One of the main goals of the Future Farmers of America is to prepare its members for career success and life experiences in their future. This is offered through different outlets to participate in such as impromptu, prepared and extemporaneous speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, Dairy Products, Cooperative Marketing, Livestock Judging, Veterinary Science, and, as many members of the Santa Clara Section have recently exhibited, Job Interview.
On Dec. 3, members from Morgan Hill FFA, Gilroy FFA, Hollister FFA, and Sobrato FFA gathered at Sobrato High School’s campus to compete against their peers in a job interview atmosphere. Students prepared for weeks beforehand, composing resumes and cover letters, as well as going over possible questions.
Prior to the competition, participants were given a list of seven different job descriptions in the field of agriculture. They were to pick one and direct their resumes and cover letters toward the attainment of their selected job. On the day of the competition, contestants were given 20 minutes in the lecture hall to fill out a job application and were then interviewed by a panel of judges. Each contestant was scored on their written work (resumes, cover letters, applications) as well as their interview components such as how well they answered and their overall presentation.
From each of the three rooms of participants, the judges selected two finalists to continue on to round 2 of the interview process. The six finalists were Gilroy’s Julianne Figone, Adrianna Figone and Kimberly Pottman; Sobrato’s Zuha Aslam and Jenna Fields; and Hollister’s Corrissa King. They faced more intensive questioning from the judges and the top four would advance to the regional contest to compete against the sectional finalists from all across the South Coast Region. If participants did well, they would continue onto state.
Pottman took sixth and Julianne Figone took fifth. Hollister’s Corissa King claimed fourth place while Sobrato’s Jenna Fields placed third and Zuha Aslam placed second. Gilroy’s third finalist, Adrianna Figone took first place. King, Fields, Aslam and Adrianna Figone advance to Regionals.
Overall, Job Interview is an outstanding example of the ways FFA works to help students develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. In addition, thank you to the judges and AgBoosters that dedicated their time to making this contest a success and providing a meal for the contestants.
