Hi! My name is Emily Matejka and I am a proud SDSU alum of the 2024 graduating class. I currently work for Pioneer Seed as a Territory Manager covering western and central North Dakota, based out of Bismarck, ND. In the two years that have passed since my graduation, my career path has shifted, grown, and molded to myself and my skills, all thanks to my time at State. 

Before graduation, I accepted a role with Corteva Agriscience in the Associate Territory Manager program in Grand Forks, ND where I would focus on learning the Territory Manager role and prepare to take over my own territory within two years. A unique opportunity opened up only 3 months into this role and I took the leap to move west and start my role as a Territory Manager supporting the Pioneer business. In this role, I support a sales team of 12 independent Pioneer agencies through strategic business planning, customer engagement, inventory management, and agronomic knowledge. I was hesitant at first to take on a new challenge, but I immediately thought back to my time at State and knew I was well prepared. 

I graduated in 2024 with a degree in Agricultural Communications and minors in Agricultural Business and Agronomy, along with multiple organizational involvements. Aside from many great extracurricular experiences, one of the greatest tools that I utilized, and encourage every student to utilize, is the Office of Career Development. There is an abundance of resources that are provided to students through this department, including career fairs tailored to specific colleges, resume writing and formatting, practice interviews, offer guidance, and many more. These resources established the foundation for a successful start to my career and gave me the confidence to apply for a new opportunity when I had little experience. This is one of the most underutilized resources for students and taking the time to invest in career prep while you are in college can set you up for lifelong success. 

One piece of advice that I received when I was starting my career search was to stay in touch with your contacts that you make at career fairs, club activities, and other campus events. We always hear about the importance of networking but it is even more crucial to make sure you keep occasional touchpoints with the people you meet. It could be a thank you card, a call to check in, or even a text; any sort of continued communication shows that you value that connection. You never know what connections will resurface and it is so important to maintain the network you have worked so hard to build.