FBI-Cady Dueber

Our most recent Featured Bucky Intern is Cady Dueber, a junior majoring in Food Science.  She has had internships with Dean Foods and Land O’ Lakes.  She grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota where she enjoyed playing hockey and soccer.

Q: What things did you do to prepare for getting an internship?

A: I researched companies that I was interested in working for. Interviewing the employer is just as important as the employer interviewing you. They want to make sure that you are a good fit for their company and their values, but how does the company match up with your goals and values? I also got involved in organizations related to my career goals.

Q: What did the process of finding an internship teach you about getting an actual job?

A: Connections and Networking! Using my connections that I had in the food industry was a vital role in getting my internship with Dean Foods. I was able to use them for background information on the company so that going into the interview I felt better prepared. Following my Dean Foods experience I was able to use connections that I had made there to network with Land O’Lakes. I have also learned that it is important to talk with people about their previous job experiences because not only do they know other people in the industry but they may be able to introduce you or put in a good word for you in the future.

Q: What type of student organization involvement did you pursue to enhance your resume and help improve your experience?

A: I am actively involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA), which is an organization that helps women to pursue a career in agriculture or agriculture related fields. This year I am serving as the organization Fundraising coordinator. I also participate in the Food Science Club.

Q: How did these opportunities help you in achieving your career goals?

A: Being involved with AWA has given me the opportunity to network with women in a vast majority of agriculture related positions. There is always someone who is willing to give advice or lend a helping hand. Alumni are constantly informing us of potential job opportunities and giving advice on resumes or interview tips.

Q: What did you do at your internships?

A: I was a product development intern at both positions. At Land O’Lakes I was working on developing a new product, so I was able to see the process from the product formulation, marketing, consumer testing, and plant trials. At Dean Foods I was tasked with a shelf life project for one of our major products. I had the chance to work on a variety of products from ice cream, frozen yogurt, and flavored milk beverages. I independently operated their HTST pilot plant which gave me the opportunity to transform raw ingredients into a finished product, which was a very cool experience!

Q: In what way was your internships valuable to your professional development?

A: My internships provided me with hands on experience in the field that I plan on pursuing after graduation. They allowed me to experience different ways of going about product development and to explore ways in which companies operate. My experiences have helped me to determine what I am looking for in a job experience and the values in which I want my future employer to have.

Q: What was the most important thing you learned at your internships?

A: The most important thing I have learned at my internships, besides the hands on experience that allowed me to apply the concepts that I learn in the class room, is what I am looking for in an employer.

Q: Do you feel your internship experience was important to your career development? If so, why?

A: Absolutely, it is one thing to sit in a classroom and have a concept taught to you, but to get to apply those concepts in a real life situation has been greatly valuable to my career development.  I have always been a hands-on learner, and getting to see everything come to life in the work place has validated to me why I chose this career field/major. The biggest eye opener for me was in my internship at Dean Foods. They were trying to teach me what a “cooked” note is in pasteurized ice cream mix. Having never tasted ice cream mix previously I could not pick out this note. It wasn’t until I tasted chocolate milk fresh from the machine that I was able to make the connection. It was such an eye opener because I couldn’t grasp that concept in a verbal manner, but after personally experiencing it I was able to understand. After that experience I have been open to any new experience that may further my understanding of the science behind food.

Q: Who do you feel helped you most in your professional development and why?

A: Brett Tanttu, my boss at Dean Foods. Coming to him as a freshman, I did not have any background in the food industry, yet he was willing to still give me that opportunity to learn and grow. I was provided with an environment that was highly conducive to learning but yet offered a challenging food experience. My first internship gave me the confidence as a Food Science student that this was the correct path for me. Mr. Tanttu also gave me a lot of professional/career advice, especially on my resume and interviewing, tips that I still use today.

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I Don’t Get Paid, But Want To

I have a class this semester, kind of a pain in my backside, but still is a great class.  The  professor has this idea that “Managerial Economics is Life.” What!? Yeah, managerial economics is life.  One of his main points is that you should not attend class if you have something better to do. If your opportunity costs are larger than the revenues you receive, you should not be doing what you are doing.  The professor is kind of crazy, but at the same time this point holds some truth, especially when deciding on internships.

