Running for State Office
Before:
- The Look
- Uniform should be properly fitted. No strings, etc on jackets. SkillsUSA pins should not extend over lapel, twist around, etc. Sleeves should extend to top of thumb. Button top button of blazer. It may help to seal the top pocket closed to avoid puckering.
- Girls may wear button-downs, but make sure it isn’t puckering! May need a safety pin (a solid shirt is better). Do not wear necklaces. Pants should extend beyond ankle. Hose is a must. Should not see shirt at bottom of blazer (should tuck it in). Slight V is okay, but scoop neck is best. If elected, you will have to have dress pants.
- Boys shoes must be dress shoes. Slicked back hair is good; avoid fly-aways. Pants should go to mid-heel. Shirt collar should come together. Watch should not hang out of sleeve (otherwise take it off). Take out earrings.
- Hair should be polished. Make sure you won’t be messing with it constantly. Avoid fly-aways. Keep in mind it will be humid! No scrunchies.
- Makeup should be clean, but add a little more color for the speech so you can be seen from afar. Eye shadow, liner, mascara, blush, lip color (keep lip color natural, not too bright)
- The Elevator Speeches
1. Be able to explain in 30 seconds what SkillsUSA is
a. See the paragraph at the top of page 11 in the Leadership Handbook.
2. Why are you running for office?
- The Resume
- Needs to be interesting! And have job-specific content. The judges will pull from this in your interview.
- The Campaign
- Get your school behind you! Have your delegates talk to other delegates.
- Get other advisors (from other schools) on your side!
- Introduce yourself as much as possible, including to the current state/ district officers
- The monetary limit for handouts is $100 (must submit a receipt). These can be distributed during the designated campaign period. Make is something simple to pass out, but also unique. Materials may include buttons, cards, pens, etc.
- Stand near the voting line so they see your face!
- CLEAN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA!!!
- Stay away from divisive politics, controversial topics, bad language, Twitter fights, inappropriate memes and pictures, rants, etc.
Part 1: The Application
These items should be paper clipped together in the following order. (No notebooks, folders or staples.)
- Proof of active membership
- Personal Data Form
- State Officer Contract and Code of Conduct
- Internet Code of Conduct
- Letter of endorsement from your SkillsUSA Advisor
- Letter of support for events listed from a school administrator
- Letter of support for events listed from CATE director
- Two letters of recommendation from someone other than those listed above
- Personal Resume
- Current Transcript (does not have to be official)
- 1-2 page personal narrative statement-- Include the following:
- I want to become a State Officer because…
- As a State Officer I want to accomplish the following…
- I like my career and technical trade area because…
- After I complete my training program, I plan to…
- The best thing about my instructor is…
- My long range goal is…
- SkillsUSA Texas is… (as you would speak to a Business & Industry Partner)
- State Officer / National Officer Candidate disclaimer
- At any given time or place I will be able to demonstrate knowledge of SkillsUSA as found in the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook.
Applications must have all requested signatures, all forms completed, and all required documentation before application will be accepted.
Part 2: The Test
Question format will be True/False, Multiple Choice or Short Answer written or completed electronically.
Sources: SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook, Texas Constitution, National Constitution, Parliamentary Procedure, Professional Development Program (Levels 1 & 2), and SkillsUSA Texas website.
------Top 30 advance ------
Part 3: The Interview
Before going in, review your answers on your application. You may be asked questions about them. There will be three to five questions asked of each candidate. The same questions will be asked of each candidate. These questions will cover the qualifications for becoming a State Officer as listed in the By Laws, Article XI; Section A and the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook. Refer to your resume in answering questions. Know how you can contribute to a team.
Tips: Questions may include specific SkillsUSA Texas knowledge (such as material in the written test) or situational questions about state officer roles and responsibilities. This will take place in one room with state officers, district officer and state director or their designee. The impartial adult is in the room to supervise and will have no input in the screening process.
------Top 15 advance ------
General topic for problematic question will be given.
Part 4: The Speech
You will give a two minute campaign speech (no props allowed) and will be asked one problematic question.
Speech:
Your speech must be no longer than two minutes. Memorizing it is highly encouraged. They will cut you off at the time limit. Why would you be a good leader? Don’t just brag about yourself, and don’t give false promises. You have two minutes to connect with the crowd and convince them to vote for you! Avoid falling into a speaking pattern. Have something enthusiastic in the beginning, middle, and end to keep the audience’s attention. Smiling will change the tone of your voice and make it sound friendlier! Confidently march to the podium (girls, practice this in heels!) Also, State is more formal than District; jokes or gimmicks may land differently.
Problematics:
If you need more time to think at the beginning, ask to have the question repeated. Take a breath, then begin with a greeting, your name, what office you’re running for, followed by restating the question. Your answer can be up to 30 seconds. If your answer is too short, say your name again. In your answer state the obvious, what it means to you, and what it means to the organization. Make your answers short and to the point. ALWAYS tie it in to SkillsUSA (say the words SkillsUSA)! Don’t over elaborate and go into too much detail. The deeper you dig the hole, the harder it’s going to be to fill it back up.
Most questions will fall into one of eight categories:
1. Stupid (If you were a bird, what bird would you be and why? If you were a flower...)
a. Create an analogy between the object and SkillsUSA. Relate to something in the leadership handbook. There is no real way to prepare except to just practice!
2. Personal Quality (What is one of your good qualities and one of your bad qualities? What three words would you use to describe yourself and why?)
a. Have 2 good and 1 bad quality prepared with explanations. Turn your bad into a good. Be unique! Why do you want to be an officer??
3. 30 Second Elevator Speech (You have been chosen to speak to a Senator about the importance of SkillsUSA…)
a. Have your elevator speech locked and loaded. Make sure your answer is aimed at the subject.
4. Hero (Who is your hero and why? Why do you think you are a hero?)
a. Avoid cliches such as family, advisor, MLK, JFK, or current president). Be prepared to give the brief history of obscure people.
5. Mentor (similar to hero)
6. Organization (If you could change anything about SkillsUSA…, If you could choose the motto for next year, what would it be? What does the red blazer mean to you and how do you feel when you put it on?)
a. The more you know about SkillsUSA, the easier it is to answer these questions.
7. Personal (How do you feel…, what do you think…, what can you do…, “a team is only as strong as your weakest link”-- do you agree or disagree and why? What quality do the other candidates have that impress you the most? Name the three things that are most important to you and why. What SkillsUSA activity have you attended that has meant the most to you?)
a. These answers are all from the heart. There is no correct or incorrect answer. Your job is to answer in an honest and sincere way.
8. Political (how would you handle a situation where two of your officers got into a serious argument)
Things that will help you answer:
- Know two goals
- Know two purposes
- Have two heroes
- Have two good qualities about yourself
- Have one bad quality about yourself
- Know the levels of the Professional Development Program
- Know the parts of the Program of Work
- Know what Student-to-Student mentoring is
- Know how you can contribute to a team
Part 5: The Vote
Each delegate gets seven votes. Delegates will have a time window to vote the day after the delegate session.
The Math:
30% / House of Delegates Votes30% / Oral Interview - Ability to present self to public + State Officer input
20% / Written Test - SkillsUSA knowledge
10% / State Officer observations (social behavior, interaction between candidates and students, interactions between candidates and advisors)
10% / Written Application - ability to prepare written documents, meet deadlines