Easing the Student-to-Career Transition

Life is full of transitions, each one shaping our journey in unique ways. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to witness the transitions of thousands of students facing critical junctures in their lives—when they crossed the stage at commencement before venturing into the working world.

The shift from campus life to career is an exhilarating time for personal growth, offering the chance to step into the unknown and shape the future. As was true for me, the day after graduation can also be a little scary. In today’s competitive work environment, finding a job, negotiating salary, and feeling the need to prove yourself in those early days can be daunting. Fortunately for those embarking on careers in the food sciences, you don’t have to navigate it alone. You just need to stay connected to your IFT community.

In my experience, IFT was an invaluable source of community, support, and resources as I transitioned from Michigan State University to my first postdoc position at North Carolina State University, and it remains just as valuable today. My IFT friends and colleagues from North Carolina welcomed me to my new Raleigh home. Many of my fellow IFT Board members share similar stories. We all agree—getting connected with IFT early and staying engaged through the years ranks up there among the smartest career decisions we’ve made.

The world has changed in countless ways since I first entered the workforce, but that sentiment remains unchanged. Here’s what a few of our current members who joined IFT as students and remain actively involved in the early stages of their careers have to say.

Being a chapter leader and on the IFT Student Association (IFTSA) Board allowed Texas A&M graduate Allison Brenner to gain leadership skills and network with industry leaders and mentors. She says the most valuable part of being a member was the access to influential connections and the ability to participate in specialized workshops and seminars that enhanced her knowledge and skills.

“As I transitioned into the workforce, IFT’s extensive professional network and career development resources were instrumental in guiding me,” Brenner says. “IFT helped me leave school with a strong network that facilitated my job search post-graduation, and the mentorship programs provided ongoing support as I adapted to my new role.”

For Vinatee Patil, who joined IFT after moving from India to the United States to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the connections and opportunities for learning are what keep her coming back.

IFT’s global scientific community provides valuable resources, networks, and opportunities to help ease the transition from classroom to career.

Christopher R. Daubert

President, IFT

“As a student, I wasn’t the most outgoing or well-networked. Being an international student, I didn’t know where to start. IFT gave me that starting point,” Patil shares. “Through the network I built, I found mentors who were willing to support me step by step. They were there for everything—from interview prep to words of motivation—and guided me throughout the years. IFT not only gave me a community, but also helped me land a career.”

Zachary Cartwright considers himself a late bloomer compared to his peers, who knew they wanted to be food scientists during their undergrad years. When he learned about IFT while pursuing his graduate degree at Washington State University, he knew he needed to be a part of it. Eleven years later, he still sees the immense benefits.

“As a student, I wanted a way to connect with other food scientists and realized that IFT was a good networking resource that would allow me to meet food scientists across the United States and around the world,” Cartwright says. “Now, as a professional, I continue to network through IFT. It has also helped me navigate the food industry and broaden my understanding of the many opportunities available. It really opened my eyes to what’s possible, and it continues to do that.”

As these three early-career professionals can attest, IFT’s global scientific community provides valuable resources, networks, and opportunities to help ease the transition from classroom to career. If you are currently at this stage in your career, I strongly recommend getting connected and getting involved.

For my colleagues who, like me, are further along the career path, encourage the students, interns, and new hires in your world to engage with IFT. We rise by lifting others, and there is no better way to uplift the young people in our lives than by introducing them to our incredible community.ft