Cailey Blackmer and Grace Siegel both graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences. Now in the workforce, they reflected on their job search experiences in their final year as undergraduates at the University of Missouri. 

Cailey Blackmer 

Blackmer chose the horticulture science and design emphasis in plant sciences and used her experience to curate a skillset for interior plant design. 

“It’s about bringing that outdoor space inside and creating a space where you can reconnect people with nature,” she said.  

Blackmer works for Ambius as an account executive in the Chicago suburbs. She collaborates with clients to design indoor spaces. 

“Interior plant design helps boost the mood and productivity,” she said. “You’ll see it a lot in office buildings, hotels and airports – places that are kind of stuffy – and it just keeps people connected with nature while they’re inside working all day.” 

Before she got to where she is today, Blackmer began her undergraduate experience in a place of uncertainty. She knew what she wanted to do but wasn’t sure if the career path she dreamed of even existed. 

“When I got to Mizzou, I was like, ‘Man, I really want to be an interior plant designer, but I don’t even know if that’s a thing,’” she said. 

She first started developing her professional experience through Mizzou’s Griggs Innovators Nexus program. Blackmer ran a storefront in the Student Center for two years as an undergraduate, selling houseplants to the campus community.  

“I developed and refined a lot of the skills that are really going to help me be successful,” she said. “I felt like I was able to learn independence in the business world through that experience.” 

Blackmer was also a member of Mizzou’s Collegiate Landscaping Team and met her employer during her first year attending the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC).  

“When I saw the company there, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this job actually exists. I need to get my foot in that door,’” she said. “I got to talk to them, and we’ve been in contact since.” 

The job search process is something Blackmer said she has learned a lot from. 

“It’s lengthier than I thought it would be,” she said. “It takes a lot of preparation and following up.” 

Blackmer said the experience has taught her the importance of going after her goals. 

“You have to be proactive,” she said. “If you want the job, you have to be the one who reaches out, who’s reminding them that you really want to work there. You have to pursue it fully.” 

Grace Siegel 

Also studying plant sciences with an emphasis in horticulture science and design, Siegel received certificates in landscape design and floral artistry. She has used these skills to start her career as a landscape designer. 

“I’m working for a company called Ryan Lawn and Tree,” she said. “I’ll be the first designer and project manager for my branch.” 

Siegel moved to Springfield after graduation and feels lucky to have found a job that she’s passionate about. 

“The stars aligned, honestly,” she said.  

Similar to Blackmer, Siegel didn’t have a clear view of the career path she wanted to pursue at first. 

“I honestly came to Mizzou without having any idea of what direction I wanted to take in plant sciences,” Siegel said. “I knew I enjoyed plants, but I didn’t even really know what that meant until I started taking classes here.” 

Siegel was also a member of Mizzou’s Collegiate Landscape Team. She met her current employer at a conference she attended as a member of the team. 

“I met their designer, and she told me her path to how she landed at Ryan Lawn and Tree,” she said. “I saw myself in her shoes because female in the landscape industry is kind of like a diamond in the rough.” 

After that interaction, Siegel stayed in touch with the designer, which helped her connect with future job openings within the company. She said her experiences during the job search have shaped who she is today.  

“One of the things I’ve learned more recently is just being your most authentic self,” Siegel said. “That’s probably one of the greatest things I’ve learned and kind of had to learn on my own.” 

Siegel said she also realized the job search process starts a lot earlier than many students may realize. 

“If you’re not going to class ready to learn and enjoying what you’re learning, are you really going to enjoy the job you get from that?” Siegel said. “We want more from a job than just the job itself, and I think that comes from finding what you love in school.” 

She said CAFNR’s culture of encouraging students to get hands-on experience fully prepared her to enter the workforce. 

“You have to do the internship. You have to take the part-time jobs with the weird, crappy hours,” Siegel said. “You’ve got to go do things, because even the smallest experience can set you up long term.”