Recruitment

Definition: The process of seeking and converting a non-member to a member.

While the definition above is a simple one, it highlights three important areas of recruitment.

PROCESS– Recruitment doesn’t just happen. It requires planning and intent.

SEEK– Very rarely do groups have new members come running to them. You will need to actively seek new members.

CONVERT– With so many student groups, jobs, classes, TV, the internet, friends, etc. there are so many distractions. Develop a plan and a pitch on why they should give their time to be part of your group.

If you are a healthy chapter and are content with your chapter size, then this is a tough one to answer. If you are a smaller chapter that is experiencing some pain from your small size, it is much easier answer. Actually, the answer is similar for both groups; long term success.

Groups in the habit recruiting members will have the greatest chance of success. Recruiting members is a way to make sure that the organization has enough “people power” in the pipeline to keep the organization going.

You are going to lose people. Whether it is from graduation, change in majors, transferring to a different school, etc.; you will lose chapter members.  If you don’t recruit new members throughout the year you will find your chapter shrinking over time.

Horses vs. Mules. The old 80/20 principle holds true in nearly every organization […]. For most groups, about 80% of the results are produced by about 20% of the members. That small handful of “workhorses” can choose to try to motivate their unmotivated members (a.k.a. “mules”) to participate in recruitment, or they could just gather the horses and get to work. After all, horses recruit horses, and mules recruit mules. When faced with a lack of motivation or apathetic members with regard to recruitment, don’t ask “How do I motivate my members to recruit?” Instead ask, “How do I recruit with my motivated members?”  Phiredup.com

1. Develop a plan.

This should answer the primary questions: who does what, when?

Plan resources

Asana.com (Free online project management application)

2. Have your chapter make a name list

This should be a list of people your current members know, along with their contact information. Develop the criteria before asking the chapter to add to the list. Criteria examples could include:

1. Degree program: IS major or minor, computer science major or minor, IT major or minor.
2. Undecided students in your general education classes
3. Members of other tech related student organizations

3. Bring people to a chapter function

Simply inviting prospective members to a meeting or networking event may not do it. They may not feel comfortable attending, especially if they don’t know anyone else in the group. Offer to meet them somewhere else first – perhaps over coffee – then go to the chapter event together.