Membership Recruitment

Before Recruiting

• Prior to organizing an effective recruitment campaign, the following areas must be addressed:

1. Is the group functioning properly? Examine the needs of your group and assess where the you are headed.

2. What is the image of the group on campus?

3. Are all the present members of the group familiar with the organization as well as the special attributes, people and experiences which the organization presently provides?

4. Who is the group specifically trying to recruit? How many people? Try creating a member profile.

• The group needs to have an understanding not only of why people are most likely to join but also to be able to market the benefits of membership. Ask yourself: "Why did I join?"
• Recruitment should be an ongoing process: this is necessary for the maintenance and survival of any organization.
• Personal contact is necessary and the best means of persuading students to join an organization. It is more effective to go out to people than expect them to come to you.
• Broad promotional campaign is necessary to recruit for a diverse organization.
• A combination of recruitment efforts is best to promote the greatest amount of diversity-target populations!

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Define the following with your group:

1. Why recruit?

2. Define your product and its selling points. Our "product" is...

3. Its selling points are...

4. Our target populations are and we will find them...

5. Our marketing strategies will be...

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5 Basic Steps to a
Successful Recruitment Campaign

1. ASK QUESTIONS

• Everyone loves to talk about themselves - it's the subject they know best
• Ask open-ended questions rather than yes/no questions Example: "What do you like about your residence hall?" As opposed to "Do you like where you are living?"
• LISTEN CAREFULLY to all questions
• Be sincerely interested in your recruitment prospect

2. BE BRIEF

• If you can't interest someone in what you are saying, you are probably taking too long to say it
• Avoid details what will bore or confuse your recruitment prospect

3. BE COURTEOUS

• NEVER leave a recruitment prospect alone
• Always introduce your prospect to anybody around you...including other prospects
• Make an extra effort to include shy prospects
• Never whisper or talk quietly to another member in front of a prospect or congregate in large groups with other members
• Encourage prospects to get involved with the college or university
• Learn the prospect's name and USE IT FREQUENTLY!
• Be yourself
• Be honest, if you don't know the answer to a question, admit it.. and then find the answer
• SMILE SMILE SMILE
• NEVER make private jokes or use "in" jokes - it creates a feeling of "Huh? I don't understand"
• Explain unfamiliar acronyms: CAB, MC, SGA, etc.
• SHOW how you can meet the prospect's needs

4. BE DIRECT

• Use plenty of eye contact
• Don't get distracted by other conversations or events in the area
• Be genuine

5. BE ENTHUSIASTIC!

• Be positive in your outlook and in conversations
• Avoid topics such as wild parties, organizational problems, etc.
• Take an active part in your organization's recruitment program
• Don't forget the saying: "Nothing Great Was Ever Created Without Enthusiasm"