Recruitment : 4 Step Overview and A Look At Our Organization.
Overthe past few weeks I have discussed four steps that need to be taken tosuccessfully recruit new members into your club/organization. If you followthese four simple steps and tweak them accordingly then success willhappen. The four simple steps that I have talked about are:
Step1: Identifying why people join your club/organization.
Step 2: Whatare your recruitment goals?
Step 3:Talk to everyone.
Step 4:Welcome!!
Remember.... follow the four steps in recruiting and see your club/organization go. On our campus (ICC), our Campus Activities Board has a few problems in trying to recruit new members. One of the problems that the Campus Activities Board had is that we don't identify why people join the club/organization. One thing that the Campus Activities Board did was that they recruited prospective members but not looking for anyone specific. They weren't looking for someone with any special qualities, skills, leadership roles or anything. They were looking for the average joe (nothing wrong with that). They needed to look for members to fill certain roles in the club/organization. They should of looked for people that offered the club special skills, etc.. When they were recruiting new members people were asked what they were looking for and they would tell them *you*. They would make them feel special at first and then when they started to get involved they would right away except them to do things on their own, sit at an event, learn things quickly or they wouldn't call those new members back unless they really needed them, which isn't right at all.
Another thing that the Campus Activities Board had problems with was setting recruitment goals. They never set any goals for the group. The main goal for them was to get as many people involved and in the group as much as possible. But there is much more to it than that. We need to make the club/organization bigger, teach the members new things, improve on their skills, etc.. It's all about goals. When you are in a club/organization it's important to look back at the year and see what all has changed for the better or worse. That is what makes a person better. They can then see the mistakes that they have made or the successes that they can either improve on doing or keep doing. The Campus Activities Board has never taken time to sit back with the group and see where things have went right or wrong. Set goals!!!
Third is that the Campus Activities Board doesn't really talk to everyone. Sure they share with their friends... but where does that really get them? Nowhere. They have to make sure that they are heard and noticed Monday-Friday. Not Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. It needs to be every single day. When I say every single day I don't mean it for the entire semester or year. Give it a time frame and make sure it's done everyday during that time. Stop at student hot spots and introduce yourself (club). Tell the students what you are all about what you have to offer them. Walk down the halls and handout handbills and stop and talk to people in the hallways. There are hundreds of ways to market your club and to get yourselves heard. The Campus Activities Board here at ICC has a Student Activities Fair twice a year. That is the only time where they have ever tried to recruit new members. They hardly walk the halls, meet new people, greet people, talk about CAB to others, etc..
Probably one of the biggest problems that the Campus Activities Board has is welcoming new members and keeping them interested in what we have to offer them. They can recruit 2-4 members every semester but for some reason they never stick with the club/organization. It's because they don't really make them feel wanted or special. It's almost like they are there to make their jobs easier for them. When really they should be there to offer something better to help their club/organization. The new members will help out with a couple events, get a few emails, and then sooner or later won't get anything about any meetings, events, or conferences to keep them involved. I feel that is probably one of the hardest things for clubs/organizations to do... and that is to make EVERYONE feel like they are special in their very own unique way.
The Campus Activities Board is a great group at ICC and have done a lot of wonderful things. I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. These are just a few common mistakes that a lot of college clubs/organizations make. But with these steps they can improve their recruiting 100% from where it's at now.
I hope that everyone takes a look at this and really understands how simple and not very difficult it is to recruit.
Hope you all enjoy :)
-b
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