Animal Science Degree Careers

[Angus Cattle Girl]

Oh so stressed! I'm coming here in hopes for a little pep talk/guidance.

I have a year and a half left before I graduate with my undergrad Bachelor's in Animal Science. And I have NO IDEA what I want to do when I graduate!!! I have officially started to panic and freak out a little (it probably doesn't help that I recently had an individual tell me that today's Bachelor's degree is equivalent to yesterday's high school diploma).

For a while I wanted to work for the DOW as a game warden. Then I wanted to work in the feedlot area. Then it changed to wanting to be a beef cattle nutritionist (which requires a Master's, I know). Now I am at a loss. I am passionate about cattle and horses. I would love to be self-employed but I can't ever see myself having the right funds to support my own business. Ever since working at a feedlot for 6 months I fell in love with it. But I still love cow/calf operations too.

Any words of wisdom would be OH SO helpful at this point.
-ACG

 

[inyati13]

Don't be negative! You will have a degree in animal science and you like animals. Few people work in the area where their education focuses. But you have a good chance of doing that. There are numerous opportunities in animal science. You named a few. As long as humans need protein, animals are sure to be part of the supply. Somewhere there is a job waiting for a person like you to get started. You just have to find it. That is what it is called, "finding a job." I hope you enjoy it. But there is never going to be the freedom and rewards/risks you will find in working for yourself. Get a start and then do your own thing.

 

[chippie]

Your degree can open many doors

http://www.tamuk.edu/anws/careers/animal_science.html

 

[pdfangus]

My degree is in animal science....
I did a few years as a herdsmand and cattle manager of purebred angus....
next came a stint with a milk marketing cooperative where I started as a fieldman and worked my way up the food chain....it was the job that I loved and it defined me to myself as it had a different challenge every day and at the time was a great work and professional environment....
then like all good things it changed and ended and I did a stretch as a manufactures rep for a chemical company selling cleaners and sanitizers to the dairy industry with the ocassional foray into the food processing industry....was the best paying work I ever did but constant travel over seven states was arduous while trying to maintain land and animals at home....
finally landed in a simple job as a conservation specialist at the local soil and water district and get to work with my farm friends and neighbors. A lifetime of preparation has made this the easiest job I have ever had even if it is the least lucrative....But I have been at home and had the opportunity to be involved in cattle associations and other organizations and hopefully make some contributions.....

Bottom line is that these days where you start is no indicator of where you will end up....just try to find a job that is challenging and one that gives you the opportunity for growth and happpiness...try to continue to learn....if you can not find a job with a lot of personal satisfaction then settle for one with a lot of money and you can then afford your own happiness...I was never truly happy until I had my own little place and a few cows of my own and now my horses....

We are in the process of hiring for a new position here at work.....
had eleven good applicants and 8 of them had masters degrees.....not sure they are any more educated than those with a BS 20 years ago....all had lots of short term resume building activities that are todays substitue for jobs and work experience. internships and volunteer activities....the women here all think that is wonderful stuff but there is no real continuity or responsibility or outcome to this stuff.....We have had interns here and so I have seen it from the inside....they get college credit for coming here and doing busy work....and we try to expose them to the real elements of the job as well....but we work harder than they do trying to get them the exposure...

I am maybe too old school, but I would rather see a kid who started as a cashier and ended up in the same job as a shift leader a couple years later....than one who volunteered at seven different charities or social organizations just to build the resume....I just sorted thru a lot of that. When I was in high school and college I did not volunteer for anything....I worked construction and warehouse jobs...did volunteer for one thing....the Army...needed GI bill to help pay for the rest of college.....

 

[Howdyjabo]

Hate to tell you- but the working at a feedlot and loving it for three months is going to be more valuable than your degree. Add them together and you really have something. A degree with animals is useless unless you have the hands on experience to know what to do with it. Now add in some business classes and you will be in high demand.

Seems like Ag salesman is where most get started after school.

 

[Dega Moo]

Something originally triggered your desire to take an Animal Science curriculum - what was that? There had to be some kind of vision there .. you saw yourself doing something specifically day to day and you wanted that life and you need that diploma. You must have felt passion for something and it led you to your studies. If your passion has waned or mutated then find out where it went , where did it go - where is it today? Chase your passion and you won't find a job but an avocation.

While an internship at a feedlot is certainly worthwhile and noteworthy, it pales in value compared to your degree. Don't let anyone tell you your education is not worthwhile, even if it doesn't lead directly to a job in your study area. And ignore advice that your college diploma is no better than yesterdays' high school diploma. That isn't the case at all.

Your college will have career days, on campus interviews specifically in your study area. Check out the companies visiting end of year and the jobs they are trying to fill. Talk to your advisers at school and they can help you find those positions. I think it was Chippie who posted a link with a compendium of jobs your degree helps qualify you to seek and fill. That's a bit like a Christmas catalog for someone searching for the perfect career.

