Getting Ready for Sorority Recruitment

In just moments, you will finally step into the first party of sorority recruitment week. You have put a lot of thought into exactly what you are going to wear today, right down to the special bracelet that was the perfect finale for your outfit. You ironed your clothes (which you don’t often do) the night before, and you even cracked open some special new makeup just for the occasion.

Your skin is clear, your eyes are bright, and you smell good. You just got your hair done two days ago, in anticipation of recruitment, and today for some reason, it was on its best behavior for you. It works. Everything about you works. You look great, and you feel great. That smile on your face? It’s 50% nervous anticipation, 50% excitement, and 0% fear about your appearance.

Imagine your reaction when you realize the sorority members have not put as much energy into preparing to meet you. Read the rest of this entry »

School is out – for Winter!  After studying for finals and all your hard work this past term you may be tempted to sleep late everyday and catch up on your favorite shows.

However, it’s also a great time to improve your resume, especially if you will be participating in sorority recruitment soon. So gather up some friends and pick the benefactor of your time.

Need some help choosing?  Here are seven great tips for making the most of your break. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: community service, philanthropy, volunteerism

Timing is everything, and sororities know it.  That’s why they offer chances throughout the school year for students to join their sisterhoods.  Though formal recruitment only comes around once a year, there is often times a second opportunity to join a sorority in activities referred to as “Continuous Open Bidding,” “Continuous Open Recruitment” or “Informal Recruitment.” Panhellenic Informal Recruitment is less rigidly scheduled than formal recruitment but more so than Continuous Open Bidding/Recruitment.  Here is some information to help make your decision regarding this chance at lifelong sisterhood. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: continuous open bidding, continuous open recruitment, informal recruitment

Frenemies. You know what they are.  You know who yours are.  But, will you find them in a sorority?

When working with a diverse group of women, you are likely to find at least one woman with whom you are unable to see eye-to-eye.  In fact, you may meet a woman during recruitment like this.  When you have no choice other than to engage her, these four tips will help keep matters civil and avoid social damage. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: debate, difficult people, diffuse situation, frenemy, hot topics, listening skills, nonverbal communications, nonverbal signals, political opinion, toxic people

Have you ever had a crush on someone you didn’t even know very well?  It’s not uncommon to develop an interest in someone after observing how that person treats others or behaves with your mutual friends.   Guess what?  This is human nature.  Sorority recruitment is no exception to this rule.

Deferred Recruitment (Recruitment taking place either in your second semester, or second year) offers prospective sorority members a unique opportunity to build their personal brand on campus and set themselves up for recruitment success. It also gives these students the opportunity to pigeon hole themselves into an undesirable stereotype.

Why not capitalize on your time before recruitment to make an extended positive impression?  Here are the three things you want to do to position yourself right. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: crush, deferred recruitment, personal brand, reputation, stereotype

Tomorrow I’m going to an Ice Cream Social at the local Sigma Kappa Sorority chapter. I will be meeting the new member I have volunteered to mentor as an “Alum Chum.” She joined this sorority following the most recent recruitment week at the University of Washington.

It has been a long time since I was part of sorority recruitment, but in some ways that experience helped prepare me for my technical recruiter career.  My job entails work with senior level hiring managers and teams at a Fortune 100 company in the Seattle area.

A while ago, I realized something about the Greek alumnae who are interviewing or making important hiring decisions. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: career, conversation, hiring manager, interview, interviewing skills, sigma kappa, university of washington

Have you already had an amazing recruitment experience this year? Did you find your new Panhellenic home? Congratulations! You are probably enjoying tons of fun activities with your new sisters.

This is great time to reflect on the other women you met during the recruitment experience. Don’t make the mistake of losing contact with them.  Bolster your collegiate experience by including these three key women in your life right now: Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: counselor, guide, lunch, other chapter, reunion, trisigma, unaffiliated

She’s excited.  She’s nervous.  She might deny it, but you know her well.  Sorority recruitment will be filled with fun and charged with emotions for your student.  How will she handle it?

Every student responds differently to sorority recruitment because each  experience is distinctive.  Some women are not invited back by their favorite chapters and are devastated.  Others handle it all nonchalantly.  You know your student best.  So be prepared for a call with an elated student or a saddened one.

How can you help your student?

The best way to help your student is to offer your support prior to and during the recruitment process.   Here are nine tips to get you headed in the right direction. Read the rest of this entry »

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A 2010 study by Pew Research has revealed teens are increasingly using cell phones and texting. The results are not especially surprising.  However the implications for Panhellenic formal recruitment may be concerning.

To summarize key points from the study:

✔  Cell-phone texting has become the preferred channel of basic communication between teens and their friends, and cell calling is a close second.
✔  Some 75% of 12-17 year-olds now own cell phones, up from 45% in 2004.
✔  Fully 72% of all teens – or 88% of teen cell phone users – are text–messagers. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: text, texting

Choose waterproof mascara.

That’s the simplest, most universal, and safest advice anyone can give you about your last sorority recruitment experience: Preference.  In this article, you will learn what to expect at Preference events, how they are different from the rest of recruitment, and how to deal with the emotions you and the other women might express. Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: consoling, crying, emotions, preference, recruitment counselor