ACES Career Services

What I did:

I traveled all of Northern IL looking at Product Advancement
Trial plots. I looked at Pioneer's experimental hybrids and evaluated them
throughout the summer. I helped give input on experimental hybrids and gave
recommendations on which ones I liked.

What I liked:

The responsibility I was given. I didn't have a set office,
so it was up to me to make up my daily work schedule and to map out what part
of Northern Illinois I would be going to.

I also really enjoyed the fact that at Pioneer I was more
than just a worker. I wasn't given busy work to do, I was given work that was
valuable to the company and they took all my recommendations and inputs
seriously.

Advice for students:

Go to the ACES career fair. No matter how young or
inexperienced you are, everyone is looking to hire someone.

How I got it:

I attended the ACES Career Fair, there I met with a
representative from Pioneer. I asked questions, and found them very
interesting. I gave them my resume, and interviewed with them in the later
weeks.  

What I did:

Throughout the summer, I assisted in daily farm tasks such
as: clean shed, walk fields and cut out beans, spray chemicals, mow alleyways,
and maintain equipment.  I inoculated corn and soybeans with disease and assisted my boss in spraying them with different chemicals.  I also was in charge of keeping research data about our test plots and keeping an up - to - date inventory on all chemicals.

What I did:

That I had flexible hours, I could work by myself with certain tasks, and that my boss was helpful to me when I needed it.

Advice for students:

Internships are a great opportunity to get involved with a
business early if you think you may want to work for that company some
day.  It is also a great way to network, as well as get a few hours of course credit and to make some money over the summer.

How I got it:

I went to the ACES career fair and handed the company my resume.  I then went through an extensive interview process before I was offered the job.

What I did:

 I worked in the customer
support group for John Deere Ottumwa Works in Ottumwa, IA. This is the factory
where John Deere produces all of their hay and forage equipment. When customers
had problems with their hay equipment that the dealerships couldn't solve we
would make sure the problem was solved by doing research and farm visits. 

What I liked:

 Traveling around the country
representing John Deere to their its customers was a great experience. I got to
meet and work with lots of great people everywhere I went. I learned a ton about John Deere's hay and forage line. I was able to help solve customer's problems. I made some money, networked, made a lot of new friends, got to live on my own in a new part of the country, earned a year of service with John Deere, and the list could go on and on.

Advice for students:

 Get involved on campus. Be very well prepared for interviews. Be yourself in interviews- John Deere hires a lot on personality. Be willing to go out and try new things. Do your homework before the career fair. Have as many people as you can look over your resume. Be very professional at all times. 

How I got it:

Being involved on campus. Having a well prepared resume. Knowing a lot about the company. Lots of practice interviews. Having a passion and drive to work for
John Deere. 

What I did:

I worked as a elevator manager for Grain terminals around the midwest. I helped unload grain, grade grain and market grain. Acting as manager, anything that needed to be done, I had to step in and assist with all the parts of the daily operations.

What I liked:

The best part of my internship was being able to both buy and sell grain through the Chicago Board of Trade, either at the District office or at the elevator.

Advice for students:

Keep an open mind. There may be days you hate school, but the work you put in at school will help you when you are working in the real world. Also, live everyday and learn, ask questions if you are usure about anything.

How I got it:

Attended the ACES Career Fair and met with the recruiting staff from Bunge North America, then was asked for and interview.

What I did:

I worked closely with agriculture corporations, producers and professors at the University of Illinois, at coordinating programs and schedules for our international visitors. Then, accompanied the international visitors around to the different meetings and presentations we had scheduled for them.

What I liked:

I loved spending days with the visitors and learning about them, their home and their agriculture.

Advice for students:

When working with international visitors, always be welcoming and kind. It is important to represent the U.S. and U of I in a good light. It is also very important to be organinzed and diligent when working with visitors.

How I got it:

A close friend recommended me and gave me a contact to get in touch with. I was later asked for an interview, and was chosen for the opportunity. It is important to utilize all of your contacts, someone may hold the key to your future career.