1
Send an email to your school’s instructional and administrative staff asking for recommendations of students they suggest might be good candidates for the yearbook program. Provide them with some specific qualities that make a potential staff member most successful.
2
Ask each of your current yearbook staff members to suggest one of their friends who would make a great addition to the yearbook team based on what they know the yearbook experience to be.
3Make presentations to skills-specific areas such as business, technology, writing and art departments sharing the yearbook opportunity.
4
Re-interview all of your current staff members to determine if a repeat of the yearbook experience is in everyone’s best interest. Returning staff members should be encouraged to apply for leadership positions.
5
Prepare a formal application, selection and announcement process to give your yearbook program the quality reputation it deserves. Most popular school teams or groups have “try outs” or some other selection process.
6Personally ask students that excel in your other classes. Hard-working and dedicated students are often better candidates for the yearbook staff than a “straight A” student.
Ten quick tips for effectively recruiting, interviewing and selecting a yearbook staff.
7
Work with your counselors to make sure they know the kind of person that will be successful as a yearbook staff member. Invite the counselors to the yearbook room during a deadline so they can see first-hand the teamwork required.
8
Recruit a diverse group to make sure the yearbook staff is representative of your audience, reflecting the varied interests of your audience. If you successfully achieve a balance in staff, this will be reflected in your coverage by featuring different perspectives through photography and writing.
9
Focus on freshmen. Underclass students tend to be the most productive and committed to the full yearbook process. Because of other time demands, seniors are often not as interested, except those who have advanced to leadership positions.
10
When recruiting explain the application and selection process. When are applications due? When will interviews be conducted? When will an announcement of the new staff and editors be made?
Ye A rbook S TA ff
On Their Recommendation
Since yearbook involves learning new skills and applying them by working with others on a common project, list three teacher references we can contact to learn more about you, your participation in class and interaction with peers.
it’s all about You …
Yes | Maybe | No Are you willing to make the yearbook one of your priorities?
Yes | Maybe | No Are you willing to work as needed after school, on weekends or during vacation days to fulfill your responsibility in meeting deadlines?
Have You Got The Time?
In what other activities will you be involved?
is your schedule for next year?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you have your driver’s license and a vehicle available for your use?
Yes | Maybe | No Can you attend a summer yearbook workshop?
Yes | Maybe | No Would you be willing to accept a leadership role and assume a position involving additional responsibility and commitment?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you feel comfortable meeting new people and interviewing them?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you feel comfortable writing and having your work edited?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you feel comfortable with electronic publishing and/or learning these skills?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you feel comfortable taking pictures?
Yes | Maybe | No Do you have access to a digital camera?
Yes | Maybe | No Will you contribute to the financial success of the yearbook by selling books and ads?
On Your Own
1. On the back, and in carefully selected words, tell us why you want to be a member of the yearbook staff.
Tell Us What You Like!
With 1 being the most appealing, number the jobs in which you would be most interested and willing to pursue on the staff.
___Idea Generation and Brainstorming
___Research and Reporting
___Writing and Editing
___Photography
___Design
___Electronic Production
___People Management
___Project Management
___Business Management
2. On the back, describe a personal strength that you believe would make you an asset to the yearbook staff.
On Our Honor
By completing this application, my parents/guardians and I understand that I am making a commitment to the yearbook staff and will be responsible for learning academic skills as well as applying them to the production of the yearbook. I understand that this is a unique learning opportunity and that assignments will be related to yearbook production and marketing. Evaluation of all students will be made not only on the mastery of skills, but also on their hands-on application. I also know that time outside of class must be devoted to accomplish the tasks and that the adviser must be able to request that extra time in order to meet deadlines. By signing this application, we all agree to that extra time commitment. Student Signature
Name:
HOme PHONe:
CeLL PHONe:
emaiL
CURReNT GRade:
