We interviewed Badgerland Financial about their company and what they are looking for in an applicant. The interview is with Valerie Leake, the Human Resources Generalist from Badgerland Financial. She graduated with a BA from Marian College and a Masters in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. Here are her responses to our questions.
Q: Can you tell us about your company?
A: Badgerland Financial provides financial products and services to the people of rural Wisconsin. We are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, created in 1916 to provide dependable credit and related services to agriculture and rural America.
Our products and services include loans and leases, insurance and other financial services. Whether you are or want to be a full-time farmer, hobby or part-time farmer, rural business owner, or are looking to buy a rural home or recreational property, talk to us and see how we can help. We offer knowledgeable people, tailored financial products and services, and a unique understanding of rural life.
Q: What kinds of students do you typically seek?
A: The ideal Badgerland Financial candidate is majoring in agriculture, whether that is agronomy, animal science, agribusiness, etc., with a personal background in agriculture. Many of our candidates have taken on leadership roles or volunteered with agriculture related organizations and clubs.
Q: What would be the one thing that would impress you the most about an applicant?
A: I am impressed with applicants that are well prepared for the position and the interview. Being well prepared includes knowing about the position and the company, having a professional appearance, and being practiced enough in interviewing to be comfortable and able to let their true personality shine.
Q: What do you feel are some necessary things an applicant must have in order to be considered for one of your positions?
A: For the majority of our positions having a background or exposure to agriculture is crucial. There are so many things that a new employee needs to learn in order to be a good lender, crop insurance specialists, tax consultant, etc. Having experience in agriculture is one less thing to learn. In fact, it is the hardest thing to learn because it is more about a way of life and a culture than specific skills. Depending on the position, an applicable, high achieving academic record and internship experience(s) are preferred.
Q: What is the one thing you hate to see from an applicant?
A: Things I don’t like to see from an applicant are poor attitudes and unprofessionalism. A candidate that exhibits these poor attitudes in the recruitment process will most likely exhibit those behaviors as an employee. I like to see a candidates personality but they should remember that the recruitment process is a time to put your best foot forward.
Q: What are the most common things you see wrong with an applicants resume?
A: The most common thing I see wrong with an applicants resume is poor organization. I review thousands of resumes a year. Struggling to find key sections such as objective, education, or experience is frustrating and may hinder your employment opportunities.
Q: What is your perspective on the one to two page resume debate?
A: My perspective is that a person with little professional experience, such as a traditional, new graduate, should never have more than a one page resume. For candidates with extensive professional experience, five years or more, a two page resume is acceptable as long as it is organized and concise.
Q: What are the most common things you see wrong in an interview?
The most common things I see wrong in an interview are lack of focus and nerves. Candidates who are not prepared or struggle to answer questions come across as uninterested and unprofessional. Being prepared involves not only doing your research on the position and company but also taking the time to think about what may be asked, what you answer may be, and what questions you might have. Nerves are to be expected. However, if you practice interviewing and have prepared for the interview your nerves should be undetectable and therefore not hinder your performance in the interview.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about applying to a position in your company?
Badgerland Financial recruits for either internships or full time positions. Candidates for our internships usually have made contact with us many times through attending on campus information sessions, stopping by our booth at the career fair, asking to job shadow or go on a ride along, etc. These candidates show an interest in Badgerland and therefore we have an interest in them. Our full time positions usually require extensive experience beyond what can be met while attending school. Sometimes there are trainee openings and like with internships we look for those candidates who go above and beyond what is expected.
