Over the years I’ve spent quite a lot of time recruiting. As an undergraduate I helped recruit over 100 new members. As a new chapter development director for SigEp, I recruited full time and started four new chapters. Now, as a chapter counselor, I continue to advise brothers about how to get the job done.

Along the way, I’ve learned some pretty good tips. But today, I’d like focus on some of the not-so-good tips. If you see your chapter spending a lot of time on these, chances are you need to revisit your strategy. If you need some help with that, call your RD. Or use this. 

Spend as much time as you can talking about what your t-shirts should say 
People care about you and what your fraternity can do for them, not what’s on your shirt. If you spend more than one day talking about what your shirt should look like, don’t.  

Recruit with girls
They aren’t joining a sorority. They want to get to know you. If you have to prove you hang out with girls by having them at recruitment events, you probably don’t normally hang out with girls. 

Bad mouth every other fraternity on campus 
This is what people do when they’re in last place. Don’t try to make people think you’re just the least worst fraternity on campus.

Only recruit guys from your high school 
If they weren’t cool then, they won’t be cool now. Focus on finding guys who will be great SigEps, not just the guys you already know. 

Be scared to show why SigEp is different
Every fraternity has bros, social events, and hangs out with girls. Show potential new members what sets SigEp apart, not what makes us the same. 

Use as many SigEp buzz words as you can
Potential new members don’t know what RLC, CLA, RD and AVC mean. Use words they understand like “academics,” “exercise,” and “self-improvement.” Sell benefits, not features. 

Leave all the recruiting up to the vice president of recruitment 
Yes… his title suggests that he’s in charge of recruitment. But his job is to help everyone do their part—not to do their part for them. 

Recruit with alcohol
If you recruit with it, you’re sending the message that alcohol is the focal point of the experience. People don’t join parties, people join people. If they want to join a party, they should probably go down the street. 

Only recruit during Rush Week 
Rush week is the best time to find people who are participating in Rush Week. The rest of the year is when you find everyone else. 

Be wary of recruiting anyone you found through the Balanced Man Scholarship
If you’re scared that your BMS recruits are better than you, good. That means you’re doing your job. 

Mike Fruchtman is a former new chapter development director and a chapter counselor for Cal State-Northridge. He lives and works in California.