Retention & Recruitment
What do student volunteers get out of joining an organization?
- Develop life and career skills
- Friendships/meet people/sense of belonging
- Learn how and why groups organizations operate
- Chance to handle some responsibilities
- Practical use of what is learned in the classroom
- Try to change the group/organization/campus
- Feeling of accomplishing something, making a contribution
- Good resume material
- Becoming a formal or informal leader
- FUN!
How to keep your members involved.
- Training -Develop a training and orientation program for new members. Let them know the organization’s function and policies.
- Match Up -Be sure to match the needs of the organization with the needs and skills of the new members.
- Be Inclusive -Include the new recruits in setting the goals and rules of the organization.
- Responsibilities -Develop job descriptions for each position and be sure the new members understand their responsibilities.
- Get Personal -Get to know the new members as individual people. What are their interests? Birthdays? They need to feel like they are a part of the group.
- Evaluate -Provide regular feedback/evaluations of the member’s performance. Meet with them one-on-one or with your advisor.
- Critique -Seek input from members when you (as the leader) encounter a problem.
- Let Your Hair Down -Get the group together socially on occasion. Get to know them ouside the “work” atmosphere.
Is your organization having problems with retention?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
- Does your organization follow its mission & purpose?
- What image does your group project?
- Are all members familiar with the workings of the organization?
- Are members interested in the group?
- Do you know your members’ names and something about each of them?
- Do your members feel valued?
- Do you feel valued as a member or leader of the group?