With one in three people working in agriculture worldwide, it’s safe to say careers in ag are plentiful. Wondering what ag career might be a good fit for you?
Get started by visiting AgExplorer.FFA.org, a joint career resource offered by the National FFA Organization and Discovery Education, and clicking on “Career Finder.” There you will be prompted to answer a series of questions related to education, interests, skills and career aspirations. Based on your responses, you’ll receive a selection of ag careers that may be of interest, as well as information about each one, such as the education and training required, typical employers and average annual full-time salary.
While you’re on AgExplorer, you can also take virtual field trips to various agricultural businesses, and get a behind the scenes look at how they operate and the tasks their employees tackle. AgExplorer.com outlines nine career focus areas within the ag industry, along with supervised agricultural experience (SAE) ideas that correspond to each one, plus career profiles that give job seekers a deeper glimpse into what a particular career typically entails.
“AgExplorer currently features about 250 different career profiles that highlight the wide variety of job opportunities in the agriculture industry,” says Erika Osmundson, director of marketing communications for AgCareers.com, which connects job seekers with careers in ag and partners on aspects of AgExplorer.com. “Most people know about careers in production ag, but not everyone realizes how fast the ag tech sector is growing. Ag companies are increasingly looking to hire people well versed in areas like communications, marketing and social media too.”
Once you have an idea of the career you might like to pursue, head to AgCareers.com and use the job search tool to look for opportunities using keywords, job titles, company names, locations and other inputs.
“Young people want to know that if they go to school and work hard for a degree, there are going to be viable careers ready for them when they graduate,” Osmundson says. “AgCareers.com offers a true picture of the jobs available at the moment, and that can help guide students as they prepare for what’s next. For example, they may not need a four-year degree for the career they want, and that’s valuable information when it comes time to make postsecondary education plans.”
5 Steps to Discover Your Future in Ag:
1. Visit AgExplorer and click on “Career Finder.”
2. Answer the questions and submit your responses to receive career recommendations.
3. Read through your results and determine if any of the careers interest you.
4. Review career profiles related to the profession that most appeals to you.
5. Go to AgCareers.com to search for opportunities.
MORE AG JOBS
In addition to giving FFA members, alumni and supporters the opportunity to come together no matter where they are, the Forever Blue Network, which debuted in May, also features job openings in agriculture. Check it out at ForeverBlueNetwork.org.
