In this thread we actives share recruitment advice...

[GammaPhi88]

Hey all! I've noticed on Greekchat that we have tons of advice on recruitment for the PNMS, but rarely advice for those on the other side. So in this thread, lets post our best recruitment advice, be it for formal recruitment, informal, or COR.

As a first year rusher, I feel this will be beneficial to me, but also to anyone else who has anything to do with recruitment. So, active collegiams, alums, advisors, current or recent PNMs, whoever motivated...go ahead and post your best advice!

[FSUZeta]

remember that , just as you are watching pnms as they are out and about, they are watching you and your sisters, so show your best side at all times. you not only represent your chapter, but all your sisters all over the world.

[SWTXBelle]

Don't regard recruitment as some awful chore you have to endure - realize that the work you do with your sisters during Work Week will give you a chance to bond with them, and make memories. The week of recruitment is an opportunity to meet wonderful women, some of whom will be your new sisters! What a privilege to continue the legacy of your GLO!

[TriDPrincess]

If you are not a good conversationalist or feel uncomfortable talking with new people try to practice with your sisters (or others) before rush starts. I know this may seem a given especially since some chapters practice but I thought I'd throw it in there anyway just in case.

[KSUViolet06]

I found this thread in a search:

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...hlight=rushers

Some of my own advice from an alumna viewpoint):

*Understand that not every single PNM that you love is going to want to join your chapter. This takes a couple of recruitments to understand, but once you understand that as much as you love Susie, she may not feel the same way, it help things go a lot smoother and makes them less stressful.

*Remember to take time for yourself during the recruitment period. Seriously. Doing recruitment all day and all night can get to be really stressful. So try to squeeze in some time to hang out with some non-sorority friends, go for a run, or do something you like to do that doesn't involve the sorority.

*It's really hard sometimes, but try to keep things in perspective. This is just recruitment, not life and death. Sisters will disagree and sometimes that can make for some drama and maybe some hurt feelings, but try to remember that this is just recruitment and issues stemming from recuitment-related drama don't need to be carried on into the rest of the school year.

*No matter what happens, try not to internalize it or take it too personally. So you didn't get some of the girls you wanted. You shouldn't still be fretting over it months after recruitment. Life goes on.

[tangelo212]

Interact with you sisters! PNMs are watching, and I think this is something that can really change the energy of a chapter during rush. Show them that you have fun with each other! I think this is one of the easiest, most natural, and fun ways you can make an impression on PNMs. Show them that you enjoy each other's company, greet them as you walk around the house, tell PNMs a memorable story that you and a sister shared and then point her out or try to introduce them if she happens to walk by. Smile, joke around (but don't clown around!), support each other-- don't just tell PNMs that you have a close sisterhood, SHOW them!!

[Zillini]

1) Keep in mind that a chapter cannot extend a bid to every PNM that each active is in love with. It's a numbers thing and you can't take it personally. If a chapter has 100 actives and every one has a favorite PNM, then unless quota is 100 (which is highly doubtful) someone's fav isn't going to get a bid.

2) Keep in mind that just because others don't click with your BFF since Kindergarten doesn't mean they don't like you. You may think she's the greatest thing in the world, but others might not see it. It's hard but try not to take it personally. Would you really want her to receive a bid to an org where only one person (you) likes her and wants her? Would she be happy down the road if no one ever likes her? What's more important, your happiness or your friend's?

[PJS]

The day before FR began, my daughter's house "rushed" another sorority, and then switched places and returned the favor as the rushees. It gave each of the houses a chance to do a runthrough of their systems and see where problems might occur before the real thing started. It also prepped them on conversational skills etc.

I was amazed that the houses agreed to do this--everything during recruitment is so competitive and you don't want to give away company secrets. But when you think about it, everyone already has a system and you aren't going to copy someone else's the day before FR begins. More importantly, there were a lot of benefits besides logistical preparation, including improving the whole "Panhehllenic" feeling. The other house has traditionally had difficulty meeting quota and has some negative stereotypes, but my daughter and her sisters were impressed by the individuals that they got to know during the runthrough. It really changed their minds about the other house.

[Leslie Anne]

Avoid inside jokes whether it's in skits or in conversations. The PNMs obviously won't get the joke and it only makes them feel awkward.

[agzg]

For formal, be nice to your recruitment counselors (even those that aren't from your chapter). It makes things go smoother and looks really good to PNMs.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen chapter members freaking out on recruitment counselors in front of PNMs. It doesn't do anything for a panhellenic environment, and it looks REALLY BAD against the chapter to PNMs because they already like their recruitment counselors and feel like they need to side with them.

[Benzgirl]

^^^Co-sign. Even the smallest things like handing them a glass of water or having a chair at the door for them to sit, goes a long way.

[AOII Angel]

Be sensitive to the Legacy issue. Give legacies every opportunity to click with your chapter. If your own sister or daughter were going through, you'd want them to have every chance as well!

Make an attempt to build relationships with the PNMs. If your chapter has a format where rushers pick up the first random PNM to come through the door, think about putting more thought into who rushes each PNM. If a girl sees a different sister everyday and never has a chance to reconnect with someone she spoke with on a previous day, she'll be less likely to pick your chapter over one where she feels like she has built a relationship with a sister over the week.

[Zillini]

Let's be honest. There will be some PNMs who you know will not fit into your org, but never, ever let them know or even sense that. You have no idea who she's friends with in her Rho Chi group, on her dorm floor, in class, who she went to summer camp with 3 years ago, etc. PNMs talk and if 1 is treated rudely many, many others will find out about it.

[em_adpi]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

^^^Co-sign. Even the smallest things like handing them a glass of water or having a chair at the door for them to sit, goes a long way.

Definitely co-sign as well. I was a Rho Gamma this year, and that stuff is really appreciated.

I remember my first recruitment as an active... you see everything! We had a girl come through with a eye problem (blood red after an accident over the summer) and it was shocking for a second, but I did my best to make her feel comfortable and not awkward. Let's see... this is a bit obvious, but be very careful coming downstairs in heels or you could spend Pref Day sore like I did.

Oh, yes... even if you're not in the skit, try to participate. We would sing along with the skit girls and the PNMs definitely got a kick out of it.

I also had a girl come through who fell in love with another house and tried to be polite about it, but it was obvious her heart was not in ADPi. As sad as that was for me, we all know that all 600+ girls rushing are going to fit in one house anyway. It was awkward at first, but we ended up just talking about campus and her new dorm. We were both more comfortable with that and it all worked out... btw, she's happy in her 1st choice.

[Fleur de Lis]

Try to have a few "fall back" questions for those awkward silences. Mine was "do you want to study abroad?" This opens lots of other questions about language studies, travel, etc. and buys you some time before the next sister comes. Make sure it's not weird though, like "if you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be?" True story my friend was asked that question!