For many Oklahoma State University students, the “get a job” part of the plan is often the most difficult and can be a full-time job in itself.

Fortunately, the office of Career Services in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is here to help. Under the direction of Louann Waldner, CASNR’s Career Services offers many resources to students.

“Career Services is about helping students help themselves. We strive to teach self-directed job search strategies,” Waldner said.

In doing so, Waldner visits every freshman orientation class offered by the college, as well as many other undergraduate courses.

“Self-evaluation is critical,” Waldner said.

She encourages students to determine what skills they have and what skills they need in order to qualify for the job they want. Reading current job listings is one method of self-evaluation. By familiarizing themselves with the requirements for a job they are interested in, students can begin building skills accordingly.

Waldner said it is important for students to realize the career search is something that, for the successful person, evolves over time; it shouldn’t begin the semester they graduate.

She also advises students to begin networking as soon as possible. Students can make networking contacts through professional organizations on campus as well as by getting to know upperclassmen and graduate students. Such contacts are helpful in getting a “foot in the door” when it comes time to interview.

Interviews

Career Services works closely with numerous agricultural companies in search of potential employees. The companies coordinate with Career Services to conduct initial interviews of OSU students on-campus. During the 1997-98 school year, 28 companies interviewed 213 students on campus during the fall and 36 companies interviewed 405 students in the spring.

All CASNR students are eligible to participate in the on-campus interview program. To interview, students must attend a Career Services orientation session, register with Career Services and provide a résumé to be kept on file. Once the requirements have been met, students can sign up to interview with the company of their choice.

“It is convenient for both the student and the company, and the students are given the opportunity to do their homework on a company they may not have otherwise been exposed to,” Waldner said.

Bob Broeckelman of Farm Credit said OSU’s on-campus interview program is “excellent, one of the best in the country.” Farm Credit has been conducting on-campus interviews at OSU for at least 20 years.

“We make contact with some very outstanding students, and we are very pleased with the quality of students at OSU,” Broeckelman said. Farm Credit has hired almost 40 new employees and 10 interns from OSU in just the past five years.

Internships

In addition to coordinating on-campus interviews for full-time jobs, the office of Career Services works with agricultural companies in search of interns. Through Career Services, students can learn of internship opportunities and participate in on-campus internship interviews.

“Internships are experiential education opportunities that give students a chance to gain real-world experience. One of the greatest benefits of doing an internship is that it exposes the student to a real work situation. Students come back with such enthusiasm for their coursework. An internship helps them realize why their education is so important,” Waldner said.

Sarah Haymaker, a plant and soil sciences junior, used Career Services in developing her résumé and in finding an internship.

Through working with Career Services, Haymaker said she learned to include awards and activities on her résumé.

During the summer of 1998, Haymaker worked with Collingwood Grain in Hough, Okla., as a crop consultant intern.

“I got a lot of practical experience you just can’t get in the classroom. Internships are a chance for us to put to use theories learned in the classroom and see what the actual physical result is going to be,” Haymaker said.

Jobs, internships and other information is posted in the lobby of Agricultural Hall. In addition, Career Services maintains a web site containing current job listings, information about internships and career fairs, links to companies that hire CASNR graduates, a schedule of on-campus interviews and other miscellaneous information pertaining to Career Services. The Career Services web site can be found at http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/casnr/career.html

There are many ways students can benefit from the resources offered by CASNR’s Career Services.

“The job search process is a multi-forked road, and you will find yourself at a dead end if you aren’t proactive in trying to help yourself,” Waldner said.

CASNR students can begin to help themselves by scheduling an appointment with Career Services. Appointments can be made in 136 Agricultural Hall or by calling (405) 744-5395.

By Danielle Holt

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