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Last year I wrote a couple of posts about how the sorority recruitment (which used to be called rush) can be a great preparation for post-college job interviews. Well it's that time of year again. Later this week more than 800 freshmen girls will go through the recruitment process with the 13 sororities at the University of Texas. Some of the girls will be relaxed and confident, others will be nervous, and still others will have family history and expectations to contend with. I know of a woman, for example, who is the third generation of women in her family to have been a member of a particular sorority and she hopes that one day her daughter will join the same house. Her particular situation reminds me of families I know who pressure children into particular careers because parents and grandparents were doctors, lawyers, career military or whatever. No matter how you look at it, there is much that can be learned from the recruitment process.

Generally speaking, the interview process for most jobs is pretty competitive. You will probably be meeting a lot of people who don't know anything about you other than what you included in your resume, what they found out about you by searching the internet, and by the way you present yourself in person. Sorority recruitment is just as competitive if not more so because of a combination of factors including the number of young women who go through rush in any given year (2,500 girls went through sorority recruitment at The University of Alabama in 2007)and the number of legacies (girls whose mothers or sisters were in a particular sorority).

Following are a few tips that should be helpful to young ladies who are going to go through the sorority recruitment process at any college and should be helpful to anyone embarking on a job search.

1. Do Your Homework
Before you interview for a job or go through sorority recruitment make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Meet with alumnae or current members of different sororities in the summer prior to rush at the school you plan to attend. Each sorority has different rules, GPA requirements, service requirements, and overall culture/values. You will probably find that you gravitate toward sororities whose members share your interests and values. No matter what reputation you think a particular house has on campus and no matter what house your friends and relatives encourage you to join you should be fair to yourself and join the one that will be the best fit for you. Four years is a long time to be a member of an organization that you don't really love. Sorority membership is a big commitment: there are a lot of rules to follow, GPA requirements, volunteer requirements, and a lot of time spent with the other members. Find a house that best fits your needs, personality, and values.

The same principal applies to a job search. Research company culture so that you can be prepared for interviews and to make sure it's actually a company you want to work for. Make sure you understand the culture of companies you are planning to interview with. For example, both Disney and Proctor & Gamble have reputations for having very conformist corporate cultures and both have a lot of rules that employees must follow. Are you OK with that? Wal Mart requires that all employees (even senior management) attend 2 Saturday morning (7 am) meetings per month - kind of rah rah sessions. Do you want to do that? If not, then don't even apply for a job there. Maybe you are conservative and need a lot of corporate structure - if that's the case do your homework before applying for a job at a Silicon Valley or Austin start-up because you may not be happy once you land the job.

2. Appearance Matters.
Dress conservatively but fashionably and make sure you are well groomed when you interview for a new job or when you are going through sorority recruitment. I know it seems superficial but the reality is that your appearance and image matter. I am not suggesting that you have to buy a Chanel suit for a job interview but if the last time you bought a new interview suit/outfit was 1990 it's time to upgrade your wardrobe. Make sure your hairstyle, makeup, and accessories are conservative, understated, and modern.

For example, if your hair is cut in a "mullet" it's time to update your "do" (mullets went out of style in the 1980s). If you have tatoos or piercings (other than one hole in each ear for earrings) make sure to cover them. On the other hand, if you only want to join a sorority or get a job at a company that welcomes individuals who have tatoos, piercings, or dress non-conservatively, by all means be yourself. But don't be surprised if you are passed over for jobs at conservative companies (investment banks, accounting firms) or if you don't get accepted to most sororities.

3. Smile.
Here is a little secret: everyone gets nervous when they meet new people. Certainly some people make it seem easy and many people are practiced at walking into a room full of strangers and walking out with new friends but it's not an easy thing to do. So if you are shy or not comfortable in groups just put on a smile, stick out your hand, and say "Hello" to everyone you meet. In other words, smile and fake the confidence. There is a saying "Fake it 'till you make it" and that is never more true than when you are interviewing. The more you smile and act confident when meeting new people the more confident you will become in such situations. Smile, look happy to be where you are, and before you know it you will be having a good time.

4. Charm counts.
After you have done your homework, dressed appropriately, and smiled your way your way into the first stage of the interview or recruitment process you have to have some actual conversations with people whom you need to impress. Turn on the charm. That's right, be engaging and fun to talk to. If this is difficult for you then practice with someone you trust. Role play conversations on a variety of topics and think of pleasant comments and reactions to any/all potential questions you might be asked. Charming people aren't negative. They are fun to talk to and other people gravitate toward them. Some folks have natural charm (think George Clooney) and others have to work at it a bit. But charm counts and it can help you to be a memorable and highly sought after candidate.

5. Sell yourself but don't brag.
There is a fine line between selling yourself in a positive way and being obnoxious. You have to figure out how to sell your unique skills and attributes while not obviously bragging. The best way I know to do this is to wait for your interviewer to bring up a topic that you have knowledge or experience of and to give an understated example.

For example:

Interviewer: Our sorority (or replace "sorority" with "company") really values public service and we have a long history of donating both time and money to the Chicagoland Food Depository.

Interviewee response: That is wonderful, I have been involved with Meals on Wheels for many years. I think it is so important to ensure that everyone in the community has access to healthy and nutritious meals.

What the Interviewee should NOT add to this response: "I was named volunteer of the year for the past 3 years by Meals on Wheels", or "My parents gave $2 million to the Chicagoland Food Depository and my grandfather is on the board of directors".
Why? Because there is plenty of time for other people to find out that you are a superstar volunteer. Early in an interview process or early in a new relationship you don't have to tell everything you know. Later when your new sorority sisters or your new employer find out about your awards or your families' financial contributions to charity you will seem more impressive in the eyes of your new friends because you didn't try overly hard to impress.

6. Make sure your social networking sites are conservative.
I have written several posts about this so I won't belabor the topic again. No racy, suggestive, or drunken photos of you should appear on any website. If you think its OK to post racy photos or photos of you shotgunning a beer just because you only allow your designated 'friends' access to your webpage then you are crazy. Photos can be cut and pasted elsewhere as can blog posts or comments on your site. Your 'friends' can give their password/username to other people who aren't on your friend list and who can then access your "private" information. People will judge you based upon what you post on your webpages and those of your friends. I know of specific examples of girls who were not accepted into sororities and individuals who were not hired for jobs because of what recruiters/sorority members found on social networking sites. It's a fact, it's not going to change, so clean up your pages and keep them clean.

7. Maintain your energy.
Sorority recruitment lasts 6 days from open house to the extension of bids. It is an exhausting process for all concerned. The most successful candidates are the ones that don't get overly emotional and who don't appear tired, stressed, and worn out by the process. The same can be said of interviews at many companies. Some companies require numerous interviews and a battery of tests before making hiring decisions. This can be stressful and tiring for candidates but successful candidates take it all in stride. Drink a lot of caffeine if you have to but never let your interviewers see you wilt because of exhaustion or stress.

I hope these tips are helpful and that those of you who are going through sorority recruitment find the perfect house for you! And once you join your new sorority make sure you remember these tips for a time in the very near future when you will be applying for a job. I will bet you find that when you do apply for a job that the interview process is a piece of cake because you mastered it when going through recruitment.So