East Knox FFA excels in county job interview contest

Four East Knox FFA members recently competed in the Knox County FFA Job Interview Career Development Event at Mount Vernon High School on Oct. 15.

Each FFA chapter may have one student compete in each grade-level category as well as one first year junior or senior FFA member for a total of five members from a school. Each division is conducted as an individual contest. East Knox FFA had competitors in four of the five categories. Freshman McKenzie Schwartz finished second, sophomore Alexia Wine placed second, senior Ariel Atkinson finished first, and first year junior/senior Jaidyn Hawkins placed first. The first and second place competitors in each division advance to the District 7 contest at Westfall High School on Nov. 5. 

In the contest, each participant completes a resume and cover letter, fills out a job application form, goes through a mock interview for one of ten specific jobs, and writes a follow-up letter. All of these items are scored to come up with the final placing.

Schwartz sought out a job as a “small engine repair assistant” in the agricultural power pathway, Wine applied for the position of “farm worker” from the animal science pathway, Atkinson interviewed for the job of an “after school tutor” from the agricultural business pathway and Hawkins pursued a job as a “sales associate” from the agricultural business pathway.

All four of the East Knox FFA Job Interview Career Development Event competitors will now compete at the District 7 competition.

The Job Interview Career Development Event was developed as a practical method for students to demonstrate competency in the skills necessary for obtaining a job.