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Down on the Farm

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And, still, there is the money.
"They get very good pay," Bullock says. "We have students that are making $15-$20 per hour. We've got 160 students doing co-op (at SIUE), and most of them are in engineering and computer science."

Not surprisingly, computer science and engineering are two of the hottest areas for new graduates (see main story).

"Talent trend of the future"
So are co-ops here to stay, or are they just a fad, a blip on the screen?
During the 1980s, when corporate downsizing swung into full gear, many large companies cut back on their college-recruiting efforts, and some eliminated them entirely. Now these companies are finding that to compete for the top students and potential employees of the future, they need to have relationships in place on campus.

"We're reviewing our process for the future," says Kim Cousin, a staffing consultant with Monsanto's human-resources department. "We're looking to have a very powerful presence on campuses.

"Co-ops are the talent trend of the future. We don't want to miss out on bright, fresh talent. It works both ways. We expose students to Monsanto. We bring an intelligent mind-share."

And Monsanto certainly won't be alone out there.
"It's very competitive," Cousin says. "We're taking our alums back on campus with us to help recruit. We're looking for the best and the brightest."

It seems that a farm system is firmly in place, thanks to good old competition.

-- Michael Kunz

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