BPW/USA Virginia Allan Young Careerist
Atlanta, Georgia
BPW/USA Virginia Allan Young Careerist
Atlanta, Georgia
1. Props
Young Careerist Representatives may not use props at the national competition. Representatives will remain at the podium during the speech competition and will use a microphone if one is available. Each state* is encouraged to use the same “no prop” guidelines at every competition level -- local, district/region, and state -- to provide uniformity and a level playing field for the Young Careerist Representatives. If there are any questions as to what is considered a “prop,” please contact the BPW/USA Young Careerist Committee.
2. Criteria
All Young Careerist Representatives must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the BPW/USA National Competition:
· Be a member of BPW/USA (e-members and members not affiliated at a local level are eligible);
· Be between the ages of 21 and 35, inclusive, by July 31st following the first competition in which she/he participates;
· Be or have been employed in business or professions, with a minimum of one (1) year of full-time work experience;
· Understand and support the BPW/USA mission, vision and legislative platform. A Young Careerist Representative must be familiar with the National Legislative Platform and must pledge that she/he will not speak against the platform issues in her/his capacity as a Young Careerist Representative. (All Young Careerist Representatives are required to submit a signed copy of the National Legislative Platform confirming that requirement prior to competition);
· Be the state winner or runner-up, or the officially designated Young Careerist Representative of the State Federation, and, where applicable, meet all state award guidelines; and
· Ensure that the biographical information, National Legislative Platform support statement, copy of four-minute speech and 5 x7 photo are sent to the BPW/USA Virginia Allan Young Careerist Chair by the postmarked or e-mailed date of June 30, 2008.
3. Selection of Judges
A minimum of three (3) impartial judges must be present at all competitive events. The judges may be divided into two separate judging teams in order to facilitate time commitments. Judges should be familiar with the legislative platform, the mission and the objectives of BPW, and the importance of each in the selection process. At least one (1) judge should be an experienced BPW member to adequately assess the Young Careerist Representative’s knowledge of BPW issues. To maintain impartiality, the experienced BPW Member should not be a member of the same Local Organization, District/Region, or State Federation as the Young Careerist Representative.
Ideally, judges should be familiar with interviewing and presentation/public speaking. All judges should be briefed on all aspects of BPW in advance. If the Young Careerist competition extends to more than one day, it is preferred – not mandatory – that one or more of the judges are present for the entire competition to provide consistency in the judging.
Each State Federation is encouraged to use the same guidelines at every competition level - Local, District/Region, and State - to provide uniformity and a level playing field for the Young Careerist Representatives.
4. Four-Minute Prepared Speech Maximum 35 points
Young Careerist Representatives will each give a four-minute prepared speech. Speech topics are listed in the BPW/USA YC Speech Topics as posted on the website, www.bpwusa.org. The topics as listed are the topics that will be used at the national competition, and it is encouraged that these topics be distributed well in advance of the national competition and used at every competition level - Local, District/Region, and State - to eliminate the need for Young Careerist Representatives to prepare multiple speeches as they progress.
Timing will begin when the Young Careerist Representative begins speaking. Speeches within +/- 15 seconds receive no deductions in points; 16 seconds or more will be a 5- point deduction.
Judges will use the following criteria to score the speech:
Poise/Self-Confidence 1–10 Confident, relaxed manner, voice, posture
Clarity 1–5 Word choices, ease of understanding
Expression 1–5 Facial expression, gestures, eye contact –
“talking” versus “reading” to audience
Adherence to Topic 1–5 Relevance, audience attention, creativity
with subject
5. Interview Maximum 25 points
Each Young Careerist Representative will be interviewed for a minimum of ten (10) to a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes. The focus of the interview will be on the Young Careerist Representative: work life/family balance, her/his knowledge of BPW/USA and its programs, the Legislative Platform or other BPW/USA advocacy issues. The goal of the interview is to see how Young Careerist Representatives interact and respond to impromptu questions. Judges will use the following criteria to score the interview:
SCORING POINTS
Ability to Communicate 1–5
Poise/Self-Confidence 1–5
Familiarity with and Knowledge about BPW Programs 1–5
Innovation and Creativity in Ideas 1–5
Sincerity/Genuineness 1–5
6. Biographical Information Maximum 15 points
Each Young Careerist Representative will complete and provide biographical information highlighting her/his personal and professional accomplishments, her/his goals, and responding to essay question(s). Judges will use the following criteria to score biographical information:
SCORING POINTS
Personal and Professional Accomplishments 1–5
Ability to Express Thoughts and Beliefs 1–5
Career Goals 1–5
7. Impromptu or Group Interaction Maximum 15 points
Each Young Careerist Representative will participate in a group interaction opportunity. Evaluation will be based, among other things, on the candidates’ ability to participate, express her/his ideas and interact with others.
SCORING POINTS
Interaction with Others 1–5
Participation 1–5
Organization of Thought/Expression of Ideas 1–5
8. Helping Others to Achieve Maximum 10 points
Judges will assess each candidate’s potential mentoring ability and demonstrated efforts to help others succeed as well as obvious leadership skills.
SCORING POINTS
Mentoring Skills 1–5
Leadership Skills 1–5
9. Information about State Young Careerist Representatives:
Each Young Careerist Representative, as soon as she/he is selected, is responsible for forwarding the following information for the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia, July 22 -26, 2008
A) Completed and signed BPW/USA Young Careerist Biographical Information;
B) Signed support statement of BPW/USA National Legislative Platform;
C) Typed copy of Four-Minute Speech; and
D) Photo (maximum size 5 X 7).
In order to compete in the National Competition, the above information must be postmarked or e-mailed by June 30, 2008 to:
Beth Bates
35 Walnut Grove Cove
Jackson, TN 38305
E-Mail : batesb@aol.com
*Wherever the terms “State Federation” or “ State” appear in this document, the reader should interpret it to mean one of the 50 States or 4 Territory Federations in the United States of America.