Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Agricultural Inspector

salary graphic

AVG. SALARY

$45,800

education graphic

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

Interviews

Insider Info

Remember the scare over syringes in Pepsi cans? It was a high-profile case and proved to be a hoax. Oregon food inspector Don Voeller worked on the case. "People admitted they had made false statements about the syringes to the government," explains Voeller, who had doubts about the claims prior to any confession. "Knowing how food is made, we knew almost right away the reports were false."

Voeller inspects food and agriculture production, seafood, pharmaceuticals, medical machinery and blood products. He feels the most unifying characteristic of investigators is skepticism. "I guess I question just about everything I hear and read," Voeller explains.

Voeller's potential was foreshadowed when he took a personality test in college. "It said I'd be good in a regulatory, investigative and traveling position," Voeller says, noting that he gets to do all three as an investigator.

Voeller also has a strong background in science. He took pre-med classes until he decided he didn't want to be a doctor, and then considered medical research. "Until I got into a lab where I never saw the light of day," he laughs.

Instead, Voeller completed a teaching certificate. Six months into student teaching, he was offered work as an inspector. "I thought it looked very interesting," he says.

And it has been interesting. One day, Voeller's in a blood bank, the next day, he's seeing how a candy store hand dips chocolate. The day after that, Voeller might be inspecting how a company makes animal feed. "That's one of the attractions," he says. "It's different every day and I get to go where people don't usually go."

Another part of Voeller's job is to interview new recruits. One of his successful candidates was Teri Colbert.

Colbert is a metallurgical engineer who now works as a food safety investigator. She remembers her interview with Voeller well. "He had me go around and interview people in the office, asking what they were doing," she laughs. "They didn't teach me about that in college!"

The exercise showed how she would interact with other people in the office. "Engineers are stereotyped as not being interactive, and that's something you have to work on," she says.

Colbert says the most challenging part of her job is presenting inspection findings to management. "That can be one person or a room full of people, and it can be a bit intimidating," she admits. "I'm uncomfortable telling someone what they're doing wrong when they're old enough to be my grandfather!"

Some managers don't take kindly to the criticism. Colbert has trained herself to be calm and friendly in the face of hostility. "If you try to act friendly, they'll act less hostile -- and if you don't talk down to them, they won't talk down to you," she says.

Safety inspector Brian McCrum agrees with that advice. "I remember once I had to confront a manager at a seafood plant," says McCrum. "He was packing his frozen fish at too warm a temperature and that was causing problems. I knew that if I handled things with a heavy fist, it would just mean trouble for both of us. So I tried to explain the best I could and, in the end, the manager was happy to make the changes.

"If you can explain that the changes will be in the best interest of the business, the people are more likely to accept what you're telling them."

McCrum says he likes his job because it offers interesting challenges almost every day. "It sounds silly I know, but there's a certain vindication in this job," he says. "I like the fact that I'm maybe saving people from getting ill."

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.