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GrowMark Career Prep Notes

HR Panel and Career Fair Logistics

  • HR panel date/time: Tuesday, September 16, from 05:30 to 06:30 PM.
  • Location: Route 108 G.
  • Ruthie from GrowMark will be a panelist and share tips on navigating the career fair, job search process, interviews, negotiations, etc.
  • Purpose: provide guidance and connection opportunities related to careers in agriculture and GrowMark.

Career Fair Details and Optional Extra Credit

  • Career Fair date: Wednesday, September 24, Ag Career Fair; hours are 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM.
  • Location: Brown Ballroom, Student Center.
  • Attendance expectation: be there for at least one hour; visit around 5–6 companies (more if possible).
  • Bring copies of resumes.
  • How to earn points for the career fair:
    • Swipe in at the event (required for points).
    • If you don’t swipe in, you’ll receive zero points.
  • Extra credit opportunity during setup/help:
    • Volunteer to help with setup (e.g., carry boxes from the parking lot) or help run the desk.
    • Direct company reps to tables and assist with directing attendees.
    • Extra credit: +10 points. There is a form to click the times you are available to help.
  • If you sign up for extra credit, the instructor will follow up as the event approaches.
  • Pre-event tasks:
    • Company research worksheet available in Canvas: 10 questions.
    • Upload due date: 11:59 PM on Friday, September 12.
  • Suggested preparation:
    • Bring resumes; be ready to talk to multiple companies; research companies ahead of time.
    • Dress code: business casual or nicer; bring student ID; swipe in at the fair.
  • Q&A opportunity: Students can ask Ruthie questions about what GrowMark looks for and how companies use resumes at the fair.

Nearpod Attendance and Code

  • Attendance tool: Nearpod.
  • Code: ext{HPTKG}.
  • Procedure:
    • Enter last name first (allowed to include first name as optional).
    • If you log in again, ensure your last name and first name appear so your identity is clear in the spreadsheet.
  • If there are login issues, you can write answers on paper and hand to TAs for credit.

Resume Bullet-Point Formula and Examples

  • Bullet-point formula discussed: context, action, result.
  • Suggested phrasing: explain what you were doing, why you were there, and the outcome.
  • Example transformation:
    • “Waited on tables” → “Provided excellent customer service, resulting in an outstanding dining experience for customers.”
  • Practical guidance:
    • Use CAR/STAR style to strengthen bullets: Context/Task (why), Action (what you did), Result (outcome).
    • Revisit existing bullets to remove vague language and replace with more concrete results.
  • Activity: critique your resume bullets to ensure they aren’t just tasks but outcomes and impact.

GrowMark Overview (Ruthie’s Introduction)

  • Ruthie Morgan is a student recruiter for GrowMark.
  • GrowMark: a farmer-owned cooperative founded in 1927; mission is to improve the long-term profitability of member owners.
  • Core idea: grow “a one-stop shop for farmers,” offering services beyond equipment (seed, energy, etc.).
  • Members and ownership:
    • Members are farmers who can buy into FS (GrowMark’s cooperative structure) and receive benefits like profit-sharing; the system is cooperative and member-driven.
  • What is a cooperative?
    • An organization owned and run jointly by its members who share profits; members participate in governance.
    • Ruthie highlights seven cooperative principles; she focuses on three key ones:
    • Voluntary and open membership (anyone can become a member)
    • Democratic member control (members choose leaders/board)
    • Concern for community
  • GrowMark’s product divisions (main areas):
    • Facility planning and logistics (tank and truck centers, DOT regulatory issues)
    • Grain (marketing and internal seed lines)
    • Seed (including proprietary soybean lines; first proprietary soybean brand mentioned as a fun fact)
    • Energy (propane and broader energy products; a multibillion-dollar industry in the past year; 85% of local gas stations are GrowMark-fueled stations)
    • Agronomy (nutrients, crop protections, etc.)
  • Geographic footprint and structure (maps):
    • Bloomington hosts the corporate office; FS member companies operate in local markets.
    • Color-coded map explanation:
    • Gray areas = member companies
    • Yellow areas = retail division (FS retail)
    • Core territories: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin; expansion into Michigan (GAPS FS), Ohio (Legacy), New York/Maryland/Delaware (GrowMark FS LLC), Virginia (Evergrow and a newly acquired company in Farmville, VA), and Canada (Ontario primarily).
    • GrowMark is the third-largest ag cooperative in North America; presence in Canada mainly Ontario.
  • Size and staffing snapshot:
    • Corporate office staff: 500–600 employees; ~170 remote.
    • Facilities (seed mixing, lubricant facilities, etc.)
    • Retail subsidiaries and “subs”: ~2,500 employees; member companies: ~6,000; total ~9,300 employees.
    • Ongoing growth; new Bloomington corporate office since 2023 (across from Hy-Vee in Bloomington, near Country Financial); space quickly filling.
  • Growth philosophy:
    • Focus on training and development; aims to empower members and streamline collaboration with customer partners.

