Carl Sandburg High School sophomore Jane Chan is heading to Atlanta this June to put her job interviewing skills to the test at the SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference. She will compete in the Job Interview category, where she will be evaluated on her understanding of employment procedures. The competition is divided into phases, including completion of an employment application, an introduction scenario with a receptionist, and an in-depth interview.

The Conference is the nation’s largest event celebrating career and technical education. It brings together more than 17,500 people—including students, teachers, industry leaders, and government officials—for a week-long celebration of skilled trades. The main event is the SkillsUSA Championships, where more than 6,500 state champions compete in 114 skilled and leadership contests for national medals.

Chan qualified in three separate categories at the Illinois State Championships but chose to compete in Job Interview at the national level. For the competition, Chan selected the entry-level role of Task Associate at Ulta Beauty. She will create a portfolio, collect professional references, complete a formal application, and undergo a mock interview in front of judges in Atlanta.

Chan said, “To prepare, I usually search interview questions and practice answering them aloud like it’s the real deal. It helps me build confidence, especially with public speaking. The best part is meeting other students from all over—I've talked to people competing in baking, welding, and more. Their talent is incredible. SkillsUSA is more than a competition; it’s a place to grow and explore new career paths!”

Other District 230 SkillsUSA state winners include the following:

Sandburg: 
Kennedy Boshardt, 1st Place - Fashion Design
Cara Broderick, 2nd Place - Job Skills Demo
Jane Chan, 1st Place - Job Interview, 2nd Place - Extemporaneous Speaking, and 2nd Place - Customer Service Skills 

Andrew: 
Ava Mikos- 2nd Place in Early Childhood Education 
Ellie Conneely- 3rd Place in Early Childhood Education