What are employers looking for in an agriculture graduate?

We spoke to Turlough Guerin from Shell

Describe the type of graduate you look to recruit for your various areas of responsibility.

In the Shell graduate program, we are looking for a good academic record. However, our experience and research on successful professionals has shown that academic skills are rarely sufficient to be successful within a challenging, dynamic, diverse and global company such as Shell. We have identified the following qualities as critical to high performance in Shell: capacity (analytical ability); achievement (ability to get things done); and relationships (the ability to work efficiently with others in a team).

What are the generic attributes you require in an employee and why are these important in the workplace?

As mentioned previously, the three main attributes are capacity, achievement and relationships. I’ve included some detail on each attribute we look for.

Capacity : Do you have the analytical ability to place problems in a wide but relevant perspective?

• The ability to analyse data quickly and learn fast, basing judgments on fact not sentiment
• The ability to analyse outside existing boundaries to identify implications and learn from others
• The creativity to propose innovative solutions
• The ability to manage uncertainty within complex environments to produce workable solutions

Achievement: Do you have the ability to get things done?

• The drive and enthusiasm to set yourself and others challenging unambiguous targets
• The resilience to deliver
• The courage and self-confidence to tackle unfamiliar problems and go against the crowd when necessary

Relationships: Do you have the ability to work efficiently with others in a team?

• Showing genuine respect and concern for people
• Valuing contributions from others regardless of culture or status
• Demonstrating honesty and integrity in all actions
• Creating trust through open and direct communication
• Persuading others through the inspiration, sensitivity and clarity of your argument
• Arranging clear means of communication and decision making

What do you look for when you are interviewing an agricultural science or agricultural economics graduate for a position?

What we would look for in an agricultural science or agricultural economics graduate is the same for any graduate we are looking to recruit. The generic attributes are capacity, achievement and relationships.

What advice would you give to undergraduate students who are looking to become more employable by the time they graduate?

Ensure you have as wide an experience as possible while at university. By the time you have started interviews, you should be able to look back at your experience and be able to confidently articulate to employers, the following:

• Your experience in leading others
• Examples of where you have been accountable to an employer or another organisation
• How you have successfully worked with others.

It goes without saying that your marks must be good!

Do you have any other insights from an employer's perspective?

Having a sense of direction for your career would be the other thing I would consider. Without a clear sense of purpose of how you could contribute to an organisation, it is going to be hard to sell yourself and convince a prospective employer of the value you would bring.