Internships: That Extra Push

Internships. This word can bring many emotions:  excitement, uncertainness, and anxiety. 

With today’s job market becoming more and more competitive, having an internship on your resume can give you the extra push you may need to land that dream job.  Some people also get the benefit of working for the company they interned with. The best way to start looking for internships is to attend a career fair, just like the one coming up this month at Good Barn. (Note: The UK Ag Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23 from 12 Noon- 4 PM at the E.S. Good Barn.)  Companies come prepared to look for possible interns when they visit college campuses and the representatives are great sources of information. Not only can they tell you about the company, but they can also tell you how they themselves got their current jobs. 

The next place to look is your inbox. The Office of Academic Programs and Advising Resource Center send out numerous emails about companies looking for interns, extension opportunities, and job openings. The UK Career Center also sends out notices.  Some days, I see these emails and they head straight for the trash! (Which I’m sure most of us have been guilty of doing) So, on my search for internships for this upcoming summer, I have been paying more attention to my inbox. Want to get a lot of different intern options? Your advisor and professors are another great resource! They have made connections not only while they were job searching, but also while they have been working for the University! 

Now that you have all of these different intern options, it is time to narrow your search. My personal goal is to have my top internships picked out by Thanksgiving and I will apply to them by Christmas, but you can apply all throughout the spring semester too! Just make sure you know the deadlines to your top picks.  

 I have a few main things I look for while searching for internships. This first is the job type. I would love to do public relations or marketing for an agriculture company. I really enjoy working with people and would love the opportunity to work with producers across the state or country. The second thing I look for is location. I would like to either work for a company within the state of Kentucky or work out West. Getting to explore the area and learn about the people would be half the fun! What company I will be working for is another selling point. I would like to work for John Deere, Monsanto, or Syngenta, but my options are always open. Lastly, I look at whether or not it is paid. Yes, this is point some students forget until they have already gone through the application process. If you are looking for your internship to also be your summer job, make sure you read the fine print. 

Remember to breathe and don’t forget that everyone in the College of Agriculture is here to help you on your search to find an internship you will love! 

 Kellie is studying Agricultural Economics.  She is from Hodgensville, KY.  She is involved in UK Ag Student Council, Agribusiness Club, and is an Ag Ambassador.   

Calling All Employable Students!

All college students have one thing in common: they want a job when they graduate.  

 But not just any job- they want THE job.  They want the one that jump starts their career and takes them wherever it is that they want to go.  Unfortunately, many of college students are not sure where to look in order to find THE job.  In all actuality, they may not even be sure what field they want to enter.  

Never fear, fellow students, there is hope for those of us who are unsure what field we want to enter or where to look for our dream jobs!  There is an opportunity that comes here, to campus, in order to help you find what you are searching for.  Each fall, the College of Agriculture holds a Career Fair, in which representatives from different agricultural fields come to tell you about the opportunities their businesses can offer you as an employee.  These career fairs give students the opportunity to learn about many different industries, career options, and internship options all at the same time.  This semester, the fall College of Agriculture Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 23^rd, from 12:00-4:00 pm in the E.S. Good Barn.  All students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity!

Before you head out to the career fair, it is important to remember a few things.  You are an investment to an employer, and they will choose the best investment.  Prove you are that investment by following these tips:  Number 1: Dress to impress in business attire!  You will be meeting potential employers and it is important to make a great first impression. 

 Number 2: Do not forget your resume!  You could have a phenomenal conversation with an employer at the fair, but they may not remember you from among the crowd unless you give them something as a reminder.  This is where the resume comes in.  The employer will look at your resume after the career fair, and if they like what they see, it may lead to an interview or job/internship offer.   

Number 3: Get their contact information!  Follow up is extremely important when searching for a job.  After visiting the career fair, write an email to the companies you are interested in, and thank them for coming to the career fair.  Tell them what you liked about their company, and inquire about any open positions or internships that they may have.  

So, brush up your resume, iron your business attire, and write Tuesday, October 23^rd down in your agenda as the opportunity to find your career!  Maybe you'll see me from 12:00-4:00 pm at the E. S. Good Barn!

- Kendall

 Kendall, is a first year ambassador from Georgetown, Kentucky.  She is an Agricultural Education junior.  She is a student worker with the National Association of Agricultural Educators.  Kendall is immediate past Kentucky FFA President. 

Money, money, money, money...You get the point: Working on Campus

Let’s face it; it’s not easy to pay for that college degree. As a Biosystems Engineering major, I don’t have time to have a job off campus. Between working with algae in the department, studying for my big calculus exam, or working on my physics lab report, it’s a difficult balancing act. Then you have advisor meetings, extracurricular activities, and some people even say they have a social life in college. So if you’re too busy to go off campus searching for a job, where can you find the money to finance your degree?

No one enjoys those calls home asking for money from parents. Luckily, the University of Kentucky has a wealth of jobs available for students just like you. Whether it is working in the Dean’s Office, being a campus tour guide, or serving food at one of the residential dining facilities, there’s a job that fits you on campus. To make it even better: UK understands that you’re here for an education and is willing to work around your schedule, not vice versa. They understand that you have tests, homework, and projects that require a lot of time. Many of them will even allow you to study while you’re working. All you have to do is go online and apply for the right one.

I found my campus job right in my residence hall. In January 2011, I was hired as a Resident Advisor (RA) in Kirwan Tower. Being an RA is a great job. You get to host programs to get residents involved on campus, get to know some very interesting people, and you get free room and board on top of paid desk hours. And as an added bonus, you’ll get to know UKPD on a first name basis!

I’ll admit some nights are much crazier than others. Take, for example, my last night on call. Below are the highlights:
6:15pm: Call UKPD
6:30pm: Entertain the girl in the unicorn costume
7:30pm: Fire alarm
9:15pm:  Host a voter registration program
10:00pm: A resident complains of loud noises on the 23rd floor
10:15pm: Break up large “gathering” on 23rd floor
11:25pm: Our friends at UKPD come back
2:00am: Woken up by a resident to discuss differential calculus
        Again, not every night is this wild. There are always perks/curses to any job. For more information about student jobs on campus go to UK Jobs. Applications for Spring 2012 positions are already being accepted and applications for Fall 2012 go live soon!

-Zeb, Biosystems Engineering