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20 Tips for 2020 Ag Graduates
With new grads coming into the #ag industry this month I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of tips for the best and brightest to have in mind as they begin their careers.
Most of these can go beyond ag as well!
With new grads coming into the #ag industry this month I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of tips for the best and brightest to have in mind as they begin their careers.
Most of these can go beyond ag as well!
1. Ask Questions
Don’t let the feeling of looking stupid keep you from asking questions. Many others have the same question and you’ll have more confidence in that answer moving forward.
Don’t let the feeling of looking stupid keep you from asking questions. Many others have the same question and you’ll have more confidence in that answer moving forward.
You don’t know everything. You never will (no matter what your degree says). But you can try. In order to do this, you need to ask questions + listen to those more experienced. You don’t have to agree with others opinions, but sometimes their perspective is what you need.
2. Learn Broadly
Being done school doesn’t mean you stop learning. It means learning is just beginning. Learning your area is important, but going beyond ag is beneficial in work & in your personal life. The tools to accomplish this today are infinite.
Never stop learning.
Being done school doesn’t mean you stop learning. It means learning is just beginning. Learning your area is important, but going beyond ag is beneficial in work & in your personal life. The tools to accomplish this today are infinite.
Never stop learning.
3. Operations & Logistics Strengths Are Undervalued
Do not take for granted the need to understand the fundamentals within your corner of the industry. Whether you are in retail, a farm, equipment manufacturer etc knowing the minutiae gives you a strong foundation to build on.
Do not take for granted the need to understand the fundamentals within your corner of the industry. Whether you are in retail, a farm, equipment manufacturer etc knowing the minutiae gives you a strong foundation to build on.
4. Create a Brand
If you don’t have a brand, then you are a commodity.
The ability to show employers, investors or even current colleagues what you value, what you enjoy and what you are good at is valuable. Social media, websites, podcasts, blogs are just a few of the tools
If you don’t have a brand, then you are a commodity.
The ability to show employers, investors or even current colleagues what you value, what you enjoy and what you are good at is valuable. Social media, websites, podcasts, blogs are just a few of the tools
5. Be Open Minded
Things are changing faster than ever in Ag. Don’t shut down new ideas, ask “why not”, think outside the box & embrace complexity (nothing is simple - be open to the difficult).
Things are changing faster than ever in Ag. Don’t shut down new ideas, ask “why not”, think outside the box & embrace complexity (nothing is simple - be open to the difficult).
6. Develop Soft Skills
Hard skills are important - if you work in Ag & don’t understand soil chemistry, animal physiology or grain markets it can be tough to be successful. But clear communication/story telling, critical thinking & leading teams (+more) will differentiate you.
Hard skills are important - if you work in Ag & don’t understand soil chemistry, animal physiology or grain markets it can be tough to be successful. But clear communication/story telling, critical thinking & leading teams (+more) will differentiate you.
7. Expand Your Time Horizons
3 yrs out seems like a long time, but it’s <10% of your working life. Think 15 or 20 yrs out instead when it comes to things like skill development, career moves or how a technology could impact you.
3 yrs out seems like a long time, but it’s <10% of your working life. Think 15 or 20 yrs out instead when it comes to things like skill development, career moves or how a technology could impact you.
8. Identify What You Value
What you value in your career, your co workers, your boss, will help align your decisions of where to work, what company to build and people you spend your time with. Identify these values early, they can change, but think critically about them.
What you value in your career, your co workers, your boss, will help align your decisions of where to work, what company to build and people you spend your time with. Identify these values early, they can change, but think critically about them.
9. Build a Network
Make connections. Introduce yourself to people you find interesting and tell them your ideas. Send messages on social media. A wider network will continually work in your favour.
Make connections. Introduce yourself to people you find interesting and tell them your ideas. Send messages on social media. A wider network will continually work in your favour.
10. Identify Role Models
Mentors are great, but not everyone has the luxury of finding someone to mentor them directly. I’ve aspired to to learn from many, learning tons from people I’ve never met through their podcasts, articles etc.
Or it can be people you work with too.
Mentors are great, but not everyone has the luxury of finding someone to mentor them directly. I’ve aspired to to learn from many, learning tons from people I’ve never met through their podcasts, articles etc.
Or it can be people you work with too.
11. Become Great at Numerous Things
Being in the top 1% of a specific area is hard. But being in the top 90% of 3 - 4 diff areas/skills is more achievable & differentiates you + opens more doors. You’ll be known for a very specific skill combination & increase optionality.
