Behling competes in National Employability Contest

By Aubrey Behling Edgar FFA Chapter President

FFA isn't just an organization for future farmers, it's an organization based on building leaders.

This past year, I competed in the Employability Skills contest. Little did I know at the time is that I would have the opportunity to compete at the State level against very talented FFA members.

I was honored to place first in Employability Skills at the State FFA Convention in June which punched my ticket to compete at the National FFA Convention in October. The contest at the national level is intense. To compete, I submitted a cover letter, resume, and job description. Each one of those elements is judged.

Before I traveled to Indianapolis, I had to conduct a virtual interview where I was judged on how well I interacted with others through a computer and I had to conduct a followup correspondence with the potential employer.

Once at convention, I went through an in-person interview and again a follow-up correspondence in the form of a thank you note. Once all the scores from the multiple rounds were added up I placed 17th overall out of 47 individuals.

Competing at nationals was a huge honor and a lifetime experience I will never forget. Through this contest, I could network with college professors, business professionals, and experts in communication. I felt this contest prepared me for college because I learned how to receive feedback from professionals while executing high levels of work. I made many friends from across the country and I experienced how diversity benefits our organization.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity for my family to attend the National Convention with me and support me while competing. I was honored to be amongst a highly selected and valued group of impressive individuals. My advice to anyone who would be interested in competing would be “Network with local professionals.” Their time and knowledge is the most valuable asset a person can offer.