Hardin Northern FFA Holding Interview Contest
Written by admin on November 19, 2020
By Alyssa Heldman, HN FFA Reporter
Hardin Northern’s FFA chapter provides its members with opportunities to grow and develop more than just their knowledge and appreciation of agriculture.
One of the biggest contests they host each year does not involve soil pits or livestock, but interviewing for a job.
The job interview contest allows FFA members to engage in simulated job interviews. Prior to the event, participants create a real resume and a cover letter directed towards a fictional job opening. These are judged for points along with the interview itself and a follow-up letter once the interview is complete.
This year the interviews had to be held via Zoom, but this still required the participants to respond to the types of questions they would be asked in a real job interview.
“Students who participate in this contest will be steps ahead of their peers who didn’t have this experience when it comes to interviewing for a job in the real world,” said Ms. Overs, FFA Advisor.
She organizes the contest hosted annually by HN for the sub-district, which was held this year on November 5. Schools that participate include Allen East, Spencerville, Elida, Delphos, and Hardin Northern.
The top two students in each division advanced to the district contest on November 12 with the hopes of scoring high enough to compete in the state contest.
“It was a fun experience overall where I am able to learn new skills and traits for future years. This new contest was helpful as well because when I advanced to districts I was able to learn different techniques and interview questions,” said Cooper Thomas, a freshman who participated in his first job interview contest this year.
He advanced to districts and finished 5th in the Freshman division.
Alyssa Heldman also moved on to compete at the district level and finished 2nd in the Sophomore division.
Real-world applications are very important in education today, an idea that isn’t new to the Hardin Northern FFA chapter. Participating in this contest may make students nervous now, but it will prove to be beneficial when they interview for a job in the real world- and it looks great on a resume.
