Question about my recruitment application
 

My school put up it's application for recruitment quite recently, and though I have until two weeks prior to submit it, I (for obvious reasons) wanted to get started early. The application itself is pretty straightforward, but I've found that I have one sticky spot with it. A section of the application asks for employment history, which considering the qualities looked for in girls going through the process strikes me as a pretty common question for recruitment applications. I assume that internships count in terms of employment, and I've had a few that are rather impressive. The issue is that, as a political science major and someone who is really involved in politics, they have all been in that arena; as all the Greek women in my life are quick to remind me, politics is a no-no during recruitment (which I absolutely understand, and am happy to adhere to). My internships have all been with various Democratic causes, and my campus is pretty much mostly liberal, but I worry that including these on my resume might alienate some of the more conservative people in the Greek system. I've asked a few friends who are sorority members what they think, and they don't see the problem with me just listing them as long as I don't alienate people when they meet me (after all, being involved doesn't mean you're overbearing, etc.), but I'm still a little hesitant to list the internships (despite the fact that I believe they show commitment, loyalty, and responsibility on my part). What do you all think? To include or not to include? If it helps, without these internships, I have one other job to list.

Thanks so much in advance, and I'm SO sorry for the novel I just wrote!

I'm not in a sorority so take what I say wit ha mountain of salt. Maybe you can mention what type of work you did without mentioning the particular person or party you worked with.

I saay definately include them. If you still aren't comfortable with listing the "Democratic party" stuff, you and be generic and list a "Political Party" internship. I say list them as is though. This is coming from a Republican, too. ;)

Best of luck with recruitment!

Include them, you can say Internship with ______organization or Internship with a political office. If it comes up during recruitment you can mention as much or as little as you like, the actives should know to direct conversation away from the political aspect and towards the service aspect.

I thought of just listing "Political Party Internship" too - but the thing is, you ARE a Poli Sci major. It would be rather silly of the sororities to expect you to be someone who's completely neutral. You showed that you're dedicated to your major and career by taking these internships, rather than going the work at MickyD's for the summer route.

Unless you worked in the office of someone who's a REALLY polarizing figure (Jesse Helms was the first person I thought of) I would write where you were down, just so no one thinks you're hiding anything. There've got to be plenty of people who think Isaac Mizrahi's designs are utter crap, but I don't know of a fashion design major who wouldn't write down on a sorority app that she was his intern.

I've actually been in the -exact- same situation as you. I included the names of the candidates and causes I worked with and had no trouble. This was also on a more conservative campus.

Like 33girl said, unless it was someone who strikes up some major hate, you're pretty much good. You said some of these internships were impressive. They won't know that unless you state what you actually did.

Also, particularly in high school, plenty of people intern with candidates that they might not necessarily agree with politically particularly on a national level, but because s/he's their local representative or something. Although that isn't the case for you, it leads to fewer assumptions and judgments even if someone were inclined to think negatively.

you will find a mix of political philosophies in each sorority chapter, whatever campus they are located on. discussing what your duties entailed as an intern is different than discussing your personal political beliefs(a no no).

Once being a poli sci major myself, I understand where you're coming from.

In college, I was a member of College Republicans. If I put this on a sorority application and an entire chapter decided not to accept me for that alone, I say good, I didn't want their bid, anyway. But I highly doubt this would ever happen.

On my resume, however, I used more general terms and never really talked about any specific candidates. A decision could be made after meeting just one person in this case, and you never really know..

I think it all depends on the situation. Write down what you feel most comfortable with (you don't want to disclose everything and then be incredibly worried about all through recruitment). Just make sure you also don't leave out too much information and end up not giving yourself enough credit for all that you've accomplished.

It's great experience. Don't leave it off your application.

One of my sisters does contract work for a few candidates who I don't support, but I love that she is so involved and I am proud of her accomplishments.

Wow, thanks so much! Your responses are so helpful...thank you all for the great advice! I'm definitely going take it and list my internships. I haven't interned for any polarizing figures or anything--just a party committee and pretty well-supported candidates in competitive elections in my home state, quite far away from where I attend--so I think I'll be okay, as long as I don't discuss my personal beliefs and remain respectful of those of others (something I strive to do regardless of the situation. "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it," and all that jazz). Thank you guys so much!

Also, another quick question to which you all probably don't have an answer, but I figure I'd ask anyway. Is it common place to list a description of the work? And if so, should I just list a position (i.e. Campaign Intern), or should I also provide a short description of the work I did (i.e. staffed events, registered people to vote)? Thanks so much again, and I really am sorry for the repeated novels I'm typing.

I'd just list the job and perhaps the amount of time you spent there. Unless there's a specific spot for it, I don't think they expect job duties to be listed.

if you have the space, i would briefly describe the duties, so that sorority members could see how your experiences could relate to sorority activities-you staffed events?-shows you can work in a group toward a common goal, you registered people to vote-you could help set up the registration for a fundraiser or for panhellenic recruitment.

Another vote to include your experience, as is.

This is the key. If there's not space for describing your duties on the application, you can mention it if it comes up in conversation.

i think you should include it too...it looks good. but maybe you could think of a way to be sort of vague about it. Like could you say you were the "Marketing Intern" or whatever with the "government department" or "California State Governor" or something along those lines where you can include your experience without saying which party you worked for?

If the experience shows a surprising level of responsibility, find a way to include it. If it was something more like fetching coffee and making copies, be more general.

What a great situation to be in!

Agree with what most have said...as long as you separate your duties from your beliefs it should be fine. It looks like you ave a good grasp on when to talk politics and when to leave them at the door.