The Ag Alumni Mentor Experience

As we enter March, many students are realizing that they are half-way through the spring semester, meaning it may be that time to start getting serious about looking for that certain internship or job to put on a resume. Before we know it, summer will be here, and sometimes the search for a job in the field you are interested in without connections is not as easy as you thought.

After making these connections throughout this school year and with the help of their mentors, the students involved in the Ag Alumni Mentor program are more than ready for the job search.

At the beginning of the fall semester, many students applied to be in the program. By doing this one gets a selected mentor and gains internship experience, the students learn over the year what they need and should expect when applying for a job and how to meet with others in the workspace.

One of the creators of the program, Megan Ross, says, “The program was created by me and a former colleague in 2013 so we are coming up on 10 years since the launch of the program. Over the last 9 years we have grown the program from 30 alumni mentors to almost 100 mentors actively involved in the program.”

By selecting a mentor with similarities to each student, Ross is helping participants make job connections between current students and past ones. Being associated with alumni in various agricultural fields is giving the members knowledge that they will use later in life.

Ross goes on to say, “With our alumni and industry participation we can provide students with one-on-one interaction with a mentor throughout the 9-month program. The program’s goal is to connect students to industry by providing them with a mentor that can coach and encourage them through their career decisions. The program offers opportunities to job shadow, network, and build a toolkit that will hopefully enable to the student to successfully find their place in the ag and natural resources industry.”

Participating in monthly activities such as creating a professional resume, doing a practice interview with your mentor, and getting feedback one-on-one are just a few of the perks that help any student get ready to go into the workforce with advanced knowledge of the industry.

Current freshman, Faith Lane, says, “Being a part of the Ag Alumni Mentor program has given me the opportunity to create relationships that I will be able to use in college and even after college. I would recommend that all ag students become involved in this program for the networking and the personal experiences you can learn from your mentor.”

Ross later says, “The impact of having a mentor can set a student apart in the industry --- it’s a game changer for many students who may not know where they want to go with their career. My hope is that students walk away with confidence and a vision for their future.”

Interested in gaining more knowledge on how to make your own relationships that will benefit you and your future? The applications for the Ag Mentorship program will open again in August and close early October. Participation is highly suggested for making your own future connections, gaining experience, and easing job search stress.