories—small victories and big
ones! Celebrate that you even landed
an interview! Celebrate that your friend
found another job to apply for!
take the rejection
with grace
If you are avid about getting a great
job and not settling, odds are you are
going to be having a decent amount of
interviews. Keep in mind you are not
going to get it on your first try. If you are
applying a lot (college seniors) you may
hear “no” more than you hear “yes.” It is
unfortunate, and it is hard to hear!
Adkins said she tried to not take
it as a personal stab. “Try and let that
rejection fuel you to find the next best
job,” Adkins said.
Never burn a bridge! Make sure to
thank the employer for taking the time
to talk to you and learn more about you.
You never know what the next 10 years
of your life could bring, so take the
rejection with grace, be thankful for the
opportunity and know something better
is coming.
keep. the. confidence.
I hope these tips will help you keep your
head high during the job search. Remind
yourself often that this is not easy!
Keep the confidence and enjoy
this journey. Before you know it, your
senior year will fly by and you will walk
across that stage confidently, knowing
your hard work is about to pay off in the
career you are beginning!
AG