Etiquette Presentation
 

Every year before recruitment we do a program on etiquette for the girls. It goes through how to shake hands, how to use correct body language, etc... This year it's part of my position to put it on but I don't know where to start on finding info. I tried googling it but I'm finding more like table etiquette which doesn't apply at recruitment. Does anyone else do this or have any ideas of where I can find info?

Why not keep it as simple as possible and just discuss things that are complete turn-offs during recruitment. I am sure we can all help you come up with a list ;).

Try not to yawn when talking to a PNM. Kind of obvious, but it is the little things that matter. You don't want to appear bored to the PNMs.

The name tag always goes on your right side.

Some things that stand out to me from our rush workshops way back in the day were only to have one sister at a time go up to a PNM, otherwise it can be overwhelming. Another good rule to live by is let the PNM think about joining, don't be like "Oh you definately have to join XYZ" over and over again. It takes the mystery/exclusivity of being asked to join the org out of it.

Oh yeah, and this should be obvious, but make sure that every PNM has a sister talking with her. If conversation lulls, you can always show her some sorority paraphernelia like a scrapbook so conversation can start flowing again. Also by all means introduce the PNM to others around the room.

Seriously? I've never worn a name tag on the right in my entire life.

yup it goes on you right side because that is the hand you shake with and it enables a guest to see your name without having to be obvious.

That's one of the first things that the Dale Carnegie ("How to Make Friends and Influence People") course suggests. That book is wonderful for this type of situation, btw.

You should introduce yourself first, along with a fact or two, before asking the PNM what her name is. Such as: "Hi, my name is Amy, and I'm a sophmore in engineering. Are you tired of answering the same questions yet?"

You've just given her enough to make conversation on several points: your name, year in school, major, and joking about rush.

When you hand her over to another sister, you give both the sister and the PNM some information to start off with: "Oh, here's Julie! She's from Detroit and is just back from her junior year in Paris - she's now a (pest, man-killer, artist, whatever) in two languages! Julie, I want you to meet Pammie PNM - she's from Nashville and isn't sure of her major yet. Hope to talk to you later, Pammie - it was fun!"


ETA: Here's a great link for Dale Carnegie!

I thought that was why you should put it on the left, because if have it on your right side, when you reach out with your right hand you're slightly leaning over where the name tag would be and it's hard to read it.

We were told to wear our nametags on the right because your pin goes on the left side. You can't very well have your pin and a nametag in the same place!

Yep, that's what i've always learned, and from several etiquette presentations as well. When you shake hands, your right arm crosses over your body, both blocking the view of your nametag and probably distorting the angle at which it's pinned to you. If it's on the left, nothing's blocking it and it doesn't move.

Though if you are wearing your sorority pin, yeah, you kinda gotta put it on the right during pref, but that's not the end of the world.

Funny thing this makes me remember, during rush one year (a few years ago) I had on one of those one-strap tops that was in style at the time. Don't remember which way the strap went, but where I was supposed to stick my nametag there was skin and I couldn't very well put it right on the top so they're staring at my boob all night. lol. So I and another girl wearing a similar shirt broke the trend, lol.

All in all, though it bothers me a bit b/c I worry that I have it on the wrong side, this is the lesser of the etiquette offenses to me.

WIMPY HANDSHAKES ARE HORRIBLE! There is NO excuse to act like you have no feeling or motion in your right hand. Don't break any fingers, but sheesh.

Pick up an Emily Post Guide to Etiquette for your chapter. Could probably get one fairly cheap on amazon, half.com, or ebay. And it's an excellent resource that they'll have around for years to come. I'm sure it could be reimbursed somewhere in your budget.

I was taught on the left.
If you wear it on the left can't you wear it just below your badge? I know that is kind boob territory, or do some orgs have rules about that, your badge and name tag sharing a side?

right shoulder please
 

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If your school has a Restraunt and Hotel Management program or a Home Ec program you could find a professor in one of those programs to present to the chapter. I did this in the past at my chapter and it really turned out to be a great presentation with a lot of time devoted to questions and answers.