teen recruitment what i’ve learned how i do it now my goals going forward

TEEN RECRUITMENT

WHAT I’VE LEARNEDHOW I DO IT NOW

MY GOALS GOING FORWARD

HI! I’M BRANDON FROM ATSUGI

• MWR FROM 2004• CYP FROM 2005• TEEN PROGRAMS FROM 2011

CONGRATS! YOU ARE IN CHARGE!

• SURPRISE – WE NEED A YOUTH OF THE YEAR

• WHAT IS IT?• HOW OLD?• OH NO!• LETS FIGURE THIS OUT• HMMMMMMMM

NO MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL

CHALLENGES

• LATE ARRIVAL– TRAVEL TIME– SPORTS– BAND– CLUBS

• HARD TO IDENTIFY

2 WAY TO GET CANDIATES

THE FIRST WAY

WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!

THE SECOND WAY

VIA THE PARENTS

LOTS OF WAY TO REACH PARENTS

• TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING• SOCIAL MEDIA• WEB PAGES• DIRECT EMAILS• WORD OF MOUTH

CHALLENGES WITH PARENTS

• YOUTH FEEL “FORCED”• HELICOPTER PARENTS• OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES & PRIORITIES• SIMPLY NOT REACHABLE

BEST APROACH TO PARENTS

• UNDERSTAND YOUR BOUNDARIES• GAUGE YOUTH REACTIONS• SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS

THE BARE HANDS APROACH

• TALK DIRECTLY TO YOUTH• GO DIRECTLY TO THEM• BE WHERE THEY ARE,

NOT WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO BE.

• TARGET GOOD CANDIDATES• YOUR ENDORSEMENT MEANS SOMETHING• ENGAGED DIRECTLY, NOT PASSIVELY• EARN A REPUTATION OF TRUST

• POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE BUSY• IT SOUNDS LIKE WORK• DON’T UNDERSTAND BENEFITS• DON’T BELIEVE THEY ARE GOOD CANDIDATES

CHALLENGES

LIFE QUIZ

• IS IT HARD MOVING?• HOW MANY PLACES HAVE YOU BEEN?– HOW MANY FRIENDS HAVE MOVED?

• IS MOM OR DAD DEPLOYED?• HAVE YOU HAD SOME HARD TIMES?

FINAL THOUGHTS

• RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY– YOUTH– TEACHERS– PARENTS– SLO

• FIND EVERY OPPORTUNITY– KEYSTONE– STUDENT TO STUDENT– YOUTH SPONSORSHIP– SCHOOL OUT DAYS

brandon.bergeron@fe.navy.mil