What are employers looking for in an agriculture graduate?

We spoke with Mr Geoff Lucas, Director of The Lucas Group, Management Consultants specialising in Agribusiness

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

We are always looking for good agribusiness graduates to fill our clients’ vacancies. We look for graduates from the following disciplines:

• Agricultural/Animal Science
• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Commerce/Agribusiness
• Farm Management
• Rural Science/Production Systems
• Science/Applied Science
• Horticultur /Viticulture/Wine
• NRM/Environmental Science

What are the generic attributes you require in an employee?

• "Get up and go"
• Ability to sell themselves
• Honesty and integrity
• Enthusiasm: passion about the industry
• Hands-on practical experience
• Well grounded, down to earth
• Community interests – eg they are a volunteer for the CFS or play local football. This is particularly important if the employee must relocate for work, they want to know that they will be able to establish themselves in the community and get to know people quickly

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

We understand that graduates are not going to have the technical expertise or in-depth knowledge of the job. However companies are looking for graduates who, with some support, can “hit the ground running”. Hence they look for the following attributes:

• Research of the industry and knowledge of the company to which they have applied.
• Demonstrated initiative, particularly in relation to work experience; showing they have made the effort to gain experience in the industry, whether it be assisting their local agronomist, working as a farm hand, doing some trial work, offering themselves for work experience in holidays etc…
• Positive attitude and enthusiasm – they need to show they are keen to get into the industry.
• Presentation/Dress, which reflects their enthusiasm to be part of the industry. Dress to reflect the position to which they aspire.

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

• Someone who has taken the initiative to gain experience and knowledge in their area of interest is particularly attractive. We look for graduates who have made the effort to get out there and find part time or holiday work in the industry. Whether it be work experience or paid work it is really important, they actually have hands-on knowledge of the industry they are about to enter. This is experience gained outside regular university studies.
• Understanding of commercial realities – understand how their performance is likely to be measured.

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

• Find out all you can about the industry you are entering and if you are applying for a position with a particular company, do all you can to find out about them. Look at their website, find out about their product range, speak to people who have had involvement with them, and find out about the key players in the organisation. Too often graduates have an interview without finding out background information or exhibiting why they actually want to work for this company.
• Although individuality is important, make sure your presentation reflects the nature of the company/position/industry you wish to enter.
• Be prepared to talk about yourself and ask questions of the interviewer.
• Read documentation and resumes before you present them – there is nothing worse than an obvious spelling mistake or for something you have written to be misunderstood or taken out of context. Get a friend to read it too!