Ag Career Fair gains popularity
Students dressed to impress in suits, ties and skirts, patiently waited by the doors of the ballroom in the Memorial Union for the Ag Career Fair to begin.
Some hoped to walk away with an interview, while others just wanted to get their name recognized in hopes of a future internship.
More than 200 students showed up Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get the chance to market themselves to 46 different agricultural companies.
Brittany Demay, a junior in ag economics, helped coordinate the event with the Career Center.
Demay was in charge of keeping in contact with the businesses and making sure all the supplies needed were ready to go to make the event successful.
“Last year we had 38 companies show up, so we’re hoping it keeps growing,” Demay said.
Save-the-date postcards were sent out ahead of time to more than 200 businesses and registration was held online, which Demay said was done through a new online program.
This year’s event drew companies from Nebraska, Canada, Montana, Wisconsin and Iowa.
“ Basically, we market for all ag companies and businesses and anything that’s ag related,” Demay said.
Tracy Sinclair, a representative for AgCountry Farm Credit Services, said, “We were coming here back when I started working for AgCountry and that was eight years ago. We have a few full-time positions open as well as a new internship program, so we’re looking for students to fill those positions.”
“ It’s extremely wonderful opportunity to meet prospective employers,” Jason Roise, a senior in Ag Systems Management, said. “I’ve had really good luck today so far.”
Demay said this year was particularly good because a lot of the businesses were from jobs pertaining to animal and range science and food science, which haven’t always been strong in the past.
“ Every year they come back because they know this is where they get the best recruits,” Demay said. “Every company here is offering some sort of an internship or full-time job.”
Sigma Alpha has aided in putting on the event for more than five years. Fraternities Alpha Gamma Rho and FarmHouse also help set up and take down tables following the event.
“ We mostly hope that students are marketing themselves to potential employers,” Demay said. “They have the opportunity to get some great internships while they’re in college. A lot of internships help line up jobs and you get to network with a lot of people.”
For more information about upcoming career fairs, or help with resumes and interviewing skills, visit the Career Center at www.ndsu.edu/careercenter or visit 306 Ceres Hall.