SkillsUSA Knowledge Test Notes

SkillsUSA Knowledge Test Preparation Notes

General Information

The SkillsUSA Knowledge Test covers information from the Leadership Handbook, SkillsUSA Websites, and the Professional Development Program (PDP) curriculum.
The test is administered immediately after the Orientation Meeting during the State Delegation Meeting.
All student competitors are required to take the test.

Goal Setting

Goals provide direction and a way to measure success.
Goals can be long-range or short-range.
To set achievable goals:
- Make goals specific and reasonable.
- List activities to reach the goal.
- Visualize reaching the goal.
A goal statement has three parts:
- What will happen
- When it will happen
- How it will happen

SkillsUSA History and Name

VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) was the original name.
July 4, 1999: VICA adopted the name SkillsUSA-VICA to maintain recognition.
September 1, 2004: The organization officially became “SkillsUSA”.

SkillsUSA Motto and Theme

Motto: Preparing for Leadership in the World of Work
Theme: SkillsUSA: “Champions at Work”
Contestants address how the theme relates to the national program of work in the area of “Prepared with the skills America needs”.

SkillsUSA Colors

Red and White: Represent individual states and chapters
Blue: Represents the common union of the states and chapters
Gold: Represents the individual

SkillsUSA Creed

The six points of the creed are:

I believe in the dignity of work
I believe in the American way of life
I believe in education
I believe in fair play
I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work
I believe in high moral and spiritual standards

SkillsUSA History

VICA was established in 1965.
More information is in the Leadership Handbook.

Official SkillsUSA Dress

For Women:

Red SkillsUSA blazer, sweater, or windbreaker
White collarless blouse, small-collared blouse, or white turtleneck (collar must not extend over the blazer lapel, sweater, or windbreaker)
Black skirt (knee-length) or black dress slacks
Clear seamless nylons
Black shoes

For Men:

Red SkillsUSA blazer, sweater, or windbreaker
White dress shirt
Plain solid black tie (tied in a four-in-hand knot)
Black slacks
Black socks
Black dress shoes

SkillsUSA Pledge

Upon my honor, I pledge:

To prepare myself by diligent study and ardent practice to become a worker whose services will be recognized as honorable by my employer and fellow workers.
To base my expectations of reward upon the solid foundation of service.
To honor and respect my vocation in such a way as to bring repute to myself.
And further, to spare no effort in upholding the ideals of SkillsUSA.

Responsibilities of SkillsUSA Officers

President:

Presides over and conducts orderly meetings
Knows proper parliamentary procedure
Delegates responsibilities and checks on progress

Vice President:

Assists the president and presides in their absence
Works with all committees and ensures program implementation
Knows proper parliamentary procedure

Secretary:

Prepares and presents meeting minutes
Provides the president with a list of business for each meeting
Handles chapter correspondence and communications
Assists with meetings

Treasurer:

Receives and manages chapter funds in a safe manner
Maintains records of all income and expenses
Assists in setting up the annual budget
Assists with meetings

Reporter:

Handles chapter publicity with school and local newspapers
Assists with meetings

Parliamentarian:

Serves as a consultant to the president on procedural matters
Has a working knowledge of parliamentary procedure

Procedure for Becoming a SkillsUSA Officer

Meeting candidate criteria (applications, attendance)
Declaring candidacy (submitting forms, attending a meeting)
Screening candidates (applications, SkillsUSA Knowledge Test)
Campaigning for office (posters, flyers, shaking hands)
Giving speeches
Voting

SkillsUSA Program of Work and Yearly Calendar

Programs relate to seven major goal areas.
Each chapter creates a program of work for total individual development.
The seven goal areas are:
- Professional Development
- SkillsUSA Championships
- Community Service
- Public Relations
- Employment
- Social Activities
- Ways and Means

SkillsUSA Meetings

Regular meetings are necessary.
The Chapter should plan an annual program of work.
Meetings are for conducting business.
Meetings can be held in the morning, during the school day, or in the evening.
Meeting length depends on items discussed and the planned program.

Evaluating Local Meetings

Key points for improvement:

Student Leadership: Students should conduct meetings
Official Dress: Officers in official dress set a good tone.
Agenda: Necessary meetings should have a printed agenda.
Promptness: Meetings should start on time.
Opening Ceremony: Use the official opening ceremony.
Minutes: The secretary should record minutes of all business.
Chapter Treasury: Members should be aware of the financial status.
Discussion: All members should voice their opinion on discussed items.
Voting: Members have the right to vote.
Special Program: Include a speaker, film, or group activity.
Closing Ceremony: Use the official closing ceremony.
Success: Students are responsible for well-run meetings; follow the agenda.