Being in the top 1% of a specific area is hard. But being in the top 90% of 3 - 4 diff areas/skills is more achievable & differentiates you + opens more doors. You’ll be known for a very specific skill combination & increase optionality.
12. Get Passionate
(Related to 11)
It’s super cliche to say “find your passion”. I’d suggest instead to get passionate about what you are doing. If you are a grain commodity trader - become obsessed with everything that goes into it.
(Related to 11)
It’s super cliche to say “find your passion”. I’d suggest instead to get passionate about what you are doing. If you are a grain commodity trader - become obsessed with everything that goes into it.
13. Have High Standards for You and Others
Expect a lot from people and yourself. Mediocrity is too often accepted. High expectations make the industry better for tomorrow.
Expect a lot from people and yourself. Mediocrity is too often accepted. High expectations make the industry better for tomorrow.
14. Be Comfortable in the Grey Area
We get taught in black and white. The world is grey.
We get taught in black and white. The world is grey.
15. Build Up a Resource Base
One of the most valuable skills is being resourceful - finding answers in uncommon places. You can’t remember everything, but for those with a strong resource pool to pull from, the answer is always just a quick reference away.
One of the most valuable skills is being resourceful - finding answers in uncommon places. You can’t remember everything, but for those with a strong resource pool to pull from, the answer is always just a quick reference away.
16. People Matter
Related to soft skills, but worth its own point. You’ll never get anything meaningful done on your own. Recognizing everyone knows something you don’t & how you make people feel is more important than them knowing exactly what you think is worth remembering.
Related to soft skills, but worth its own point. You’ll never get anything meaningful done on your own. Recognizing everyone knows something you don’t & how you make people feel is more important than them knowing exactly what you think is worth remembering.
17. Outcome Over Ego
Related to the above, but very valuable itself. The goal shouldn’t be to be right, but to achieve the best possible outcome. That might mean your ideas don’t get used. Accept it.
@farnamstreet
Related to the above, but very valuable itself. The goal shouldn’t be to be right, but to achieve the best possible outcome. That might mean your ideas don’t get used. Accept it.
@farnamstreet
18. Think in 2nd+ Order Implications
Every action results in a consequence. But that consequence has a subsequent concequence. Those cause and effects should be considered beyond the initial consequence. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
Every action results in a consequence. But that consequence has a subsequent concequence. Those cause and effects should be considered beyond the initial consequence. Nothing happens in a vacuum.
19. Quantify & Visualize What You Can
If you can quantify it, do so. That means you can measure it, can manage it and can improve it. Otherwise it’s abstract. Additionally, ppl do better w/ images - if you can visualize it, do so.
If you can quantify it, do so. That means you can measure it, can manage it and can improve it. Otherwise it’s abstract. Additionally, ppl do better w/ images - if you can visualize it, do so.
20. Strong Opinions Loosely Held
Having conviction in your beliefs is paramount, but you need to be continuously open to changing times and new information...especially early on in your career. Be confident, but be ready to adapt.
Having conviction in your beliefs is paramount, but you need to be continuously open to changing times and new information...especially early on in your career. Be confident, but be ready to adapt.
Some will say it’s too long, others will say there isn’t enough, but I think this gives new grads points to think about and build upon in Ag, or other disciplines.
#agchat #grad20 #development
#agchat #grad20 #development
I’d like to write this into a blog at some point.
In the mean time here are some articles I’ve written for further reading regarding this topic:
Soft Skills for Success in Ag
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/4-essential-soft-skills-for-the-ag-industry
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agronomists
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-agronomists
In the mean time here are some articles I’ve written for further reading regarding this topic:
Soft Skills for Success in Ag
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/4-essential-soft-skills-for-the-ag-industry
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Agronomists
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-agronomists
The 10 % Rule
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/the-10-rule-for-professional-development
5 Tips for Purposeful Professional Progress
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/5-tips-for-purposeful-professional-progress
What I Learned in 10 Years in the Ag Industry
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/10-findings-in-10-years-in-the-ag-industry
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/the-10-rule-for-professional-development
5 Tips for Purposeful Professional Progress
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/5-tips-for-purposeful-professional-progress
What I Learned in 10 Years in the Ag Industry
https://www.shaneagronomy.com/post/10-findings-in-10-years-in-the-ag-industry
