5 Reasons to Run for Elections
Did you know that as a Full Time Officer (FTO), you will get paid 27k to represent students, make a lasting and influential change and receive training and experience for your future? Did you know that you only have until 22 February to apply?
We have seven FTO roles on offer, each extremely important and each providing you with an opportunity to improve student life here in Bristol. If you're not sure which role is right for you, take a look at each of the job descriptions here.
If you’re feeling hesitant to run for an FTO position, or have never even heard of one, then here are some reasons to apply… Time is ticking, it's your time to lead!
1. You’re passionate about democracy and representation
Here at Bristol SU, we are a democracy – so you’ll be elected by your peers to represent them. It’s a powerful environment, where you’ll be joined by a network of hundreds of different reps who stand up for student courses, halls, and integral aspects of student life like the cost of living and health and well-being.
Being chosen by your fellow students to represent them, and then being able to create the changes they hope to see, is extremely rewarding.
Working as an FTO at Bristol SU will allow you to make positive change, and is a unique opportunity to learn more about democratic systems and how they work from the inside - so that you can make an impact on the outside!
2. You're an activist who wants to improve the experiences of Bristol students
We are sure there are often moments when you find yourself reflecting on your experience at Bristol Uni.
Is there something you would have changed in your experience, that now given the chance you can make happen for other students? If so, you should consider running for a role.
If something wasn’t quite right in your own experience, then it doesn’t have to stay that way forever.
Being elected means you will often find yourself in unique spaces with experienced, higher-education community members. It’s in these spaces that you will be able to have real impacts by being the change you wish to see at the SU and wider uni!
Students need individuals to come forward and give them a voice. From Course Reps to Full-Time Officers – these roles can help you create the change you wish to see at the Uni and improve the lives of over 30,000 Bristol students.
3. You are keen to be a future leader, who wants to develop leadership skills
Is your passion for change a driving force in your life? Then you would make a perfect leader here at the SU.
Perhaps you’d like to learn a little bit more about how to be a leader so that you can truly create a positive, communal impact. Through an elected position, you will be able to gain unique leadership, organisation, and project management experience.
As an FTO, you’ll help in leading a multi-million-pound organisation – making sure that it can do everything it can for its students. So, not only is this a chance to have a great responsibility, but it is a chance to gain valuable insight to guide that responsibility – both for this role and into the future!
Many of our FTOs have finished their role with us and gone on to be leaders in different sectors. So, it's not an opportunity you want to miss!
4. You care about your community
As an elected representative, you will be in a position that has the power to better represent all students, raising the voices of those who may be quieter than others. We want all communities to be heard.
Perhaps you have plans to work to remove current language barriers for your community, to better develop representation. Or maybe you want to work with students to campaign on the issues that truly matter to them.
Whatever you decide, it’s a great opportunity to assist in making your university and SU more inclusive, whether that be in societies, courses, or all areas of student life. You will play an integral role in engaging the SU and university with your passion for the student community, bringing it into the limelight, and making everyone’s experiences better.
Every student can run for elections and every voice deserves to be heard.
5. You want to receive training and experience for your future career
If you’re thinking of a grad scheme, or going straight into competitive work, running for an elected position will offer you experience that will help you stand out from the crowd – boosting employability for the future! And, throughout this role, you'll receive training and 1:1 mentoring from politics and representation experts, as well as guided by SU staff.
Networking won’t just take place in the office. You’ll be surrounded by various individuals throughout, as you’ll be able to meet up with different people from the community and other officers in the country working towards common goals. You will even get to work alongside Russell Group Networks and Regional Networks – you won’t find another role like it!
There are amazing career benefits to being elected, so if you’re keen to get a step ahead of the game and receive professional training for the future then look no further.
Not many people can say that they were elected officers at their SU. You will become a trustee of a charity that represents over 30,000 members – a unique experience that employers recognise as extremely important.
