Significant Career Lesson From An Agricultural Economist At California Food And Agriculture
Miranda, an Agricultural Economist, emphasizes that career success hinges on networking, stating "it really is not about what you know, it's about who you know". This insight, gained through experience securing a niche role despite not fully utilizing the skills from their master's degree, highlights the importance of leveraging personal connections for career advancement.
Networking, Job Search, Career Development, Industry Realities, Unfiltered
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Miranda Townsend
Agricultural Economist
California Department of Food and Agriculture
UC Santa Cruz, 2020
UC Davis, Agricultural and Resource Economics Masters Program
Environmental & Related Sciences
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, Government & Public Sector
Research and Development (R&D)
Pell Grant Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Networking is crucial for career advancement, even more so than specific skills.
2. A niche master's degree may not always directly translate to specific job skills, but the underlying skills are transferable.
3. Utilizing networks and word-of-mouth can lead to hidden career opportunities and better job prospects than traditional job postings.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
Definitely. This is something I've mentioned in job talks before. It really is not about what you know, it's about who you know.
That's the biggest lesson I've learned. I have this super niche master's degree that the job posting specifically required.
But I'm not using a ton of those skills. I could apply for many different jobs with the baseline skills I learned.
At the end of the day, it's so much better to network, hear things by word of mouth, and talk to your professors or colleagues. Use your networks to hear about job and career opportunities. It's about getting a foot in the door.
That's the main thing I've learned; it's totally about who you know.