Many people have a problem: they are not being paid for an internship or research opportunity.  Like stated above, if there is something more valuable to be doing you should be doing it.

Some employers think an internship means “unpaid,” but that is not always true.  An internship should be a paid position.  Interns typically do not receive benefits such as medical insurance, and are often paid less than a full time employee. Many organizations should pay interns for their fresh ideas and skills they bring to the organization.

We understand that there are several paid internship opportunities out there, but this is not always true.  Some unpaid opportunities can give you an immense knowledge base for your future.  When dealing with these situations, there are some other measures you can take to help support yourself.

CALS Career Services can help you with an unpaid internship. There is a fund set up specifically for students who need extra monetary help while participating in an internship.  You can get up to $1,000 and it can cover anything from travel expenses to salary+.  Email Maria McGinnis if you are interested.

You can also participate in an internship for credit. You pay for the credits, but if you are eligible for financial aid, it is a way you can get paid for your internship experience.

You can also use an internship, research or volunteering opportunity to get in the door of an organization.  Perhaps, the organization uses it’s internship or volunteer program as a prolonged interview.  If you find yourself in this predicament, ask if you can work fewer hours so you can get another job that is paid to support yourself.

There are many options that can make your internship, research or volunteer opportunity more worth while.  These experiences are important to get a job after college, but you should get paid for what you can bring to the table as well.

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What Valentine’s Day Teaches Us About Getting a Job

I learned something new this year, women know what we are going to get them for Valentine’s Day.  I guess you could say chocolate, stuffed animals, jewelry and flowers are predictable.

Being predictable typically is not a good thing.  This holds true when applying for a job or internship.  The most average person does not get the job, the person who stands out with the best qualifications and has more to offer gets the job.   Making sure an organization understands how you are different than the typical candidate can can contribute to the organization is very important.

You can highlight your unique skills in your application materials and interview.  Applying for jobs is a production, just like Valentine’s Day.  The first step is making sure your resume is in tip-top shape.  Make sure the key points that differentiate your from your competition stand out and are noticeable.  The formatting of your resume can also help you stand out. Work with your alignments, font style, font size and colors to create a custom design.

Next, you should make your cover letter and references have the same heading.  Your cover letter should not just be a regurgitation of your resume, but rather highlight the main points that apply to the job posting.  You should not reuse a cover letter because it should be specific to each position. You should have at least three references.  These references should not include family members, but rather people that can give you a quality, professional reference.

When interviewing, you need to be confident, strong and just be yourself.  Organization recruiters will respond to that. Make sure you also ask questions about the job or internship and the company because you are also interviewing the organization to see if it would be a good fit for you.

Following up and sending thank you emails/cards are a great way to stand out from the crowd.  These are easy things to do that can help settle close calls and put the offer in your favor.  Completing these steps can make you less predictable and are important application ideas that will help you get the job or internship.

In the end, I guess I was not too predictable because she still loved the bracelet. She almost cried.  Maybe there is some hope for me to be romantic (once a year on Valentine’s Day). Ok, maybe I will be more romantic than that.

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CALS Stars: Michael Boettcher

Our CALS Star today is Michael Boettcher, the field manager for the Milwaukee Brewers.  He graduated in December of 2006 majoring in Horticulture with an emphasis in Sports Turf and Landscape Management.  His connections and past internships have been a huge part of him becoming the field manager at a very young age.

Q: Can you tell us about yourself and your past?

A: I am a small-town farm kid from West-Central Wisconsin. My love and interest for working in agriculture started on the farm where there is 100 beef cows and tillable acreage to feed our stock, while still doing some cash cropping. I knew I loved farming and had intentions of having my own one day and thought a post-secondary education would do me well.

 Q: Why did you choose your major?

A: When arriving at Madison, all I really knew was farming. My logical major was Animal Science. My freshmen year, I took an exploratory Horticulture class (120) that required me to volunteer at a place that centered on Horticulture. I chose to volunteer at Allen Centennial Gardens. That experience working in the gardens made me notice my love for working in ornamental horticulture. Once I changed my major to Horticulture, my choice to have Dr. John Stier as my advisor helped me find my way towards Landscape & Turf Grass Management.

