Agribusiness Job Market
Preparation: Market Realities
versus Student Perceptions
Paul D. Mitchell AAE 320
Goal
• Overview research conducted by my
former colleagues at Texas A&M
University
• How should students spend their time?
• Try to put AAE 320, undergraduate
class work, and UW as a whole into
perspective
Characters
•
•
•
•
•
John Siebert: Dr. Agribusiness!
George Davis: Econometric philosopher
Kerry Litzenberg: Agribusiness/Sales
Josef Broder: Agriculture Dean, U of GA
All 4 are award winning teachers
Question
• How should junior level students allocate
their time to maximize their chances of
obtaining the highest starting salary offer
from an agribusiness firm?
• Study both Employer and Student answers
• How accurately do students perceive
preferences of agribusiness employers?
Company Survey
•
•
•
•
Fall 1997 – Spring 1998
69 agribusiness firms
Average sales $5.1 billion
Agribusinesses: farm suppliers, first
handlers, food processors, food
distributors, restaurants, and retail grocers
Firm Survey Results Summary
Recommended Student Time Allocation
A junior level student wants to prepare to
work for your company and is seeking a
top salary offerHow should he/she
allocate time among these five areas?





Technical Course Work
Raising GPA
Work or Internship Experience
Leadership Experience in College
Interview Preparedness
Recommended Student Time Allocation
50
45
Average % Time Allocated
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Tech. Course
Raise GPA
Internship
Leadership
Interview Prep
Student Survey
• Fall 1998 survey of 993 college students
taking agricultural economics courses
806 Texas A&M University
187 University of Georgia
• Career Choice
15% to Farm Suppliers
12% to Farming/Ranching
< 50% into Agribusiness/Food Supply Chain
Where do the others want to go?
•
•
•
•
•
Government/Legal
Marketing/Sales (non-agricultural/food)
Banking/Finance
General Business
Pharmaceutical/Medical
Recommended Student Time Allocation
A junior level student wants to prepare to
work for your company and is seeking a
top salary offerHow should he/she
allocate time among these five areas?





Technical Course Work
Raising GPA
Work or Internship Experience
Leadership Experience in College
Interview Preparedness
Student Recommended Time Allocation
35
Average % Time Allocated
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Tech. Course
Raise GPA
Internship
Leadership
Interview Prep
Comparing Students and Firms
50
Average % Time Allocated
45
40
35
30
Firms
25
Students
20
15
10
5
0
Tech. Course
Raise GPA
Internship
Leadership
Interview Prep
Pooled Firm and Student Results
40
Average % Time Allocated
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Tech. Course
Raise GPA
Internship
Leadership
Interview Prep
Employer Deviations from Pooled Means
6
Employer's Deviation
4
2
0
Tech. Course
Raise GPA
Internship
Leadership
0.2981
0.0023
0.0083
0.0787
Interview Prep
-2
-4
P Values
-6
P Values = probability these deviations actually zero
0.0073
Summary of Implications
Agribusiness Companies
• Value Work/Internship and Leadership
Experience more than students believe
• Value Grades/GPA and Interview Preparation
much less than students believe
• Technical Preparation in business: expect a
minimum competency and will teach the rest
• If you want to work in business, do
internships/part-time jobs and get involved in
volunteer organizations and student clubs
CALS Student Services Help
Student Services
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduat
e-programs/careerservices/career-development/
Internship/job Search
Buckynet:http://www.cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergradu
ate-programs/careerservices/buckynet/
AgCareers.com:http://www.agcareers.com/results.cfm
Starting Salaries for Jobs
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/academics/undergraduat
e-programs/careerservices/resources/forms-andinformation/
Citation
Siebert, Davis, Litzenberg, Broder. 2002.
Time Allocation Decisions Associated with
Job Market Preparation: Undergraduate
Perceptions Versus Market Realities.
American Journal of Agricultural
Economics 84:222–233