Oh and don't think jobs, think career. Your first few jobs are steps along the way to a career.

 

[Commercialfarmer]

I am maybe too old school, but I would rather see a kid who started as a cashier and ended up in the same job as a shift leader a couple years later....than one who volunteered at seven different charities or social organizations just to build the resume....I just sorted thru a lot of that. When I was in high school and college I did not volunteer for anything....I worked construction and warehouse jobs...did volunteer for one thing....the Army...needed GI bill to help pay for the rest of college.....

Met a girl whose dad works for Boeing. He started out as a mechanic with a high school diploma. Worked his way to being the President of Boeing in another country. It says a lot about him, but I think it says more about the company. That is the company I would want to work for. An American tale.... well, it used to be.

Angus Cattle Girl,
You have plent to wory about at the moment with school, no need in stressing yourself further on something that will work itself out. Go to class tomorrow and look around. 85% of the kids around you don't know their career path, and over half of the ones that think they do, won't get into grad school, or won't get the job they want, or will be misserable looking for something else a year into it. Look at the statistics of career changes made by adults. The rest of your life does not hinge on you making a decision in the next 2 weeks.

Be happy with today, 10 years from now, you will want to be back where you are. Find some patience and work hard everyday. If you trust in a higher power, your wasting your time worrying. Opportunities pop up when you least expect them. When you find what interests you, work toward it. Work hard and people will notice. My experience, the best jobs usually aren't advertised. And the absolute best are probably self created.

 

[Ryder]

Commercial Farmer has made a very good post.
Try to temper your thoughts and feelings with his wisdom.
Do a bang up good job now-that is your job- and enjoy where you are.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

Take it for one who's been there!

I started out with a B.S. in psychology and first real job was an insurance billing clerk at a major hospital. After couple of raises was still lost. Went and got my Master's in counseling. Worked at psychiatric hospital as a psychologist, then at a mental health center, and then at 2 different State hospitals for MR.

In interim was a home builder & remodeler then as a self-employed greenhouse builder and landscape contractor.

With the 1980's boom & crash I went a got my Ph.D. in Training & Development and Career Development. "Rose to my level of incompetence"...lol.

Quit the MHMR place and got Licensed as an Irrigator designing and installing sprinkler systems.

Got too old for that work and went into raising Registered Longhorn Cattle.

Bottom Line: Everyone starts somewhere, even if undecided. Historically most people have numerous job changes and 2 or 3 different careers. Only those with "tunnel vision, one track careers" from early age stick with their first choice, career...those people are few & far between.

Keep the vision and ensure that EVERY successive job leads to one's ultimate goal. More "jobs" doesn't necessarily mean career growth. The only internships that are career contributing worthwhile, IMO, are the ones that are part of (required) by one's college degree/major. Volunteer work is just that: Volunteer. IMO if one is good enough for a "volunteer" job, one is good enough to get paid.

Also, important to get educated and work in a field that you like, love, enjoy. Otherwise, "just a job" will only pay the bills and put food on the table in the interim.

Don't forget the "KSA's" (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities). Plus always learn to interview well and dress & look appropriate for job one is applying for. Then there is always the business sector employer that expects a "Fit" (Appearance, personality, team player, and merge into the existing company culture) for any given job/employer.

Hang in there, keep the vision and faith. It will happen!

 

[cross_7]

I am maybe too old school, but I would rather see a kid who started as a cashier and ended up in the same job as a shift leader a couple years later....than one who volunteered at seven different charities or social organizations just to build the resume....I just sorted thru a lot of that. When I was in high school and college I did not volunteer for anything....I worked construction and warehouse jobs...did volunteer for one thing....the Army...needed GI bill to help pay for the rest of college.....

Met a girl whose dad works for Boeing. He started out as a mechanic with a high school diploma. Worked his way to being the President of Boeing in another country. It says a lot about him, but I think it says more about the company. That is the company I would want to work for. An American tale.... well, it used to be.

Angus Cattle Girl,
You have plent to wory about at the moment with school, no need in stressing yourself further on something that will work itself out. Go to class tomorrow and look around. 85% of the kids around you don't know their career path, and over half of the ones that think they do, won't get into grad school, or won't get the job they want, or will be misserable looking for something else a year into it. Look at the statistics of career changes made by adults. The rest of your life does not hinge on you making a decision in the next 2 weeks.

Be happy with today, 10 years from now, you will want to be back where you are. Find some patience and work hard everyday. If you trust in a higher power, your wasting your time worrying. Opportunities pop up when you least expect them. When you find what interests you, work toward it. Work hard and people will notice. My experience, the best jobs usually aren't advertised. And the absolute best are probably self created.

This is right on the money