CAREER PREPARATION

Contest Study GuideCAREERPREPARATIONLouisiana 4-H University2021 EditionThe LSU AgCenter and the LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Revised 20214-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestGuidelines for a Professional Cover Letter from LSU Olinde CareerCenter Student Career GuideA well written cover letter engages the reader and makes them want to view your resume.There are two types of cover letters, Formal and Informal. A Formal Cover Letter is used for mailing, fax, uploading orcopying/pasting purposes. An Informal cover letter is used for email. First let’s look at a formal cover letter: A formal cover letter should start off with your present address on the first line; city, state and zip code on the secondline; and the date you composed the letter on the third line. You should skip a line and then include the name of theHiring Manager or contact person, followed by their title (if provided), company/organization, and the company’sstreet address, city, state and zip code. If you do not have access to a contact name you may leave the name and titleoff. In your greeting, if you do not have a contact name, use an introduction such as “Dear Sir or Madam” or “DearHiring Manager” instead of “To Whom It May Concern”. The first section of your cover letter should include: “Why Am I Writing?” Here you should identify the position youare applying for or the vocational interest area you are inquiring about. You should also identify how you heard of theopening or organization and why you decided to contact the employer. The second section should include: “Who Am I and Why Should You Hire Me?” Here is where you can elaborate onyour personal skills, experiences and qualities that relate to the position (or interest area) instead of on your actualresume. You can highlight one or two of your strongest qualifications and explain how they relate to the needs of theemployer. Do not simply restate the facts that are on your resume (“Through my public relations internship at WBRZ,I have developed selling and communication skills that are essential to the position of X,” sounds more informativethan, “I have worked in public relations as an intern”). Explain why you are specifically interested in the employer andthe type of work/location, etc. Lastly your third section should include what your next step should be. Refer the reader to the enclosed application,resume, vita, and/or status of other required documents. Close the letter with a strong interest in pursuing the next stepof an informational interview, an employment interview, and/or additional information or application. Be assertiveand state how you intend to follow up such as (“I will be calling you on certain date to see if an interview can bearranged” or “I will call you during the week of XX to arrange a convenient time to discuss career options”). Clearlyindicate whether you or the employer will follow up and what the next step will be.You should skip for lines between your salutation and your typed name to allow enough room for your handwrittensignature. At the bottom of your document, you may identify what enclosures you are submitting with you cover letter,such as application, resume, references, etc.Next, we will look at an informal cover letter:The differences between a formal and informal cover letter are that in an informal cover letter you do not include anynames or addresses in the header. The body of your letter remains the same. Also you should not leave spaces for ahandwritten signature as you did for a formal cover letter. If you are attaching other documents such as a resume orreferences, this should be notated at the end of your letter. For an informal cover letter, the body of your email should beyour cover letter and you should attach your resume. If asked for, your references should be attached as well.Tips: Remember to match your skills, abilities, and experiences to the job description to show the employer that you are thebest candidate for the position. Use the company’s language found in the job description. If they say customers, use the word customers instead ofclients, patrons, guests, etc. Cover letters can be more than three paragraphs but never longer than one page. Font should be formal such as TimesNew Roman or Arial and font size should be 10-12 font.This information was obtained from: Trey Truitt, M.Ed. , Associate Director - Employment Services, President-Elect, LSU Staff Senate, LSU OlindeCareer Center, Louisiana State University, 158 LSU Student Union, Baton Rouge, LA 70803Page 1

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 2021PERSONAL INFORMATION PAGE SCORE SHEET SCORECARDPOSSIBLEPOINTSCATEGORYCompleteness of Personal Information3Signatures2Total Points5EARNEDPOINTSCAREER PREPARATION CONTEST COVER LETTER SCORECARD1 page limit using 12 point font in either Times New Roman or Arial style.OUTLINEPOSSIBLEPOINTSLetter prepared in proper letter format4“Why Am I Writing?”6“Who Am I and Why Should You Hire Me”6What is Your Next Step?6Grammar3Total Points251CAREER PREP JOB APPLICATION SCORECARDCATEGORYPOSSIBLEPOINTSJob Title/Position Desired2Name, Address, & Daytime Phone Number2Hours Available to Work3(job for which you are applying now)Education(all schools attended, special classes, training(life guard, Jr. Master Gardener, etc.), if you havegraduated from HS include the post secondary schoolyou will be attending, etc.)5Work Experience5School, Church, or Community Activities5Grammar3Total Points25(voluntary and paid - include specific dates)Judge’s Notes:Page 2RATING SCALE23456RATING SCALE (1 LOW/5 HIGH)123456EARNEDPOINTSEARNEDPOINTS

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 2021CAREER PREP RESUME SCORECARDCATEGORYRATING SCALE1234EARNEDPOINTSRATING SCALE12345EARNEDPOINTSPOSSIBLEPOINTSAppropriate format5Job Title (job for which you are applying now)2Personal Information6Objective10Education8Work Experience8Resume Organization8Optional Headings5Grammar3Total Points55Judge’s Notes:LIST OF REFERENCES SCORECARDInclude 3-5 non relative references with the appropriate contact informationREFERENCES3 References (not related to the candidate)Total PointsPOSSIBLEPOINTS55Judge’s Notes:Page 3