Purposes of SkillsUSA

The purposes of the organization are:

To unite students in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations education.
To develop leadership abilities through participation in educational, vocational, civic, recreational, and social activities.
To foster a deep respect for the dignity of work.
To assist students in establishing realistic occupational goals.
To help students attain a purposeful life.
To create enthusiasm for learning.
To promote high standards in trade ethics, workmanship, scholarship, and safety.
To develop the ability of students to plan together, organize, and carry out worthy activities and projects through the use of the democratic process.
To foster a wholesome understanding of the functions of labor and management organizations and a recognition of the mutual interdependence.
To create among students, faculty members, school patrons, and those in business and labor, a sincere esteem for trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations.
To develop patriotism through a knowledge of our nation’s heritage and the practice of democracy.

Additional Information

Test questions may focus on professional etiquette, parliamentary procedure, and manners.

Sample PDP Test Questions / Study Guide

A written list of the order of business that will take place during a meeting is known as a(n):
- (b) agenda.
When completing the past employment section on an application, in what order should jobs be listed:
- (a) start with current or most recent job.
The SkillsUSA officer whose actions are key to the success of the entire SkillsUSA chapter is the:
- (b) president.
Which of the following is a good behavior to show during an interview?
- (c) smiling
Which of the following is a collection of work representing education, self-development, and career information?
- (c) portfolio
The orbital circles of the SkillsUSA emblem represent:
- (d) technology.
The official SkillsUSA colors are red, white, gold, and:
- (d) blue.
What type of stress could lead to physical or emotional problems?
- (c) excessive
As a committee member, you are responsible for:
- (d) all of the above.
"Preparing for Leadership in the World of Work" is:
- (b) the SkillsUSA Motto.
A good goal statement has how many parts?
- (c) three
Which of the following questions would NOT be appropriate to ask during an employment survey interview?
- (a) How much are you paying now?
According to the leadership handbook, a public speech should have three basic parts:
- (a) introduction, body, closing.
Which of the following refers to the mixing and blending of many people from different cultures who are involved in a like activity or setting?
- (a) cultural diversity
The officer responsible for presiding over meetings is:
- (a) president.
Which of the following is a good basic rule of a business meeting?
- (a) distribute an agenda
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of doing a community service project?
- (c) opportunity to earn extra money
The purposes of SkillsUSA are symbolized by its:
- (c) emblem.
One way to help you identify effective work skills and behaviors is to do which of the following with someone employed in your perspective occupation?
- (d) job shadow
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of professional development activities?
- (c) learning "survivor" strategies of under cutting team members and winning special opportunities
Which of the following is an example of cultural diversity?

(a) different rules for interaction between men and women

The appearance that a young professional should present is:
*(d) all of the above.
It is healthy to balance your time between:
- (c) all of the above.
"To create enthusiasm for learning" is part of the:
- (b) SkillsUSA Purposes
Job shadowing means:
- (a) observing a respected person on the job.
When delivering a speech, do not:
- (b) talk fast.
Which of the following journals is a publication directly related to a profession?
- (d) professional
There are how many points to the SkillsUSA Creed?
- (a) six
Official SkillsUSA dress always includes:
- (d) any of the above.
The SkillsUSA Creed includes:
- (b) high moral and spiritual standards.
Motivating factors can be:
- (c) internal or external.
The purposes of SkillsUSA include:
- (d) all of the above.
As part of the SkillsUSA emblem, what do the "hands" represent?
- (d) the individual
The treasurer's duties include:
- (c) assisting the president and other officers in setting up an annual chapter budget.
What does the Shield represent on the SkillsUSA emblem?
- (c) patriotism
When seeking employment you should:

(d) all of the above.

The symbol of the emblem that represents the industrial society is:

(b) the gear.

Which of the following are part of the SkillsUSA creed?

(d) all of the above

When applying for a job, the first step is filling out a/an:

(d) job application.

What does the color blue represent in the SkillsUSA emblem?

(d) the common union of the states and chapters

To make a motion at a meeting, you must state your motion by saying:

(b) "I move that".

The SkillsUSA officer responsible for presiding over and conducting meetings in the absence of the president is the:

When traveling, what is the expected gratuity for good service in a restaurant?

When preparing to give a presentation you should:

(d) all of the above.

Which of the following does not belong in a portfolio?

Which officer is responsible for roll call?

b) secretary