Meet Jessica Jakimiec, HR Pathways Associate. Jess is currently transitioning into the Talent Acquisition College Relations team.

School

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Major

Undergraduate: Industrial-Organizational Psychology (Minor: Leadership); Graduate: Human Resources and Industrial Relations

When did you first hear about your role?

I was enrolled in Graduate school and Land O’Lakes representatives visited the U of I campus to recruit! They scheduled an information session with my small cohort, and I was able to meet a Land O'Lakes College Relations manager this way. The team spoke specifically about HR internships located at Arden Hills for the upcoming summer.

Do you remember your first day in your program? What was it like?

My first day was so exciting and filled with so many nerves. I began the program at the beginning of August; it was a beautiful summer day at HQ and I completed several “meet and greets” with members of the HR team. I had an awesome lunch in the Arden Hills café with my “buddy” at the time, a current LOL employee. And, of course, it included some standard onboarding tasks, as well. 😊

Why did you choose to start your career at Land O’Lakes?

I chose to start my career at Land O’Lakes for several reasons. The first primarily being that I have a dairy/farming background. I grew up on a small, small dairy farm in northeastern Poland and have an immense appreciation for the farmer. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by the close-knit, family-like culture that the organization upholds. This makes coming to work every day an enjoyable experience – even through the stressful times!

What is your advice for current students as they start to narrow down career choices?

My advice for current students is to take risks, have an open mind, and be ready and willing to leave home. I was able to relocate for a few of my previous rotations within the program and there is an immense amount of personal and professional growth that comes with stepping outside of your comfort zone. Lastly, it’s okay to “not know” as long as you remain hardworking and curious.