Growmark Internship and Student Programs

  • Internship program goals:
    • Provide hands-on experiences that bridge college and career; help students explore ag roles before entering the workforce.
  • Exploring Ag internship program:
    • For underclassmen and others curious about ag; minimum 9–10 weeks; paid internship.
    • Location: corporate office in Bloomington for kickoff; exposure to fields like agronomy, energy, crop nutrients.
    • Objective: offer a broad exposure so students can decide their path within ag; post-internship opportunities to stay in the program and pursue longer-term roles.
    • Visuals: pictures shown to illustrate hands-on experiences.
  • Growmark internships (college-to-career focus):
    • Typically 12 weeks; paid; occurs at Bloomington and Peoria for site visits to terminals and distribution centers; includes visits to the Gronemark Tank and Truck Center and river terminals.
    • Projects: interns work on a meaningful project (e.g., marketing campaign, routing solution to alleviate traffic congestion in a small Ohio town around harvest time).
    • Mentorship and networking: structured opportunities; cross-functional exposure; professional development and a college-to-career pipeline.
    • Conversion expectation: roughly 50% conversion rate of interns to full-time roles; GrowMark aims to convert interns to full-time hires.
    • Availability: typically around 12–15 internships at the corporate office across disciplines (accounting, business, agronomy, etc.).
    • Pay: internships pay roughly 15 to 20 per hour.
    • Housing/relocation: no housing stipend; interns should ideally live within ~45 ext{ minutes} of their internship site; transportation is self-provided; rural locations can be challenging to recruit for due to location.
    • Eligibility and majors: open to various agronomy and business-related majors; specific animal-science roles are not currently emphasized; emphasis on eagerness to learn and work ethic over a specific major.
    • Intern intake and conversion: the program emphasizes hiring managers’ needs and prioritizes motivated individuals; past interns have advanced to higher-level roles within GrowMark.
  • Job shadow program:
    • Held in spring; two components: morning roundtables with VPs and an afternoon shadow session (45 minutes with two different professionals).
    • Purpose: give students a deeper look into corporate roles (e.g., finance, marketing) beyond internships; not a direct application track but an additional exposure opportunity.
  • Scholarship program:
    • Open date: February 22 (the slide mentions 02/02/2026, but also notes February 22 as the opening date).
    • Total scholarships: 552{,}000.
    • Eligibility: Agbis-related scholarships; excludes food science, animal science, and veterinary medicine.
    • Additional info: details will be provided later in the spring semester.
  • Summary of student-focused offerings:
    • 12–15 internships at the corporate office; a mix of agronomy and business roles; strong emphasis on career development and potential conversion to full-time roles.
    • Job shadow program for broader exposure to GrowMark operations.
    • Scholarships to support students in qualifying programs.
  • Practical questions often asked (highlights):
    • Internship pay range: 15–20/hour.
    • Proximity to campus: aim for internships within ~45 ext{ minutes}.
    • Housing and transportation: no stipend; students often relocate or commute from nearby towns.
    • Relevant majors: agronomy, crop and soil science, horticulture, agricultural education; emphasis on eagerness to learn rather than strict major alignment.
    • Conversion rate: ~50% conversion to full-time; they often convert interns to future hires when fit remains.
  • How to engage (advice Ruthie gave):
    • Bring questions; be prepared to discuss how your skills fit GrowMark needs.
    • Network with mentors, attend the kickoff conferences, and take advantage of the mentorship and development opportunities.

