TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY You’ve landed your internship; now how do you make the most of it? “Students should actively build connections within the company during their co-op term, as this can provide valuable insight into the industry and open future opportunities,” says Lim. “Additionally, students should perform to the best of their ability throughout their placement—both to increase their chances of receiving a return offer and to maximize the skills and experience they gain,” added Lim. Keep track of your accomplishments during your placement! Internships allow you to learn more about a potential future employer, but also more about yourself. Do you prefer working indoors or outdoors? Remote or in an office? For a small entrepreneurial company or a large corporation? “A co-op experience gives you a chance to figure out what you like and don’t like, and hence influence your career direction,” notes Lim. BUILDING ON CLASSROOM KNOWLEDGE “We want students to gain meaningful, hands-on experience before graduation so they can effectively connect and apply classroom theory to real-world work environments,” shared Lim. Your college classes give you the knowledge and concepts you need to succeed, but internships help you put that learning into action and understand why it is important in the industry. Through internships, you can apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to actual workplace situations, build practical skills, make professional decisions, and gain valuable career-related experience. AgCareers asked agriculture and food employers which skills they seek in new graduates, and 34% reported that recent grads lacked important workplace skills at the time of hiring. Employers identified that the biggest gaps were in problemsolving and decision-making. While classes help you build these skills, hands-on experiences like internships, part-time jobs, and other work opportunities are essential for practicing and strengthening the critical thinking and problem-solving skills employers value most. Students should reflect on their co-op experiences, document accomplishments, and connect their work to career goals. Ideally, your internship manager will provide you with regular feedback throughout your internship, along with a mid-term and final review. Since the goal of most internships is to provide a learning experience, prepare yourself to accept feedback, both positive and negative. Always ask your manager for suggestions to enhance your performance and enrich your learning experience. What can I do better? What can I improve on? How can I be more helpful to the organization during my co-op? Your internships and co-ops will set you up for future career success, by gaining industry knowledge, insights, and valuable work experience. Data provided by the AgCareers HR Review, Skills Survey, Internship Program Benchmark. PHOTO: Drobot Dean – stock.adobe.com START BUILDING PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TODAY. EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES NOW ON: www.AgCareers.com
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