Want a good-paying job at IRRI? HR advisor tells how

Among millennials, farming has become a real career choice.

While buying a parcel of land and becoming a farmer is the dream, many look to joining the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as top-of-mind when it comes to the agriculture sector.

Los Baños, Laguna-based IRRI is the world’s premier research institute dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science, improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations.

Founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations and supported by the Philippine government, IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute developing advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better at resisting pests and disease as well as surviving flooding, drought, and other effects of climate change.

The Institute is constantly on the prowl for individuals who are “committed to doing research and what it requires,” said IRRI’s human resources advisor Noah del Rosario.

IRRI's Noah del Rosario has fantastic tips on how to get into the establishment

“There are tons of data that need to be collected and analyzed; donor-required timelines that need to be met; new techniques and machines to master — these things take time,” she said.

An ideal applicant is someone “with a sense of wonder, curiosity and willingness to learn. There are millions of things that you can learn from your peers, your supervisors, even your subordinates,” Del Rosario noted.

Creativity and  innovation are also key traits that aspirants must display in order to get hired at IRRI.

Here are a few more tips from Del Rosario.

1. Tailor-fit your CV to the requirements of the job

It’s okay to be proud of all the things you can do, but applicants should edit their CVs to match what the job opening entails.

“Ensure that the details you put into your resume are relevant to the position [you're applying for].”

The same goes for fresh graduates: put relevant internships or extracurricular activities, indicating what is most recent.

Applicants are expected to have researched about the job and the organization. “See if it is in line with your career goals.”

2. Don’t over-pad your resume

This is importent: “Never ever over-pad your resume; the truth will always come out during the interview.”

3. Pay attention to small things

“Be professional and prepare for your application ... small things like the details on your resume — format, typos, wrong grammar; email address; how you answer phone calls and emails; how you submit applications.”

During interviews, you will be asked questions not written in your resume, such as tell me something about yourself. Ready yourself.

4. Do you have stellar grades in statistics, biology, and chemistry?

Given the nature of IRRI as a research institute focused on agriculture, where the applicants graduated from as well their grades matter a lot in the hiring process.

University of the Philippine Los Baños is an obvious contender “not only because of its geographical proximity to the IRRI campus but also because a lot of them study rice.”

IRRI would be “happy [to hear] from graduates of Cornell University of Arizona, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, China Agricultural University.”

As for grades, the institute has a certain level of expectation that applications did well in statistics, biology, and chemistry.

5. Ask about company culture

“Some people put culture at the bottom of their list when job-hunting. In reality, culture and work environment play a big factor in employee attraction and retention. Candidates need to make sure that the work environment is somewhere they could flourish in.”

“Ask questions about the work schedules. Are they required to work after hours or during weekends? Is the company/organization allowing flexible schedule for those who wish to pursue higher studies. Is it a lateral or hierarchical management style? Are they allowed to make creative, business decisions or is there a certain bureaucracy in the workplace that needs to be followed etc.”

6. Tread carefully when it comes to employment benefits

It is tricky when asking about employment benefits, but it is also important to put in place “expectations” for both parties. Talking about benefits in the early stages of the process could shorten what could possibly be a long and unproductive discussion.”

Phrase your questions in a way that wouldn’t be interpreted as assuming or overbearing by the hiring managers.

7. Utilize online job portals

Del Rosario encouraged applicants to apply via online job portals.

“Not only does this support our move towards paperless transactions but allows us to be more organized as far as keeping track of our candidates. We could pull up their file easily, review and match them with other job opportunities should the need arise,” she said.

She encouraged job seekers to create a profile on LinkedIn, both a professional social network and a job portal.

“Most major players in every industry has a LinkedIn page. Fresh grads would definitely have a lot to benefit from knowing more about the companies, influencers and other contacts especially if they have target jobs or companies. It also allows hiring managers to actively interact and communicate easily with possible candidates,” Del Rosario said. — LA/VDS, GMA News