AFA Leader Fellowship Tiered Structure

Tier One: Designed for the introduction of career exploration or for Track 3 students entering their senior year and preparing for the job search.

• Commit a total of 9-10 months to engage with an industry professional about career exploration or preparation while achieving one personal and professional goal with their advice, expertise, and feedback.

• Additionally, the candidate should participate during Leaders Conference and Fellowship activities. 

• The first six months, the candidate will have monthly-bi – monthly check-ins with program manager to provide clarity or support.

Tier Two: Designed for continuing the progress of career exploration. Upon completing the first personal and professional goals, what are some new opportunities or skills you learned about that you’d like to explore?

• Commit an additional 9-10 months to begin to develop the skills to make you a marketable candidate. Choose another personal and professional goal to focus on during Tier Two. What trainings or courses should you begin engaging in? What are ways you should begin thinking about for internships or job interviews? Skill exposure? Effective interview skills? Articulating your thoughts?

• Work with the same or an additional coach in this tier as you dig deeper into your development.

• Attend Leaders Conference during this tier and complete an internship in the same year(s) of the program.

• Candidates can end their coaching experience here if they wish. They should be trained to be ready to enter to work force by understanding how to structure and complete resumes, cover letters, behavior-based interviews or interview preparation, and interview etiquette.

• Candidate should develop a portfolio showcasing the experiences they gained and the growth during the coaching experience. Candidate should select three to four individuals to make up their board of directors in which they will conduct a behavior-based interview (Capstone Experience) with the candidate.

Tier Three: Designed for candidates to fine tune their goals and skills upon completing Tier Two while receiving additional coaching around job search or career preparation. Focusing on achieving certifications or specialized training based on the candidates personal and professional goals.

• Time commitment for this tier is a minimum of four months but can be nine months.

• Candidates can work with the same coach(es) during this tier, but ensure the objectives are aligned.

• Complete a second internship during the year(s) of this tier and focus on professional goals that contain specialized training or certifications (i.e. Certified Crop Advisor, Drone Pilot License, GIS Certification).

• Upon completing the third tier, candidates should be trained to be ready to enter to work force by understanding how to structure and complete resumes, cover letters, behavior-based interviews or interview preparation, and interview etiquette.

• Candidate should develop a portfolio showcasing the experiences they gained and the growth during the coaching experience. Candidate should select three to four individuals to make up their board of directors in which they will conduct a behavior-based interview (Capstone Experience) with the candidate.

0-3 Months

Identify coach, complete contract, access skills, develop goals and  communicate expectations.

3-6 Months

Complete conversations around career goals and aspirations, complete necessary tasks to complete goals.

6-10 Months

Complete conversations around progress and challenges around goals. Identify new opportunities and next steps.