By Jack Bohrer | University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
Have you ever struggled explaining your DECA experience in an interview without sounding like you are describing a school club? I had this same problem. I had trouble explaining that DECA was more than a club you show up to; it is a unique experience that develops your problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills, helping you stand out to potential employers.
DECA provides hands-on business training that employers highly value. For instance, participating in a case competition mirrors the real-world challenge of analyzing a business problem and proposing a solution. In an interview, highlighting your DECA experience demonstrates that you are proactive and can think critically.
The first step to talking about DECA in an interview is to explain the key experiences you have had with DECA. This can include any competitions that you have competed in, any leadership roles that you hold, and any community service projects that you have participated in with your chapter.
The next step is to use the STAR method to frame your stories. This requires you to break up your DECA stories into four parts.
- Describe the situation or context of the story.
- Clearly explain the task at hand.
- Highlight the specific action you took to tackle the challenge.
- Share the result or tangible outcome of the story to show the impact that you made.
The STAR method ensures that your story is clear and concise.
After your stories, you can highlight how DECA has provided you with transferable skills that you can use in the job. Recruiters may not know what “role-plays” or “case competitions” entail. It is necessary to convert your DECA experiences into terminology that makes sense to the people interviewing you.
First, identify the skills that you have demonstrated in your DECA activity. Then, translate your skills into workplace language.
- For example, instead of saying “I competed in a role-play competition”, say “I analyzed a business challenge and presented it to a judge”.
Also, try to tie your experience back to the specific internship or job.
- For instance, instead of saying “I gained a lot of skills from DECA”, say “I gained presentation skills from DECA, which will allow me to present to clients during this internship effectively”.
Ultimately, your DECA experience is more than a resume bullet. It provided you with a set of real-world skills that can set you apart in an interview. By using the STAR method and framing your experience in a clear, meaningful way, you can turn your DECA experience into compelling stories that impress recruiters.