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 2021MY 4-H CAREER PREPARATION STORY SCORECARDThis story is to be a minimum of 4 pages in length not to exceed 6 pages and typed using 12 point font in either Times New Romanor Arial style. Address each of the topics below.TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSEDPOSSIBLEPOINTSSelf introduction(What do you want the people reading your story toknow about you?) Emphasize your goals and plans AFTER HighSchool graduation, completion of trade school,or college3Reviewing the job description you haveobtained for the job you are applying fortoday discussion: What job are you interested in and why?What are the responsibilities for this job?What skills do you presently have to be successfulfor this job?What skills must you acquire to be successful inthis job?What plans must you make to ensure that you willbe able to meet the requirement of this job?What do you plan to do with the salary you earnat this job?8Address the long-term career you planto follow. Discuss thefollowing: What do you plan to study upon completing highschool?Where will you study for this career?What courses must you take and why?What skills do you presently have to be successfulin this career?What skills must you acquire to be successful inthis career?What work experience could you have priorto achieving your long-term career that wouldincrease the Likelihood of being successful in thiscareer.Where do you see your self in 4-5 years after youbegin your career?8What does Personal Development mean toyou? What have you done within the past 2-3 years toenhance your personal development?How has your personal development preparedyou for life after high school?How has your personal development preparedyou for a job?Page 46RATING SCALE (1 LOW/5 HIGH)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8EARNEDPOINTS

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 2021Leadership Roles What leadership roles have you had as a 4-Hmember or as a member of other organizations?How have you helped others learn more abouttheir 4-H projects? Workshops Talks Posters DemonstrationsHow has your leadership experiences impactedyour life?How has your experience with leadershipenhanced your personal development?6What have you done to grow into theperson you are today? Discuss what experiences have helped youdevelop characterWho has inspired you to become the person youare today?How did that person inspire you?How has 4-H influenced your life? Identify one 4-H event and tell how it hasinfluenced your life.86Proper grammar/spelling/neatness.10Total Points55Judge’s Notes:Page 5

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 20214-H CAREER PREPARATION INTERVIEW SCORECARDNAMEDATERATING SCALE(1 LOW / 5 HIGH)CATEGORYAppearance and CourtesyAppropriately dressedMaintained good postureActed in a polite mannerGreetings and IntroductionAcknowledged interviewers before the interview began.Used Interviewers namesDisplayed confidence in introduction and overall interview settingSpeechSpoke clearlySpoke at a reasonable volumeAvoided use of phrases such as “um”, “like”, and “you know”Attitude and PersonalityStayed calmDid not fidget or create any distractions while speakingAbility to Convey Thoughts and IdeasLooks into camera to connect with all judgesListened closely to the questions and provided thoughtful, applicable answers. Asksto have questions repeated.Use of body language.Focused on personal strengths and how they relate to the position.Knowledge and Presentation of AbilitiesAnswered questions completely, yet brieflyPointed out work related skills and how past experience is applicable to desiredpositionResponded to questions in a logical mannerCareer ObjectiveDegree to which the contestant had dtermined a long-term career.Can demonstrate knowledge of the field or career.Can express how this job connects with future career or desired skill setConclusion of interviewAsked questions to the interviewers related to the positionThanked the interviewersTotal of each columnTOTAL OF ALL POINTSWRITE ANY JUDGES NOTES ON REVERSE SIDE!Page 4445551122334455

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 2021PERSONAL INFORMATION PAGENAMELastFirstMiddleADDRESSStreet or Route / PO BoxAGEDATE OF BIRTHCityZip CodeNUMBER OF YEARS IN 4-HNAME OF PARENT OR GUARDIANNAME OF 4-H CLUB TO WHICHYOU BELONGWHAT LONG-TERM CAREER (AFTER HIGH SCHOOL/POST SECONDARY EDUCATION) DOYOU PLAN TO FOLLOWSTATEMENT BY CLUB MEMBERI HAVE NEVER RECEIVED THE 4-H Award (Educational Trip )(more than twice which is offered tothe state winner and alternate in Career Preparation Interview contest. I personally prepared this 4-Hrecord and believe it to be correct.Signature of 4-H MemberDateAPPROVAL OF THIS REPORTWe have reviewed this report and believe it to be accurate and correct.Signature of Parent or GuardianDateSignature of 4-H AgentDatePage 7

4-H University Study Guide - Career Preparation ContestRevised 20214-H CAREER PREPARATION APPLICATION FORMJob for which you applying and position desired:Personal InformationNameLastFirstStreet Address or PO BoxMiddleCityPhoneHours Available to Work:MorningsDays of Week:StateZipEmail AddressAfternoonEveningsWeekendsq Sundayq Mondayq Tuesdayq Wednesdayq Thursdayq Fridayq SaturdayEducation: (list all school attended and highest grade completed in each)SchoolSchool Address, City, State, ZipSpecialized Training or Special Courses:Extra Curricula Activities (Church, Community, School):Page 8Years Attended& Highest GradeCompleted