How to Recruit
Recruiting members is important for SkillsUSA to thrive. An effective membership campaign will help students build confidence and develop an understanding between themselves and society.

Determine students' interest
What are your students doing with their free time? Where do they go? What direction do they have? What can you do to help them learn to adjust to the world of work? Check out some of activities students do in their free time. Pinpoint what it is about the activities that is so attractive, and apply those concepts to your membership campaign. For instance, many secondary students enjoy competing for high scores in video or computer games. The same students may enjoy the Skills USA Championships competition. Postsecondary students may be interested in improving their job-seeking skills.

Students will join an organization that has something personal to offer. You can determine their interests by asking them directly, by conducting an interest survey or by observing what they do outside the classroom.

Develop a plan of action
A plan of action aimed at different student needs and interests will reach more prospective members. Any plan should include advertising chapter functions and making sure SkillsUSA is associated with a positive image. The SkillsUSA Statement of Purpose and Pledge are found in the SkillsUSA Leadership Handbook, which defines why students should join SkillsUSA.

A good advertising campaign takes knowing your product and knowing that it's good. Student success is SkillsUSA's product. That's what you need to advertise. Use motivated, successful students from previous classes or in your current class as campaign tools. Having them talk to other students can do more good in promoting the program than you may realize. To organize your recruitment program you should know:

· SkillsUSA's major competition for student's time and energy
· what barriers are preventing students from joining SkillsUSA
· what you as an advisor should reflect about SkillsUSA
· how you can help students strive for excellence and prepare for the world of work

During the first week of classes, display SkillsUSA pins, posters, advertisements for local Skills USA Championships and activities, and your state SkillsUSA student handbook. Keep them displayed throughout the school year, and update them when necessary. Have motivated students work at display tables in school halls and the cafeteria. Follow up on inquiries generated from these booths. Enlist the help of other SkillsUSA advisors to make sure prospective members are reached.

If you know what interests your students have and what may be competing with SkillsUSA for members, you will be able to develop a strategy to bring students to you voluntarily.
The recruiting process begins with students' beliefs. If your students believe they will gain something important from SkillsUSA, they will be inclined to join. Showing a video of the previous year's SkillsUSA activities may be the key to attracting students. Students seek opportunities that challenge them and offer them growth yet still allow them to enjoy themselves. Use posters, pictures and other materials that demonstrate learning and growing professionally while having fun. Also, do not forget the obvious. Simply asking students to join may be as effective as a major membership campaign. And remember, SkillsUSA programs function best when the entire class is involved.

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