How fraternity involvement can assist your future

Though a lot of movies depict fraternities as an excuse for constant parties, the truth is that the stereotype of the frat house doesn’t necessarily hold true for all fraternities. In fact, involvement in a fraternity can actually make you a better person, and even assist you when it comes to your future.

Camaraderie with fellow members – Though you will make friends in school, the friendships that you make through a fraternity will have a different dimension to them. You will have shared experiences thanks to your fraternity, as well as common values among yourselves. These friendships will most likely extend even past graduation.

Opportunities for community service – If you would like to give back something to your community, a fraternity can give you a lot of opportunities to do so. Some fraternities may require you to volunteer each semester, or hold events to raise funds for a non-profit organization belonging to your community. This is not only a good thing in itself – the skills you learn when doing this can prove to be very useful later on.

Academic support – As a freshman trying to find the ropes on college life, a fraternity can be a great source of information when trying to find out the details on majors, professors, and classes. Some fraternities have designated study hours, which can be helpful to get you to buckle down and avoid excuses to not study. You can also ask fraternity brothers for help if you happen to be struggling in some of your classes. Some other organizations have a minimum required GPA to remain a member, and that extra incentive to do well is definitely a good thing for your future.

Professional network – One of the most important reasons people join a fraternity is the possibility of tapping into alumni networks in the future. After graduation, it can be daunting to start a career from scratch. Having professional connections right off the bat can be a great asset. Moreover, alumni can act as a reference for you when applying for future work, or provide information on employment opportunities upon graduation. With today’s economy, a head start is needed to be able to find good employment. However, don’t bank on the hope that an alumni will take you in with barely an interview just because you belong to the same fraternity.

Leadership opportunities – Though it might seem like a lot of work to be involved in programs, the possibility of leadership opportunities is definitely worth it. This will allow you to develop leadership skills which are essential to future success. These skills will definitely come in handy when you start your career – and listing the position you held, as well as your responsibilities, could give you an advantage when it comes to job hunting. Whereas the average graduate may have absolutely no experience, your past as a leader in a fraternity could be what makes you stand out among the crop of applicants.

Fraternity advisor career recommendations

Are you still at a loss as to what career you should pursue? If you are at that stage then here are some of the best recommendations fromfraternity advisors when it comes tocareers.

Architect

If you have some skill in drawing, have an eye layout and you are interested in buildings and structures, then you should seriously think about becoming an architect. You will be designing houses, buildings and other structures. It’s not just about drawing pictures and plans; you also need to make sure that your designs are strong enough so you need some skills in math as well.

Dentist       

Experts predict that the demand for this profession will experience one of the largest increases in the years to come. That means you would have plenty of opportunity should you decide to become a dentist. A dentist is responsible for oral care and there are certain fields of specialization that you might want to try.

Accountant

Most people believe that accountants only deal with numbers. While most of the time they usually handle numbers and amounts of money, accountants also need critical and deductive thinking in order to do their job. Most of the time they have to make sense to a jumble of financial records. If you decide to pursue a career in accounting, it is not enough that you get a college degree. You should aim to be become a Certified Public Accountant.

Web Developer

With the speed that the internet is expanding, web developers would become in demand more than ever. Pursuing a career in web development can become a very fulfilling career choice. While you can do web design and development without going to college to study it, getting formal schooling and training would be best, especially if you get it from a reputable and well-established institute of higher learning.

Lawyer

There is a certain prestige attached to the practice of law. But it isn’t easy to become a lawyer. It takes a great deal of study to become one. But it could be worth it since studies show that the demand for lawyers will be increasing in the years to come.

Registered Nurse

The nursing profession has always been one of the most lucrative there is since there are so many opportunities within it. This profession is bound to expand even more. If you have the inclination and the aptitude for taking care of people then you should think about becoming a nurse.

3 good fraternity recruitment tips

1. Recruit within your social network – Some fraternities go on an all-out blitz when trying to recruit pledges by going from dorm to dorm and meting strangers. This can be quite energy-intensive, as well as inefficient. Think about it – if a total stranger who has no idea who you are or what you’re like tries to recruit you, what would his basis be for assuming that you’d be a good fit for his fraternity? If on the other hand, you recruit people you already know, you know what they’re like, and vice-versa. If you have a lot of friends from high school who are younger than you, they can be great recruits if they become freshmen at your school. Having an established relationship means that there will be trust among you, making recruitment easier as well as fun.

Don’t stop at your circle of friends, however. The people you know may know people who would be good recruits as well. Ask your friends if they know anyone who might be interested – they may supply you with more than one person. And there’s a saying that birds of the same feather flock together – so there is a chance that if you get along with someone, you’ll get along with his friends too. Having four recruits at once makes it a lot easier to give them special attention during fraternity rush. This makes it a lot more efficient than approaching individual strangers.

