Greek life dues pay off in employment

Those who join a Greek organization on campus might not only get lifelong bonds but also a foot in the door.

Becoming a member of the Greek community at Penn has the potential to open doors to employment that would likely have remained shut if not for Greek affiliation and the professional advantages that it provides. While many clubs on campus offer strong ties to their members, “these are not meant to last a lifetime,” said Barbara Hewitt, a senior associate director at Career Services.

She added, “Some organizations turn over every four years, and the continuity isn’t kept quite as strong” as it is with Greek organizations.

These strong Greek ties extend beyond the undergraduate experience and act to create a web of alumni connections and networks valuable to any job search. “The alumni networks are definitely huge,” said president of the Interfraternity Council and College junior Andrew Turell.

Panhellenic Council President and College junior Jessica Stokes agreed with Turell, saying, “Alumni will help with things like interview preparation and will be really upfront with you about the job, whereas you might not get that from someone who doesn’t have any connection with you.”

Some Greek organizations plan specific events and trips to establish strong alumni relations for brothers and sisters. College senior and Panhel vice president of recruitment Alex Enny mentioned in an email interview that Chi Omega “plan[s] a yearly trip to the Penn Club in NYC where we mingle with alumni … and get to know our other, more experienced sisters.”

Alumni networking aside, Greek membership provides a pool of experience and resources among sisters and brothers that helps in the job search process.

“I’ve not only received personal advice and tips from older sisters and alumni in Chi Omega, but I’ve also found direct connections to jobs and internships. Being in a large chapter allows you to be exposed to so many different people and opportunities … your house will literally be the easiest and possibly the best resource you can find,” Enny said.

Turell likewise touted the resource of common experience as a major benefit of Greek participation.

“Knowing the seniors who have already gone through on-campus recruiting — having already been through the process and done the interviews … even just knowing how to use PennLink well — is a huge resource,” he said.

Membership in a Greek organization also provides a certain level of trust and support in the stressful process of job attainment.

Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Scott Reikofski said, “Penn student culture is pretty competitive, and you don’t always trust who you want to show your vulnerability to.”

He added that the supportive atmosphere of a fraternity or sorority fosters a “different level of trust than other organizations.”

Hewitt mentioned that Greek membership is not always an advantage, though, noting the different connotations associated with Greek life.

“You can’t control what another person thinks about Greek life,” she said. “Different organizations have different reputations on different campuses. If the person reading your resume went to a different college, you don’t have any idea what they’re thinking about that particular organization.”

The greatest boon of Greek participation, Turell said, is that “fraternities and sororities offer leadership opportunities, and you learn tangible skills by being involved, especially if you have a leadership position.”

“Not only do you have things that can go on your resume, you also learn to work with people, how to manage a budget, how to work with Excel — tangible skills that employers look for,” he added.

“Whether you’re going to be a doctor or a lawyer or somebody in business, you have to be able to deal with people,” Reikofski said. “That’s one of the great advantages … fraternities and sororities really help push.

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