Recruitment Resources

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Getting Started

Recruitment Requirements in the National Constitution

Planning Checklist:
Schedule dates and times and reserve locations for the meet nights

• Familiarity- Is the location well-known?
• Accessibility- Is there easy access for people with disabilities? Is it near campus? Is it within walking distance for students without transportation?
• Timing- Would you be competing against Monday Night Football? Is it during a busy campus-wide activity? (e.g. homecoming) Is it during other organization meeting nights? Plan to start your events after you have your email list from the school and your involvement fair.
• Atmosphere- Is the room a comfortable setting? Ensure that the room is the appropriate size to accommodate the anticipated crowd.

Invitational Meeting/Info Session Kit

The purpose of this meeting is to spark an interest in Phi Sigma Pi, answer questions, outline the goals of the organization, meet people, and prove that the organization is for them. Most Chapters have two Invitational Meetings per term (always plan a snow/inclement weather date when the season dictates). Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, between 6 - 9 p.m., seem to be the most popular with the least amount of conflict between classes, jobs, etc. A typical Invitational Meetings has the following characteristics:

• All active Members are present. (Mandatory Event)
• All active Members wear letters/colors.
• Scrapbooks/awards/banners are displayed.
• Refreshments are provided. (chips, pretzels, soda, etc.)
• Members should not consume refreshments during the Invitational Meeting.
• All active Members and Potential New Members introduce themselves - name, major and why they joined or are interested in joining Phi Sigma Pi.
• Presentation of national Invitational Meeting PowerPoint or Chapter recruitment video by the President, Recruitment Advisor and Initiate Advisor.
• Question and answer period.
• Interested students sign-up and are informed about the next meeting.
• Allow time for post-meeting socialization.
• Shake hands with Potential New Members as they leave.

Preparation for the Informational Night:

• Recruitment committee - one hour before the meeting begins set-up.
• Membership - half an hour before the meeting begins.
• ENERGIZE time (do Chapter chants, songs, etc.)
• Review the information and provide additional updates.
• Ask for greeters (to welcome prospective members at the door).
• Members should be standing ready to converse with incoming Potential New Members.

Start on time! This shows that you value the prospective members’ time. Keep in mind that you might be very surprised by the turn-out, especially when the invitational letters were used as a means of advertising

PowerPoint Presentation

Another big part of the Invitational Meeting/Info Session is the PowerPoint Presentation. There are two PowerPoint Presentation templates available for your Chapter to use. One with just the details and another with an activity at the end. The most important two tips include practicing your presentation until you feel comfortable and spotlighting Members in your Chapter whenever you can, such as asking for Committee Chairs to share event examples. 

Watch the video for more tips on how to prepare for the Invitational Meeting/Info Session.

Recruitment Event Kit

Much like with Invitational Meetings, you should prepare a schedule for your Recruitment Events. We often see Recruitment Events that are scheduled for an hour, and you want to be respectful of everyone’s time. Recruitment Events rarely include presentations like at an Invitational Meeting unless you are partnering your Recruitment Event with an Invitational Meeting, but you should still take attendance and welcome PNMs with a short introduction to the planned activity. You also will want to include a closing for the event, to thank everyone for attending and offer information on the next steps.

Get the Chapter Involved

Here are some of the programming-related tasks that will need to be done:

• If you have Members who are introverted, consider asking them to set up or tear down the space or take attendance.
• If you have Members that are excellent at speaking in front of a group, they may be able to lead ice breakers, add something during the presentation or introduce an activity.
• Members who have been identified as potential Bigs could be tasked with initiating conversations with individuals and small groups, since it will be most important for them to get to know the PNMs.
• For Members attending class during event times, consider asking them to pick-up snacks and drinks or have them share and invite people on social media. This could help Members meet any Recruitment attendance or points requirements for your Chapter.
• The important thing to remember is that everyone has talents that can be utilized during Recruitment, which can make the Recruitment Advisor’s job easier and more enjoyable.

Follow-Up

One really important thing to remember--and a way to get Members involved--is follow-up. It’s important to follow through on your hard work by following up promptly with PNMs after each event. Follow-ups are most meaningful when they are personal, so get Members involved by sending a quick message via email, text, or DM. The personal touch goes a long way to showing PNMs what Fellowship looks like in your Chapter. Remember that follow-ups should be timely. You want to reach out while Phi Sigma Pi and the event they attended are fresh in their mind.