Running For Office

Elections are just around the corner! Your National Executive Council brainstormed a great list of tips and advice when running for office – on any level!

General

·         Pick a professional outfit that makes you feel confident and shows your personality.

·         Always wear a smile, it's your best accessory.

·         Calm down. Nothing is worse than a sweaty candidate.

·         BE CONFIDENT! No matter what happens, do your best and own the moments you're given.

·         Have fun! That's always the most important aspect in anything you do in life. Make it fun and memorable!

·         Let your nerves be motivation. We often assume being nervous means we are scared. Don't let nerves dictate your outcome! Let nervousness be motivation to want to succeed.

·         Decide in advance who will be with you for letter drops. You'll need a support system regardless of the outcome.

·         Practice meeting new people. If you’re at a restaurant, just walk up to people and start a conversation. Afterwards, you can let them know that you are just learning to be more comfortable with starting conversations with strangers.

·         Really understand why you want to run for office. Being an officer is a lot of work and you have to know why you want to keep working.

Test

·         Be as knowledgeable as possible! Study, study, study.

·         Study anything and everything about the organization, it's not about passing a test, it's about becoming an FCCLA expert.

·         Don’t just use flashcards or study sheets – get creative. Have a friend or family member randomly quiz you throughout the day. Answer a question on a randomly placed post-it note every morning as you get ready for school, or in between class periods!

Speech

·         Have a good speech! Your speech is an opportunity to show off your personality so make it fun and make sure it addresses the topic.

·         Practice your speech as if you were presenting it in front of hundreds or thousands of people, make every time you say it beneficial!

·         Practice your speech in front of a mirror.

·         Start memorizing your speech very early. You can never have enough practiced it enough.

·         Always practice your speech slowly and clearly, don't rush - even if you're nervous.

Interview

·         Be yourself. The voting delegates want the best representatives to work as a team, if that's you, then you will be fine!

·         Before your interview always give yourself time to relax and clear your head.

·         Don’t be nervous – everyone (including your interviewer) wants you to succeed!