ConAgra Foods
One company. One goal. Making the food you love.
JoDee Klinker
Recruiter at ConAgra Foods
Name: JoDee Klinker
Position: Recruiter
Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln, BS in business, concentration in finance
Location: Omaha, NE
How did you get your start at ConAgra?
I started as a college recruiter. My experience was working with college students and when I moved to Omaha I was looking for something in the recruiting area, I found the position with ConAgra Foods as a college recruiter and realized it was the perfect fit with my experience. I love helping college students find that first career out of college. It is also fun to work with well-known brands I use in my everyday life—PAM, Hunt’s, Peter Pan, Orville Redenbacher, Swiss Miss, Alexia, and many more!
What do you look for in entry-level employees?
Most important is leadership experience. We are looking for future leaders of our company, and we want people who have experience leading others in student organizations, work experience, or class opportunities.
Can you give an example of something an applicant has done that really impressed you during the recruiting process?
A candidate actually sent me flowers after she declined an offer, thanking me for helping her so much with the interviewing process and really making the process a great experience. This was above and beyond any expectation, but anytime a candidate shows appreciation, it is recognized and remembered.
Can you give us any sneak peaks into the typical interview? What kind of questions should candidates expect?
We use behavioral based questions in most of our interviews, so students should be prepared to speak about experiences they have had in the classroom, work, or leadership roles. It is always great when we get examples from a variety of different experiences instead of the same situation over and over.
What kind of mistakes can a candidate make that will take them out of the running for a position?
If a candidate is not able to clearly articulate their responses during the interview, and I have to ask a lot of follow-up questions for the example they provided, they lessen their chances to move to the next level in the interview process. A well-formed response shows that they are a good communicator. It is also concerning when the candidate shows a lack of interest in the position.
What is the biggest misconception people have about working at ConAgra?
A big misconception about ConAgra Foods is that we are strictly an agricultural company, but we are one of the country’s leading food companies with well-recognized brands found in 97 percent of America’s households. We also have a major presence in commercial food products and provide specialty potato products to restaurants and other food service locations.
Position: Recruiter
Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln, BS in business, concentration in finance
Location: Omaha, NE
How did you get your start at ConAgra?
I started as a college recruiter. My experience was working with college students and when I moved to Omaha I was looking for something in the recruiting area, I found the position with ConAgra Foods as a college recruiter and realized it was the perfect fit with my experience. I love helping college students find that first career out of college. It is also fun to work with well-known brands I use in my everyday life—PAM, Hunt’s, Peter Pan, Orville Redenbacher, Swiss Miss, Alexia, and many more!
What do you look for in entry-level employees?
Most important is leadership experience. We are looking for future leaders of our company, and we want people who have experience leading others in student organizations, work experience, or class opportunities.
Can you give an example of something an applicant has done that really impressed you during the recruiting process?
A candidate actually sent me flowers after she declined an offer, thanking me for helping her so much with the interviewing process and really making the process a great experience. This was above and beyond any expectation, but anytime a candidate shows appreciation, it is recognized and remembered.
Can you give us any sneak peaks into the typical interview? What kind of questions should candidates expect?
We use behavioral based questions in most of our interviews, so students should be prepared to speak about experiences they have had in the classroom, work, or leadership roles. It is always great when we get examples from a variety of different experiences instead of the same situation over and over.
What kind of mistakes can a candidate make that will take them out of the running for a position?
If a candidate is not able to clearly articulate their responses during the interview, and I have to ask a lot of follow-up questions for the example they provided, they lessen their chances to move to the next level in the interview process. A well-formed response shows that they are a good communicator. It is also concerning when the candidate shows a lack of interest in the position.
What is the biggest misconception people have about working at ConAgra?
A big misconception about ConAgra Foods is that we are strictly an agricultural company, but we are one of the country’s leading food companies with well-recognized brands found in 97 percent of America’s households. We also have a major presence in commercial food products and provide specialty potato products to restaurants and other food service locations.
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