What It's Like to Work at Cargill

What is your role, and what attracted you to Cargill? Describe the moment when you knew you’d found the right fit.

I’m a data engineer at Cargill. I discovered the company through a LinkedIn post and saw it as a fantastic opportunity because they were hiring highly skilled data talent. I was confident that I had the skills and qualifications to land the role. The timing was perfect! A week after seeing the post, a recruiter contacted me about a data engineering role. The interview went smoothly, and I felt welcomed. I have six years of experience in data engineering, and within six months I’ve gained a tremendous amount of value from Cargill.

What’s your favorite part about working at Cargill? 

My favorite part about working at Cargill is the significant impact and opportunities the company provides. When I started, I asked about the biggest challenges I could help solve. They mentioned that Cargill works with many different lines of business. My recruiter described Cargill as an agricultural giant behind the scenes, integral to many businesses and individuals. Whether it’s food, finance, farming or technology, Cargill has a hand in it. 

On my first day, my boss introduced me to an innovative project set to revolutionize how the company handles data using cloud technologies. I expressed my excitement to take on this new challenge, especially if it makes the world a better place.

What advice would you give to job seekers looking to join your growing team?

Job seekers aiming for data engineering roles should create a career plan. This plan should encompass learning new technologies and skills, networking with professionals in your desired field and building a portfolio to showcase your abilities. Companies are increasingly focusing on skills-based hiring, so it’s important to demonstrate your skills before the interview. 

During my job search, I attended every networking event, training session, bootcamp, volunteer opportunity and conference I could. I tracked the number of people I met, the engagement from my LinkedIn posts, the hours I studied, the jobs I applied to and the connections I made. This helped me secure my desired role at Cargill and also highlighted my data analytics skills.