LinkedIn and Resume Workshop Highlights

  • LinkedIn fundamentals:
    • Profile picture: a clear, professional headshot.
    • Headline: a concise statement about your goals and what you want to achieve.
    • Introduction card: quick summary linking you to recruiters with your education, location, and contact info.
    • Education: include current school and graduation timeline; include high school to establish connections (e.g., high school alumni as a hook).
    • Location and contact info: use a personal email and phone; avoid using school-issued emails for LinkedIn access.
    • Open to work: enable the Open to Work badge to signal availability to recruiters.
    • URL customization: shorten your LinkedIn URL for easy sharing on resumes and applications.
    • Content strategy: post about involvement, volunteer work, internships, and awards; endorsements can help credibility, but avoid fake endorsements; keep interactions professional.
    • Etiquette: don’t spam recruiters; respond to messages; provide a brief but personalized note when connecting after class.
  • Resume best practices (as taught):
    • One-page resume is standard for students/internships; top section should include contact information, education, and anticipated graduation date.
    • Work experience: use short, impactful bullet points with action verbs (e.g., composed, analyzed, managed).
    • Bullet structure: short lines, no long paragraphs; emphasize customer service and impact where applicable.
    • Education: place education near the top; include major; include anticipated graduation date.
    • Activities, leadership, honors: include relevant clubs and awards; these show leadership and community involvement.
    • Skills and projects: include relevant, industry-specific skills or projects.
    • Relevance: tailor content to align with the target industry (ag vs non-ag) and avoid unrelated experience.
  • Cover letters:
    • Often optional but highly beneficial; a well-crafted cover letter can earn brownie points.
    • Structure: 3–5 paragraphs including introduction, reason for writing, why the job/company interests you, how you are qualified, and how you will benefit the company; closing with a call to action and your contact info.
    • Customization: draft a base cover letter and tweak for each application to reflect the job and company.
    • Example elements: mention how you found the role (e.g., LinkedIn, career fair), summarize qualifications, and explain how you can contribute.
  • Interview preparation and timeline:
    • Typical GrowMark interview timeline:
    • Apply online → first round via phone interview or HireVue (video responses to prompts).
    • Second round: deeper dive; can be in-person or virtual depending on location (Canada included, but many interviews are local/virtual).
    • Five-day candidate promise: GrowMark commits to updating candidates at least every five days during the process.
    • Practical interview tips:
    • Have a concise elevator pitch ready; be prepared to discuss your background and goals.
    • Maintain eye contact and professional body language.
    • After interviews, send a thank-you note and consider following up with a quick email and an updated LinkedIn entry.

Key Takeaways for Exam Preparation

  • Always swipe in at events to ensure you receive points and recognition; sign up for extra credit opportunities if offered.
  • Prepare for career fairs by researching companies, planning questions, and bringing multiple resumes.
  • Use the CAR/STAR approach to craft strong resume bullets that demonstrate context, actions taken, and results achieved.
  • Build a strong LinkedIn presence with a professional headshot, a clear headline, a concise About section, and pathways to connect with recruiters; leverage the Open to Work feature when appropriate.
  • Tailor resumes and cover letters to emphasize outcomes and relevance to ag industry positions; keep resumes to one page for students.
  • For GrowMark, understand the cooperative model, key product divisions, and geographic footprint; recognize the value of internships, job shadowing, and scholarships tied to career development in agriculture.
  • Be aware of logistical details: internship pay ranges (15–20/hour), typical internship lengths (9–12 weeks), housing/transportation considerations (no housing stipend; within roughly 45 minutes), and the emphasis on enthusiasm and work ethic over a specific major.
  • The Nearpod code (HPTKG) and login reminders are used to capture attendance and ensure proper name mapping for participant lists.

Quick Reference Dates and Details

  • HR Panel: Tue, September 16, 05:30–06:30 PM, Route 108 G, Ruthie from GrowMark.
  • Career Fair: Wed, September 24, 09:00–13:00, Brown Ballroom, Student Center.
  • Compliance/Worksheet: Company research worksheet due 11:59 PM on Fri, September 12 (Canvas; 10 questions).
  • Extra credit form: sign up times for set-up or desk duty during the fair ( +10 points).
  • Resume review points: 10 points for visiting Career Services and swiping in; ensure swipe for credit.
  • Scholarship opening: Feb 22 (year context varies in talk; up to 552{,}000 in scholarships; excludes food science, animal science, veterinary medicine).
  • Internship pay range: 15–20/hour; no housing stipend; distance within ~45 ext{ minutes}.
  • Internship duration: Exploring Ag program ~9–10 weeks; GrowMark internships ~12 weeks; Job shadow in spring; multiple campus visits during internship.
  • GroWMark presence: Bloomington corporate office; regional FS offices; Canada (Ontario); FarmVille, VA acquisition; third-largest ag cooperative in North America.

Important Note on Language and Tone in Materials

  • Ruthie emphasized the importance of clear communication and practical hiring insights, such as avoiding vague resume bullets and focusing on measurable outcomes.
  • The session values hands-on experience, networking, mentorship, and the pathway from internship to full-time roles.
  • Always follow up after events with recruiters and keep LinkedIn and resume content up to date to reflect current experiences and opportunities.