Becoming a full-time elected officer means that you can make a massive difference to the lives of students. By directly representing the students of Keele, you'll provide a student voice and run campaigns on issues that matter. You'll also be gaining some pretty important personal and proffesional skills whilst doing it. So how can being an elected officer help you in your career?
Being an Elected Officer is a fairly incredible opportunity, not only do you get to spend a year working with and representing students, it’s also a really meaningful workplace experience that can launch your career.
There aren’t many other graduate jobs around that give you this level of responsibility and management. You’ll be a trustee of a charity that turns over upwards of 3.5 million pounds per year and along with your other team members you’ll be responsible for the strategic direction of the whole Students’ Union.
A Guardian Article entitled “The best graduate job in the world?” describes the work of an Elected (sometimes called Sabbatical) Officer:
‘For many students, it sounds like the ideal post-university career move. Sabbatical officers are the most senior staff within student unions. They are able to effect real change, they have the sort of positional power that would normally take years to accumulate, and they can network with figures they would never usually encounter.’
Officers are expected to attend a number of university committee meetings, events in the local community and national conferences. Our officers are given extensive training which will not only help them to fulfil their officer role, it will also provide valuable transferable skills which employers value such as leadership and management skills. The article continues:
‘Working as a sabbatical officer can be the chance to acquire a diverse range of skills that few graduate-level jobs can offer, says Heather Collier, director of the National Council for Work Experience. "Any experience of working life is always beneficial, but a sabbatical officer at a student union offers an extremely high- profile position within an organisation.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to get exposure to all areas of working life, including some that may not have been considered."’
Whilst standing in an election might seem like a daunting process, the odds are in your favour in terms of employment. Most full time positions attract an average of three candidates. This is generally much less competitive than the graduate job market, which can sometimes see hundreds of applicants applying for one position.
The salary is comparable to many entry level graduate jobs and internships at around £16,000 per year. The take home wage is over £1000 per month plus there are additional benefits such as a telephone contract.
We asked some of our recent Elected Officers about their time in office and asked if being an elected officer had helped to launch their careers. Here is what they said:
1. What did you get out of being an officer?
As President of KeeleSU I had the opportunity to run campaigns on issues I was passionate about, support individuals to become more active in their Union and negotiate a fair deal for students with the University.
2. What you do now?
Having spent some time working for UNISON developing activists in their national Strategic Organising Unit, I’m now training to be a National Officer at the FDA – the trade union for senior managers in the civil service.
3. How did being an officer at Keele help you get there?
My experience of speaking on behalf of members helped me start my career and the negotiating skills I gained at Keele have been so valuable. Being President of my SU was a great opportunity to work with some wonderful friends and take control of a £4million charity – how many graduates get to do that?
Vic Taylor – KeeleSU President 2013/2014
1. What did you get out of being an officer?
I developed the skills, wledge and insights to working in a medium-sized charity & campaigning organisation - I ran campaigns on Housing, mental health, LGBT rights and gained some serious wins for students around all of these issues.
2. What you do now?
I work as a Digital Officer in the Digital & Creative team for Britain Stronger in Europe, the Pro-EU campaign for the upcoming referendum on UK membership of the European Union.
3. How did being an officer at Keele help you get there?
I learnt how to best harness the skills I developed at University around digital and apply them in a real world job as an officer. I'm still doing that now as part of a national campaign to keep Britain stronger, safer and better off in Europe
Alex Clifford – KeeleSU Vice President Welfare 2012/2013
Running an organisation that turns over millions of pounds, representing 10,000 students and fighting for what's right gives you experience that money can't buy. I established the first ever KeeleSU Activities Conference to revolutionise club and society training, doubled the number of societies and obtained an extra £100,000 in funding for the SU. Through contacts I made as an Officer and the reputation I built, I found myself in the unique situation of being approached by organisations asking me to work for them. My sabbatical year gave me skills and experience that really set me apart from other graduates.
Danny Walker – KeeleSU Vice President Finance and Activities 2013/14
Danny now works as a Caseworker for the Office of Tristram Hunt (MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central)
To nominate yourself in the KeeleSU Elections, enter your details HERE!