No Degree? No Problem!

• Bonnie Johnson
• October 06, 2015
• Newsletter Article

As the agriculture industry moves ahead with more diverse opportunities, we are seeing more graduates available to fill those roles, and more and more job postings are requiring a bachelor's degree. Don't have a degree, there are still plenty of options for you in agriculture.

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Bachelor’s degree required.  Master’s Degree Preferred.  Does it seem like this is all you see when reading the qualifications in job postings?  

 

The agricultural industry continues to grow through diverse opportunities.  There are more job opportunities in agriculture than there are graduates to fill them.  So even if you don’t have a Bachelor’s or advanced degree, there are plenty of options for you in agriculture.

 

When AgCareers.com evaluated job postings on our site, nearly 30% did not list a minimum education level requirement.  Of those that listed a requirement, 44% did not require a Bachelor’s degree.  Nearly 20% required a high school diploma, 15% college/associate’s, 10% skilled trade certificate and 1% apprenticeship certificate. 

 

In fact, most of the top ten career types posted on AgCareers.com illustrate opportunities that do not require a degree:

 

TOP TEN CAREER TYPES
1	Sales/Retail
2	Operator/General Laborer
3	Operations
4	Manufacturing/Production
5	Custom Applicator/Pest Control
6	Farm & Ranch Operations/Herdsperson/On Farm
7	Accounting/Finance/Asset Management
8	Technician
9	Maintenance/Repair
10	Agronomist

 

So don’t despair, as the agricultural industry presents many opportunities even if you don’t have your degree.  Don’t hesitate to apply for jobs that say “Bachelor’s degree preferred.”  Preferred qualifications aren’t deal breakers or they would be in listed as required instead.  You may bring a skill set and experience that is equally valuable to the role.  Highlight any coursework that relates to a job opening, even one-time training classes.   Discuss your experiences from ride-alongs or job shadows, part-time work, or helping on the family farm.  Maybe you’ve participated in volunteer activities that strengthened your organizational or leadership skills.  Build these experiences into your resume, then share what you’ve learned in the interview. 

 

If you are missing some of the required or preferred qualifications stated in the job description, develop a plan for how you could work towards obtaining them, and be prepared to discuss it with your potential employer.

 

Start your career search on AgCareers.com now!