Rabo AgriFinance, Syngenta, Monsanto, Cal-Maine Foods, Dow Agrosciences, Masa Israel Journey…
What
are these?! What does this mean? Is JW showing off his fluency in some
sort of obscure foreign language or tribal tongue? Unfortunately, no,
despite how much
I wish I was bilingual. However, a certain group of students who
participated in the CALS Career Expo last Wednesday know exactly what
I’m talking about.
This
is just a sample of the 40 employers and graduate programs represented
at the 2013 CALS Careers Expo on February 13. Located in the Reitz Union Ballroom
was a diverse showcase of graduate schools, government agencies, and
companies, both big and small. The graduate programs on hand included
the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Levin
College of Law, and numerous Master’s and Ph.D. programs within CALS.
There were even some recruiters with a primary interest in volunteers,
such as Girl’s Place and Haven Hospice. Despite the wide ranging
spectrum of the representatives present, all came
with the same objective in mind: to recruit the brightest and most
talented students at the University of Florida, who happen to be in the
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences!
The
CALS Ambassador team was on hand all day to help facilitate the event
for the recruiters and students. CALS students came dressed for
success and prepared to
sell themselves, steadily flowing into the Expo and providing recruiters
with fresh faces to engage and interact with. In talking with both
students and recruiters after the event, each group seemed thoroughly
impressed with the other. Students raved about
the direct interaction with industry representatives, the diverse pool
of recruiters, and the convenience of the time, location, and access of
the event. In turn, recruiters were also impressed with the
professionalism, preparedness, and curiosity of the participating
students. Needless to say, it was an awesome time!
Now…why weren’t you at the Expo? Excuses not good enough include, but are not limited to:
- Sleeping in
- Alarm clock didn’t go off
- “Don’t feel like going”
- “I already have my entire life planned out”
- Procrastination on coursework
- Dog ate your resume (or any pet, for that matter)
- Obscure religious holiday from some unheard-of religion
- Your fortune teller advised against it
- Any other absurd excuse that doesn’t seem realistic or foreseeable
As a College, we are extremely fortunate to have the resources to host an annual career showcase tailored to the needs and interests of our students. In the future, don’t pass up the opportunity to interact with these representatives! It is never too early (or late) to begin cultivating that relationship with a potential employer. Furthermore, I would urge you to not even wait for these events to contact an employer or graduate program of interest to introduce yourself and find out what they’re looking for in you.
Finally,
a big shout out to Mrs. Cathy Carr, Director of Alumni and Career
Services, and Melissa Redden for once again preparing, planning,
promoting, and coordinating
such a successful event.
“It
is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can
put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is
ready.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
Go Gators!
John-Walt
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John-Walt
Boatright
Class: Senior
Hometown: Live
Oak, Florida
Major: Food and
Resource Economics
Minor: Agricultural and Natural Resource Law
Specialization: International
Food and Resource Economics
Involvement: Member and immediate past VP of Industry Relations, Agricultural Economics Club; Food and Resource Economics Diplomat; Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society
After College: Plans
to attend law school and specialize in agriculturally related issues in the
North Florida area
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