Discrimination is treating someone unfairly based on prejudicial ideas about a certain class of people. Going through the interview process is stressful enough without also wondering if you were just discriminated against. Many times blatant discrimination isn’t always at hand, as there may be subtle comments or a change in demeanor when meeting first face to face that can suggest you are being discriminated against. Throughout the course of the interview, you’ll be asked many questions. Any interview question that doesn’t directly relate to the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform well on the job are generally a no-go.
What is the question? Asking questions around race, ethnicity, religion, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status and salary in some locations should be off limits. The reality is the answer to any of the questions isn’t indicative of your ability to perform on the job.
If you participated in FFA in high school and are now seeking a job, or maybe a career change, you should leverage the power of your blue-jacket past. That FFA experience of yours can open millions of doors. Yes, millions.
“A lot of high school guidance counselors and other adults recommend that graduates exclude high school experiences on their resume, but we actually recommend they include FFA on their resumes,” says FFA Alumni Development Specialist Allie Ellis. “We have more than 8 million FFA alumni out there, so that is a huge networking connection for job seekers who were in FFA.”
On the flipside, countless former FFA members who now are hiring employers tend to recruit employees who have that shared background, according to Ellis. “They know the leadership skills and experience FFA provides students, so they seek them out for their companies,” she says.
FFA has noticed a measurable rise in non-ag companies becoming corporate sponsors and an increase in corporate alumni and supporter chapters as well. Ellis says that is because they know FFA members are exemplary from other high school students. “We’re providing the next generation of leaders in the world, and it’s not just in the agriculture field — it’s all over the world and in all sorts of different careers. Companies are well aware of that.”
