Connecting Virtually with College Students to Improve Association Chapter Engagement
Updated: Aug. 10, 2021 | Categories: Membership, Decreasing Membership
What’s the average age of your association chapter members? You might find it’s older than you expected. As members get closer to retirement, some may continue their membership while others move to other things. Your may have considered ways to bring in association chapter members who are new career professionals, mid-career and senior professionals. And maybe you even have plans to connect with those changing careers and moving into your industry.
But what about connecting with those who haven’t yet started their careers? Connecting current college students to your association chapter membership can provide multiple benefits for both groups. You can help provide the students with a much clearer sense of what a job in your industry is like and give them the tools to help them make the right choices related to their careers. And, if the discussion between these students and your association chapter members includes the benefits of membership in your organization, you improve the chances the students will join your chapter after they graduate.
Here are three ideas for connecting with college students. All of these can be done virtually or in person. The virtual aspect means you can work with students, build relationships and have an impact that goes beyond your chapter’s typical local reach.
Hold virtual career days and panel discussions. Help students better prepare for internships and fulltime jobs in your field by having them learn from those already in the industry they’re considering entering. They can talk about daily responsibilities as well as traditional and non-traditional career paths. Have a member who was in a completely different field previously? Have them discuss how they got to your industry, which may give students some career options they hadn’t thought about.
Help with tasks they aren’t necessarily focused on in school. These students may never have written a resume or gone on a job interview. Have members review their resumes and provide feedback to help them craft the resumes they need to apply for internships and jobs. Set up practice interviews – one-on-one and panel style – to give them experience answering questions related to their technical skills as well as their interpersonal skills.
Set up a mentorship program. Pair your experienced association chapter members with students considering entering your industry, to allow them to talk openly with those already in the field they’re considering. Not only will they learn from your members, but in both formal and informal conversations, members will be able to talk about what they love about their careers and how your organization has helped them get to where they are.
How do you set up a virtual student engagement program?
There’s a good chance you have members ready to give back by working with students. To get them inspired, ask them the questions the students will want to know, like why they chose the career path they did and what they wish they’d known sooner. Remind them that many students don’t often have a great understanding of what working in your field will be like, and they are the right ones to provide that clarification. Point out how your association chapter can help get these students on the right path, sooner, and how this program can help students engage with your chapter after graduation.
To run a program like this virtually, rely on the skills you’ve developed to run the engaging virtual programs you’ve been holding, and utilize breakout sessions, polls, speakers, chats, etc. To get the most out of your virtual sessions, you may need to give your members some tips and training around using the virtual technology you’ve chosen.
Working with college students can help ensure an association chapter’s long-term growth strategy. College Alumni programs have been doing this for years, using graduates to keep students engaged with the school long after they’ve graduated. In addition to expanding a student’s understanding of their career choice and better preparing them to enter the field, you’ll be connected to students who will be ready to join your chapter once they start working.
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