Recruitment Done Right

by Vince Fabra

Where can we see recruitment done right?  Let’s look at a few examples.

NCAA Athletics
The Military
Innovative Companies

From these examples we can learn powerful recruitment lessons. Recruit with… INTENTIONALITY, FERVOR, VALUES, TRANSPARENCY, and focus on TOP TALENT.

nicksabanal410pw_010512fNCAA Athletics – Let’s use an example of recruitment from a major sport and the reigning champion team from said sport.

How do you think Coach Nick Saban recruits a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide? Do you think that he walks around campus with a football and says, “Hey son, if you can hit me with a tight spiral then we’ve got a spot for you?” Or do you think that he has a list compiled of every player at each position that he is interested in by the time they are a sophomore or junior in high school? He sends these players letters in the mail, visits them in there homes and invites them to campus for a VIP tour of the facilities. He and his staff are persistent and make a recruit feel wanted and important.

The two key elements of recruitment that are most present in college athletics are INTENTIONALITY and FERVOR.

Intentionality – Players don’t choose schools and schools don’t choose players on accident. There is a reason that they call the commitment letter a high school player signs “The Letter of INTENT”. Teams seek out, identify, and court top talent with an unrelenting FERVOR.

armyFERVOR – Why does Nick Saban, his staff and every college football staff recruit with such a passionate fervor? Answer: Because they want their team to be the best. Nick Saban works hard at recruiting because he wants his team to be the best.

Recruit with INTENTIONALITY because you believe that recruitment does not happen by accident.

Recruit with FERVOR because you recognize that the members in your chapter are directly related to the quality of your chapter.

Next level – The Military

Now, I don’t know too much about the specifics of any of the branches of the military. I do not have a military background nor does anyone in my family. However, I recognize that the military does an amazing job recruiting with their VALUES. They are TRANSPARENT about the sacrifice and expectations of an airmen/soldiers/marines/sailors, and joiners are aware of those sacrifices and expectations.

Recruit with your VALUES because you are proud of what your organization stands for and you want potential joiners to feel that pride as well.

Recruit with TRANSPARENCY because you know that it is pointless to recruit 30 people and initiate 9.

Next example - Innovative Companies

classified-adAmong the innovative companies of the day, Apple and the products they produce are on the cutting edge of innovation. It is safe to say that some of the most creative minds around are tinkering with and building the Apple products that most of us use each and every day. Let’s speculate about how these “creative minds” come to work for this leading company. Do you think that Apple posts ads on Craig’s List – “WANTED: A really smart person that can design the new iPhone 5”? Or do you think that Apple IDENTIFIES TOP TALENT in the field and actively pursues them. “You think different, and so do we. Come join our team.”

Recruit by IDENTIFYING TOP TALENT because you want people in your chapter that ‘think different” when it comes to fraternity or sorority.