2. Plan Recruitment Events to get quality over quantity – If you hold an alcohol-fueled party and use pretty girls as a means of recruitment, you will probably attract a good number of pledges. However, they may be joining for the wrong reasons, expecting this lifestyle from the fraternity without having to put any work in. You want quality people for brothers. Make sure that they are the type who will attend events even if they aren’t parties, who will happily volunteer for events to benefit the chapter, who will keep up the chapter GPA or even raise it. You want brothers who know that a fraternity is so much more than a social outlet, so keep this in mind when organizing your recruitment event.

3. Know your fraternity’s story inside and out – A freshman might be exposed to so many different fraternities during fraternity rush, so it’s important to let him know what sets your fraternity apart from all the others. Let him know about the things your fraternity has accomplished in the past, making sure to cite specific examples. You also want to let him know what he has to look forward to if he becomes a brother, as well as let him know how close the brotherhood of your fraternity is. More than just talking about these things, however, you have to show it to him. If you’re trying to let him know that being a member of your fraternity is fun, make sure that he has a good time during fraternity rush. And if you want him to know how close your brotherhood is, make sure that your camaraderie is visibly felt.

People a fraternity leader should know

A fraternity leader, the fraternity president, functions as someone the rest of the fraternity will look up to. He is the leader of the brotherhood, and represents it at all times. Not only will the chapter’s fraternity members acknowledge the president as the leader – the university will, as well as the Nationals. A fraternity president must be able to set a positive example for the rest of the brotherhood, as well as project an image that is compatible with the fraternity’s values and ideals.

Because the president is the fraternity’s representative and point person, he has to make sure that his chapter is well represented when it comes to the national fraternities. He has to make sure that there is an open line of communication with national fraternity officials, updating them regularly, and seeking advice from them whenever needed. Reaching out to them and knowing their abilities will in turn allow a fraternity leader to know what kind of help they can offer if a situation should call for it. Some fraternity leaders may opt to delegate this task, but it would be best if the president handles it himself. Doing this will make sure that the chapter is well represented to the national fraternity officials, and will inspire admiration from fraternity members, knowing that their leader is concerned enough to take matters into his own hands.

A fraternity leader should also have a good working relationship with the fraternity’s Chapter Advisor – the role of a chapter advisor is to provide guidance, advice, and support to the chapter and its officers, as well as monitoring their progress. There are times when a fraternity might have more than one advisor. Regardless of number, the fraternity leader should know all of them. A chapter advisor will be devoting a good amount of time to the fraternity, and having both a leader and advisor with the best interests of the fraternity at heart is essential to a successful brotherhood.

A fraternity leader will be working with the advisor to create a relationship with their national (or international) organization and letting the fraternity know what resources are available to them. They will also work with the fraternity officers to integrate the fraternity’s goals and mission while supervising the chapter’s affairs when it comes to the community, campus, and organization. It’s important for fraternity leaders to be able to meet advisors on a regular basis, as well as on request if needed. The advisors are resource persons when it comes to planning events, as well as assigned to educate the chapter on national or international policies, and their code of conduct. They will also work with the fraternity leaders when it comes to ideas for recruitment of new pledges, as well as retention of current members.

A good fraternity leader will also know all of the members in his organization. Knowing everyone personally, and managing to keep in contact with them, will help to strengthen the brotherhood more than any event can.

Resources which may help you start your career

Whether you’re a fresh graduate or looking to explore an exciting new career, remember that advancing isn’t only about a new promotion or an increase in salary. A career is more than just a job, it should be able to provide you with opportunities to realize your strengths as well as acquire new skills. Here are a few resources that you can utilize when it comes to starting your career:

College catalogues – You can look online for a college’s list of programs that are on offer. You don’t necessarily have to plan to go back to school for this. Catalogues normally feature ideas on careers that are currently in demand, as well as emerging fields, which is a great place to look into when beginning a career. You may also want to opt for a certificate program or continuing education if you feel that your resume could benefit from it.

Job descriptions – Perusing job descriptions will tell you what employers seek from potential candidates. A job description will allow you to determine if the job is something you might enjoy, or if you should seek a different type of job altogether. If you are interested in that particular job, you will know all the requirements and be able to prepare for it well. You might also stumble upon jobs that you didn’t consider before, but realize that you may find them suitable for you.

Online profiles – Whether you plan to be an employee or a service provider, being able to see the profiles of those in a job you’d like to be in is a great way of finding out what skills they have, as well as their experience, education and background.

Professional associations – If you have your eyes set on a particular industry, their industry association can be a great resource for finding out about career options. Industry associations often hold conferences, trainings, and other educational opportunities. Joining these can be a good step in adding to your stock as a member of that industry, as well as providing the chance to network with those already in the industry. You can also read trade journals, newsletters, and look for career-related reading material.

Feedback from others – If you have had previous employment, or if you had an advisor in university, you may be able to glean some feedback from them which can help you in the future. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to work on them, making you a better person in the process, whether you plan to be an entrepreneur or employee. Most organizations will give feedback formally during a performance appraisal. Otherwise, you may want to consider directly asking managers and colleagues for feedback on your past performance.