5 Skills For a Career in Agriculture

“Growth occurs when individuals confront problems, struggle to master them, and through that struggle develop new aspects of their skills, capacities, views about life.” -Carl Rogers 

Career growth, whether you are working towards a promotion or changing companies, often requires an increase in skills. Developing specific and complex skill sets in these five in-demand areas can help you meet your goals and provide value. 

Technical Skills 

Most jobs require a set of technical skills. These, of course, vary depending on the industry and specific job. Technical skills include livestock management, using and maintaining equipment and machinery, crop pest and disease control, and operating technological or software systems. Knowing what technical skills will be required daily or weekly for your work and then building expertise can give you an edge. Look for opportunities to increase your technical skills on the job, in training, or through pursuing your own interests. 

Communication 

Communication is one of those skills that people notice most when it’s lacking. Being able to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and in writing is almost always an advantage. It’s also key to be able to communicate well with others in a range of positions. Different information relayed in various ways may be necessary depending on whether they are teammates, supervisors, other ag professionals, vendors, consumers, or government workers. Understanding what is at stake for those you’re working with helps you tailor your communication appropriately. 

Adaptability 

Change happens. Sometimes we can see it coming and have some element of choice, but often that’s not the case. Being able to adjust to changing conditions and situations is foundational to success. Adaptability in the agriculture industry can be related to everything from shifting weather patterns, technology upgrades, market demands, and changes to best practices. An extension of adaptability is the ability to anticipate changes and be prepared rather than reacting. 

Critical Thinking 

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyze information and apply reasoning to form judgments and/or make decisions. The information analyzed can be whatever form the available data takes and is often based on multiple factors. Again, these can be wide-ranging in the agricultural industry, depending on the specific job, but may include things like market patterns, soil quality, machine performance, or animal behavior. 

Attention to Detail 

We can’t notice all the details all the time without becoming overwhelmed. Therefore, it’s important to be able to distinguish which details are relevant in any situation. The skill of attention to detail is necessary for all the other skills mentioned here. A combination of intention, practice, and experience can help increase your ability to notice patterns, see nuances, and determine what information is important to decision-making, allowing you to complete tasks with precision. 

Knowing your abilities and developing a strong skill set enables you to provide excellent work. The skill of attention to detail supports others, such as technical skills, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking. You can further increase your advantage by teaming these five skills with other desirable traits such as dependability, willingness to learn, and being hard-working. Whether you want to get a promotion, shift jobs or companies, or get started in a completely new industry, these five skills help you get there. 

Ready to put these skills to work? 

Whether you’re starting your career or looking for your next big opportunity in agriculture, AgCareers.com is your go-to resource. 
Explore thousands of ag jobs, internships, and career tools today at https://www.agcareers.com