Your Future Now

Story by Shylo Adams

So, you want a degree based in agriculture? Congratulations! Your future could take place in a rapidly growing industry. With award winning staff and students, Texas Tech University’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is an excellent place to begin your path.

Tech’s CASNR provides a variety of degree options including 13 baccalaureate, 14 master’s and seven doctorate degrees. No matter what you are majoring in you have all heard the cliché comments. “So you’re a cow whisperer,” or “What are you going to do with that degree?” As frustrating as these comments are, we have all considered where our future will lead.  

Fortunately for CASNR students, there is a large selection of careers available and the University Career Services staff is here to help.

Jared Lay, the assistant director of the University’s Career Center and the CASNR liaison, said coming to the career center is the first step the job search. Raider Jobs, their online job and internship database, is an excellent place to begin searching for the perfect career.

“First, contact the career center and have someone help you that has been through this before,” Lay said. “Next, get your resume in shape. Then register with Raider Jobs, so you can see all the jobs we have posted. We have 15,000 jobs in that database alone. It’s a huge database, so it helps.”

Lay has seen many students come through his office seeking help. Alumni and prospective employers contact him asking for his assistance in filling positions as well.  The job is posted on Raider Jobs and the Career Services staff lets students know about the opportunity.

Several CASNR students arrive at Tech unsure of where their degree will lead them, but leave well prepared for agricultural careers.

Amber Oldham, a senior agricultural communications major from Shamrock, Texas, has a agricultural background. However, when she chose to attend Tech, her main desire was to find a career in which she could impact the agriculture industry.
Oldham is excited about her future after graduation in December 2010. She feels qualified to work in many fields due to her skills learned at Tech.  She aspires to take part in the agricultural law arena.

“I know my major and experiences at Tech give me a great background,” Oldham said, “not only for typical agricultural careers, but for my plans to pursue my career in agricultural law. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources here at Tech is fabulous!”

Despite concerns upon arrival, Tech’s CASNR strives to encourage students and give them a solid education to stand upon before entering the agricultural work force.