| How do you persuade someone to appreciate | | | | Major? |
| your fabulousness? One of the strongest basic | | | | (E) Engineering. Career goals? (S) Teaching. HS |
| tenets of persuasive communications is evidence. | | | | Experiences? |
| Provide your listener with evidence of your thesis, | | | | (E) Engineering club, District challenge. High school |
| position, or brand. When you meet sorority | | | | friendships? (S) Yes. Like sorority friendships. |
| members during the recruitment process, will you | | | | (E) Favorite sorority events? (S) Philanthropies. |
| flat out announce the three legs of your special | | | | Volunteer experiences? |
| brand? | | | | (E) Algebra tutoring. College tutoring? (S) Tutor |
| "Hi, my name is Brit. First, I am a skilled varsity | | | | jobs available for college students. |
| athlete. Second, I am a National Merit Scholar. | | | | (S+E) Transition to new member. (S+E) Greetings |
| Third, I plan to become a pediatric | | | | (E) Leadership roles in sorority? (S) Yes. Balancing |
| anesthesiologist." | | | | sorority with work? |
| Is that normal, friendly conversation? Would this | | | | (E) Internship experience, specialized. (S) Qualifying |
| persuade others that Brit is special? | | | | for specialized internship? |
| Self-absorbed? Even if these three things about | | | | (E) Engineering club & district challenge, GPA. |
| Britta are both true and pertinent, is there a | | | | (S) High school activities? |
| better way Brit could convince a sorority member | | | | (E) Music at school, community. Musicians in |
| she is a good candidate for membership? | | | | sorority? (S) Yes. Marching band, strings, vocalists. |
| There is. | | | | (E) Favorite extracurricular activity? (S) Intramural |
| I give you the gift of storytelling. The trick is | | | | sports with sisters. |
| letting your stories convey your uniqueness. As | | | | (E) Movie "Dodge Ball?"(S) Hollywood versus |
| you tell your stories, let the listener draw her own | | | | Reality. |
| conclusions about your strengths or your brand. | | | | (S+E) Transition and Farewell |
| Can this work for you? | | | | CONCLUSION |
| Yes, it can. | | | | You can see that this conversation flows nicely. |
| For each strength you have chosen, think of a | | | | Eve was able to discuss several of her key |
| few stories in which you demonstrated your | | | | experiences as well as learn about the sorority |
| strengths or passions. These should allow your | | | | members. |
| listener to "fill in the blanks" with your strengths. | | | | Can you weave your experiences into your |
| For example, Eve was a terrific student with a | | | | conversation while also learning more about the |
| passion for math, science, and music. She had | | | | woman in front of you? |
| proven she could juggle a variety of activities and | | | | Can you strike a balance between sharing and |
| commitments would not be a challenge for her. | | | | asking? |
| Together with her experiences in work and | | | | It is not so difficult if you have planned some of it |
| extracurricular activities, she knew her academics | | | | in advance. Having your stories ready to go will |
| and passions would come together to form her | | | | help you get where you want to be in |
| unique brand. To support her strengths, Eve was | | | | recruitment - or in any interview-type situation. |
| prepared to weave some of her experiences into | | | | Eve was able to impress the sorority members |
| the conversation. She had: | | | | because she was prepared, intelligent, curious, |
| - Started and chaired the Girls' Engineering Club in | | | | engaging, and confident. She never found herself |
| her school. | | | | struggling with taboo subjects. She never had any |
| - Organized the All-District Girls' Engineering | | | | problems with awkward silences. And she left the |
| Challenge for her entire community. | | | | sorority members with a lasting positive |
| - Tutored middle school algebra students as a | | | | impression. |
| volunteer. | | | | You too can have seamless conversations. |
| - Interned for two terms at a professional | | | | Do you REALLY want to be prepared? Practice |
| surveying and engineering firm. | | | | makes perfect. Write down a script of a |
| - Taken piano lessons since fourth grade and was | | | | conversation that might come about next time |
| a featured musician at many major events. How | | | | you need to make a good impression. This could |
| will you guide a conversation so you can tell your | | | | be during sorority recruitment, a job interview, or |
| stories? During the natural rhythm of the | | | | even a date. |
| conversation, you want to tell short stories, then | | | | Envision the setting, the seating, the noise level, |
| ask questions to help the sorority member know | | | | the person or people, the time of day, and any |
| where you want her to go conversation-wise. | | | | other detail. Even if you do not write it out, close |
| Here are some notes taken by a bystander as | | | | your eyes and visualize. What will you say? What |
| Eve spoke with sorority members during | | | | will the other person say? This is great practice |
| recruitment week. Read until you get the general | | | | for the "real" thing. |
| idea, then scroll to the conclusion of the article. | | | | It is too late for Brit, but not for you. Now you |
| (S) = Sorority member | (E) = Eve | (S+E) = Both | | | | will WOW them with your stories. |
| (S+E) Greetings (S+E) Hometown icebreakers (S) | | | | |