A Confirmation for Students

If students have any doubt about their career choice, it’s put to rest after attending PLANET’s Student Career Days, says Jim Martin, president of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and James Martin and Associates, Vernon Hills, Ill.

"This is an uplifting, emotional high for these students," Martin says. The event reinforces the quality of life landscape professionals enjoy. "When people see the kinds of opportunities this industry provides, they realize this is no longer just working in the dirt," he says. "These students get a feel for the level of sophistication in the industry they might not have realized before."

PLANET President Jim Martin listens to attendees at a faculty-industry reception at Michigan State University’s Spartan Stadium Thursday night.

With an estimated growth rate of between 8 to 10 percent per year for the industry, opportunities abound for students looking to get into the field, Martin says. Because of this growth rate, "there are more offers from companies than there are students here. These firms are looking for the best and brightest and this where to find them."

Student Career Days is a chance for students to see the quality of other students, companies and other schools. "They’re inspired," Martin says. "They have a pretty good picture of what the industry is all about."

Michelle Foy, national recruiter for The Care of Trees, Wheeling, Ill., joined the green industry in September 2006.

Foy, who previously was a national recruiter for major financial institutions, enjoys the camaraderie of the green industry. "Even though there’s a lot of competition, they want to collaborate and share and talk with each other," Foy says. "It’s very different from other industries. In this business, you’re not going to cold-call people and steal their employees. That’s a no-no. In other industries, that’s just business as usual."

Foy’s role is to sell candidates on her company and help them find their role in the field. "They’re our future workforce," Foy says. "I don’t want them to feel like I’m pestering them for work. I want them to have a good impression of the company and of me as a person. Not everyone is meant to work for The Care of Trees. Some of students here don’t know exactly what they want."

Contact with students, even if they choose not to work for The Care of Trees, continues after the job fair, Foy says. "I’m looking for every student to call me anytime," she says, adding those calls are a chance to counsel students on the industry. A hard-sell to get students to take a job isn’t what it’s about. "You’ve got to be genuine," Foy says. "I always tell candidates, I want to make sure you have a good experience and if you walk away with any doubts, you need to tell me."

About the vigor of students, Foy says: "They have a lot of steam and they’re ready to go."