You’re always wearing your company logo.
When you join a sorority, one of the first things you learn is “you are always wearing your letters.” Basically, everything you do after you’ve committed to joining, is done as a representative of the sorority. That doesn’t change when you start working at a company. Whether it’s a post on social media, or the way you act around non-work friends at a bar, people are going to form opinions of you and will associate you with your company.
People talk to each other. Gossip still hurts.
I also call this the Bambi rule: Thumper (Bambi’s friend) “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Girls talk… a lot. Even if what you say about a sorority sister isn’t supposed to get back to her, it will. The same is true for an office – anything you say can get back to others. Even if it’s not about someone else, be careful what you say at the office. Complaining will get back to your boss, and depending on what you say, it might get back to HR. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it’s something to keep in mind. It’s nice to blow off steam with your co-workers every once in a while, but be careful not to over-do it.
Group efforts are more productive.
Whether you’re brainstorming for a project or trying to plan and pull off a big event, working in groups is always better than trying to do it all yourself. In a sorority (especially on the executive board) you learn to trust other members, and let them help you, or even take the lead on a project. In an office, it’s even more important. Sometimes you don’t have the technical know how, or the ability to pull something off alone, which is where people inside (and outside) your department come in.
You may not be best friends with everyone, but be there when it counts.
When you have 100+ sisters in one chapter, there’s no way you can be friends with all of them. But they’re your sisters, so when it comes down to it, you should be there for them. Whether or not you believe in karma, it can mean a lot to be at a co-workers side when something happens. You may not even have to do much, just cut them some slack, or tell them that what they’re doing really does matter. But it can make all the difference down the road when you need help, or need a little extra time to get something done.
Personal (and professional) development is important.
In my experience with Theta, I realized that one of the best parts about being in a sorority was that you had sisters that wanted to help you become the best person you could be. (It sounds a little cheesy, I know.) As a young adult in the work place, you’re constantly growing, being challenged, and changing directions. It’s just as important now to try to be the best person you can be as it was in your sorority. This sort of goes back to the first point I made – you’re always representing your company, so do it in a way that makes you better as well. Whether it’s reading relevant articles and books, or attending a class, it’s important to always be learning and making yourself a better person.
Whether or not you put your sorority experience on your resume is up to you. Heck, don’t put it on your resume at all if you don’t have space. But I think it’s important to note that you didn’t have to be in a leadership position to have relevant skills from your time in a sorority.
