"Marketing Hooks" for PNMs

[notyouraverage]

Originally Posted by meridionaleDG

On the third day (skit), I was looking around each round at the girls expressions. Very few were actually smiling and getting into the skit, the others were just so concerned about all the "rush" stuff they looked emotionless.

I think the nerves were getting the best of a lot of girls, and actually nerves make me a little more uhm...over excited (which worked to my advantage in this case). Just remember the best marketing tool is a smile and some sort of body language to let them know you are having a good time. It sounds like a given, but you wouldn't believe how many girls just don't show any emotion....even in sororities they liked! It doesn't matter how good that $2000 outfit looks on you, if you don't look happy and excited to be there, they will take that as you don't like them (even though you really do).

Okay, I'm pretty inexperienced with recruitment as I haven't been through it on "the other side" yet and my own experience is limited to spring informal at only two houses, but, it seems like a good idea, if you are nervous, to tell that to the active you're with. Can someone back me up?

I mean, chances are on the first day someone is going to ask you, "so how do you like recruitment so far?" Respond honestly, "actually, I'm just so nervous that I'm afraid I'm not ...(showing my best self, appearing as interested as I really am, you fill in the blank)." It seems like the sister would then have the opportunity to share her own recruitment story or admit that this is her first time doing formal recruitment and that she's nervous too! and the two girls would then get to share that in common. If a PNM admitted that to me and we got an actual conversation / exchange of experiences and emotions out of it, I wouldn't forget her in a hurry! Plus, the next day, if she is invited back, I would have the opportunity to follow up on it.

However, I do have to agree with Meridionale that it's impossible not to smile. If you're surrounded by beautiful women who are all smiling at you, how can you help but smile back? I personally felt like a rock star when I was being rushed!

[FSUZeta]

notyouraverage,

i like your idea!! i know if a pnm had told me that she was nervous, i would have tried my darndest to make her feel better, and relax her.

also if you are feeling sick/have a cold, and you don't feel well, i think that it would be okay to say to your sorority hostess,"i'm sorry if i seem a little out of it....i have a cold, and am not feeling 100%. it would be better to admit that you had a cold, than to have all the sororities think that you were just not interested.

[Stef the Pef]

Yup--even though a lot of people say to downplay negative thoughts when speaking with your rusher (you get the same advice on the "other side," BTW), I always appreciate honesty! Don't dwell on the fact that you have the sniffles or you're feeling nervous, but honesty is always appreciated.

Another related piece of advice: don't exaggerate or bluff when you're trying to stand out. You'll look fake, and some folks can see right through that sort of thing.

I always remember girls with a sense of humor. Like has been said before, try to make a connection with your rushers, like having friends in common, the same major/minor/interests/activities/church/honors programs/etc., and make sure you show that you're interested! Even if you aren't necessarily enthused with a certain chapter, still show interest in them. Humor us, please. Everyone goes way out of their way to throw rush events, so even if you're more interested in a different chapter, still be pleasant and find out all about the chapter that you're in at the moment. Even if you end up going elsewhere, you'll end up doing activities like Greek Week, philanthropy events, and all kinds of other things with them later on, so why not get to know them at rush?

If you're in a school with deferred recruitment, it's also a good idea to get to know sorority women during your first semester there. We don't bite, really, so if you're in a class, club, or even in line somewhere with a sorority girl, introduce yourself! We're always glad to meet girls who are interested in rushing later on and if you know girls in the room beforehand, it helps you stand out to that sorority AND feel more comfortable in that room.

Amen to accessories--I showed up to our informal "Fall Parties" day trying to follow the t-shirt and jeans dress code EXACTLY, but I definitely wished I had played around with cute accessories because everyone else looked so cute!

Also, wear cute but comfortable shoes. Cute shoes can be another thing that can help you stand out, and it's easier to function, period, if you're able to stand sans pain. Go shopping for something that will look great for each day and break them in beforehand. Luckily, I see more and more cute flats lately, so I guess now's a good time to be going through rush! You don't have to wear heels if they make you uncomfortable, but don't wear your grandma's shapeless loafers, either, if you intend to stand out somehow.