 Q: What student organizations and/or volunteer opportunities were you involved in while in college and how did these help you prepare for a full-time job?

A: I was involved with the Saddle & Sirloin Club (S&S) and the Turf & Grounds Club. I held several positions of leadership within the S&S club, giving me the opportunity to lead members in several instances, like I do currently with my crew. Turf & Grounds club exposed me to many facets of the industry while giving me a chance to network with several future industry professionals/colleagues. My volunteer experience at the Allen Centennial Gardens helped me start my trek towards my profession.

Q: What did you do to prepare for an interview for your internships and eventual full-time positions?

A: My interviews were simply prepped for by taking my classroom knowledge, work and life experience and applying it. My communication classes that I took throughout my high school and college years prepped me greatly to speak properly and present myself in a clear and confident manner.

Q: Can you tell us about your internships and how these helped you in your career development?

A: My internships got me to where I am!!! My internship with the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club in 2004 started it all. It was my first summer off the farm and it really opened my eyes to Sports Turf and Landscape Management at a level I never really thought about. My Horticultural knowledge was limited at the time of this internship, but my work ethic I learned growing up on the farm, allowed me to demonstrate my passion and thirst for knowledge in the industry. I was a Landscape Intern with the Brewers, but did a fair amount of field work, driving me to learn more about the Sports Turf side of the industry. In 2006, I was able to do this by accepting a Turf Internship with the Boston Red Sox. Working solely on the field really gave me that good experience and affirmed my interest in Sports Turf. These two internships shaped me and were a big part in getting me to where I am now.

 Q: What was the most important thing you learned while in college?

A: The classroom knowledge that I apply to my day to day workings, has been a huge component of my success, but the biggest concept that I took away from college is the importance of networking. My relationships and connections that I made through college, I believe provided me the greatest opportunity to succeed professionally.

Q: What is a typical day like working for the Milwaukee Brewers as the field manager?

A: A great aspect of my job is that there really isn’t a typical day. During the season when the team is in Milwaukee, I get to the park early in the morning to walk the field and address any issues that may have transpired from the day/game before. My crew arrives and after getting them all going, I try to take care of any office work. After about 10 am I find myself on the field checking moisture levels on the infield surfaces, dirt and turf, and applying water as necessary. Our ability to control moisture levels on the playing surface plays an important role in having the field game ready, every day. After the field is prepped and readied for batting practice, it is time to prep my crew and equipment for the game. During games, I spend my time watching the field, to see how it is reacting to the players’ and the ball.

When the team is on the road, we are spending a lot of time repairing and prepping for the teams return.

In the off-season, after we put the bed to “sleep” or cover it for the winter, we are quite busy getting our staff hired and all of our materials ordered. There is a lot of prep involved in getting ready for the upcoming season.

The hourly requirement of my career is demanding. I find myself at the park for 80-100 hours every week during the season (March-October), but I never realize it due to my enjoyment that I get from my job day in and day out.

Q: Did you ever imagine you would be a field manager at such a young age?

A: Never in million years did I think I would be where I am at, especially at this time in my life. When I look back at how I got here, I can honestly say that it took a lot of hard work and determination. I would like to think that was it, but I know that there is a ton of people (Family, Friends, Professors, co-workers, industry professionals, etc.) that got me to where I am today. I am truly thankful for the path that I have taken for it has gotten me to one of the most satisfying professions that I could have ever imagined.

Q: Who is your role model and why?

A: If I would have to choose just one, I would have to say my late boss, Mr. Gary Vanden Berg. He defined role model. He was always a man of great intelligence and understanding. He was the Head Groundskeeper for the Brewers for the past 20+ years and experienced numerous challenges at both County Stadium and Miller Park and yet put out a great field for the team.

He was always willing to teach me methods he had learned over the years and at the same time he embraced the idea of always working to find a better way to do a job. He took some chances when he originally hired me, but I am grateful that he believed in me and has given me the opportunity to work for one of the greatest organizations and parks in professional sports.

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