by Matt Mattson

Now is a good time to start thinking about what you’ll do to drive recruitment results during the summer.

Does your college's school year end about a month before your old high school's school year? Probably. That gives you a month to go back to your high school and give classroom presentations about how great college life is, what it takes to survive, how fraternity/sorority has made your life great, and how you are willing to serve as a resource to any incoming freshmen at your university.

College admissions offices sometimes will reward current students for going back to talk about their university at their old high schools. This can be a great way to do a service for the university while building your names list through all the individuals you meet from your high school that will be attending your college next year.

You've probably got some great relationships with past teachers, guidance counselors, or administrators from your high school. They all already know who is coming to your school this/next year, and if you ask just right they might let you in on that important information. Then you can call those new students from your high school to welcome them to campus and show them around. Consider asking your past high school connections something like this:

“Mr. Johnson, I really appreciated all the guidance and support you gave me as I was making the transition from high school to college. I don't know if you have heard, but things are going great and I've really found a way to stay focused on academics but also really enhance my leadership responsibilities ‐ through my fraternity/sorority. Are there any students from our school coming to my university next year? I’d love to show them around campus and just welcome them. In fact, one thing our fraternity/sorority does is help parents and new students during move-in. I’d love to call any students you know of from our school and offer that help beforehand. I’ll even buy them lunch!”

Participants in many Phired Up recruitment workshops have identified this as a great way to be “the one guy/girl” these incoming students know when they get to campus. If you can be “the one guy” they know, then you've got a great chance to be “the one guy/girl” who recruited them into your fraternity/sorority.

by Matt Mattson and Jessica Gendron

Here's the situation… You and I are stuck on an elevator. I look over and notice your T-shirt that has your organization's name on it. Quick! In 30 seconds or less (before the elevator reaches the bottom floor) answer this question: So, what's your organization all about?

Were you convincing? Did you convincingly communicate your organzation's values and value? Did you differentiate your organization from others on your campus? Did you connect the needs and/or interests of your audience with the value of your organization? Did you only talk about the FEATURES of your organization, or were you able to communicate the BENEFITS as well? Did you get my name? Did you get my contact information? Do you think I’ll be interested in learning more about your organization after our elevator ride?

Now, imagine the same scenario, but this time the people in the elevator are: a) your organization's top prospect — the perfect member for your group, and b) your organization's average member. Does the scenario go as well? Do you recruit that person? Do you even have a chance?

This ELEVATOR PITCH concept is one that is used by politicians, salespeople, and the most influential individuals in the world. Why? Because they need to KNOW what they're “selling,” and they need to know how to talk about it. Have you practiced your organization's elevator pitch with your members?

The key to success with that elevator pitch is simple… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Set up a time this week to work with your organization's members on that elevator pitch.

Here's another fun way to do it. Imagine the President of your university bumps into you on campus and says, “We're thinking about eliminating your organization because of the risks it poses to our students, you've got 30 seconds to convince me of your values and value to the community.” Fun, eh?

Here's a fun, very real scenario from Jessica, Phired Up's Director of Women's Education. She was recently on a Phired Up trip and after checking into her hotel, she was heading up to her room…

There I was, running toward the elevator hoping that I could hop on before the doors closed. As I approached, I noticed that it was pretty full with a group of older gentlemen all dressed in suits. As I looked in, I asked the man standing right by the door, “Is there room for one more?” He of course obliged and said, “For a pretty girl like you, of course!” So I jumped on the elevator and the doors closed. As I looked across at the older gentleman standing in front of me I noticed a Phi Gamma Delta badge pinned to his dress shirt peeking out from underneath his suit jacket. I immediately said, “FIJI, huh?” This sparked a conversation between the men on the elevator and myself. They explained that they were in town for a regular alumni meeting of the local chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and I explained that I was in town working with the fraterntiies and sororities of the university community on recruitment. They asked about our company, what we did, etc. and I answered all of their questions, in addition to telling them that our company had just finished writing the FIJI National Recruitment Manual. They seemed very excited about that and asked if we did any specific chapter work. I responded, “Absolutely!”. The conversation was quick and intense because the hotel was only 4 floors. The last two men on the elevator with me asked for my card as the doors opened to their stop. As they exited the elevator they said, “We will definitely be in touch.”