Of course we’re biased, but being an officer certainly has its perks…

You get to lead your Students’ Union and shape how we run as an organisation; all while being paid an annual salary of over 22k!

And it's worth noting that so many of our officers start out as being in a sports team or society, before then deciding to run for a full-time role.

But don’t just take it from us! Let’s hear from three former officers at our SU, and what the experience means to them!

Evie Adams

S.E.E. Officer in 2018/19; President in 2019/20

“To be completely honest, I got absolutely wasted on Rec Night and put my name in as a joke!”

“I woke up and was then convinced by a member of the Student Rep team with a ‘What have you got to lose?!’ speech, not to withdraw.

“As it turned out, I realised I could be the first STEM female officer in role, and this drove me to succeed.”

“My personal confidence grew in the role; now in interviewing, hosting meetings and briefing staff, it is something I am proud of.

“I also gained amazing experience working in the SU around the staff and learned good management techniques which I use in my team today.

“I had supportive access to Microsoft courses and was able to refer to office skills which I had no experience in before doing this role. Since then and in my current role, I still train staff using the skills I learnt on the courses the SU put you on.

“Due to becoming an officer, I joined (and attempted) other sports and social groups, one of these being American Football. A sport I continue to this day, last summer we gained a silver medal in national championship with Manchester Titans’!”

Megan Hayward

Arts & Media Officer in 2019/20

“My main motivations for running for Sabbatical Officer were job security, money, and knowing I’d be able to stay in Salford once finishing university!”

“The only reason I ran for Sabbatical Officer was because we got inundated with emails advertising the role, and I thought “oh I may as well!" as it seemed a friendly enough environment whenever I'd popped downstairs.

“I very much grew up as someone interested in extra student activity. Before running for a Sabbatical Officer role, I was the Voluntary Officer for Sports & Societies, which gave me an insight into how decisions like funding are made.

“I had also been Treasurer for Shock Radio, Chair for UniBoob, a student staff member for both the Uni and the SU – so pretty heavily involved in SU life!

“I felt a part of the Students’ Union purely because of how much time I spent at University House, and I was confident enough to run in the election because I knew I had a big society backing me, and I saw lots of engaged students every day in the bar!

“I quite enjoyed the Elections process, especially making campaign materials. I even made a video referencing the film Trainspotting to get the media students on board, and my main opposition did something similar, so I think us arts and media students just liked to be show-offs if nothing else!

“There are so many parts of my current job where having been a sabb has come in very useful, such as sitting on an interview panel hiring for new staff. It also broadened my perspective massively as I made friendships with people from very different backgrounds to me and I’ll forever be grateful that I got to work as part of a team that championed those backgrounds within the student experience and wider world!

“Having sat on a board of Trustees and having that experience first-hand with key stakeholders across the University and beyond definitely gave me confidence in myself and my abilities.

“I think overall being a Sabbatical Officer just gave me a chance of living life in a sort of in-between stage before being a proper adult. It gave me friends and a new social life as well as a positive environment to learn in. I felt really valued, and it definitely set the bar work-environment wise!”

Jess Wilkinson

Health & Society Officer in 2020/21

“If you're thinking I couldn't possibly do this role, this was me before I was elected and I'm so glad I was!”

“In my first year of university, I became involved in the Christian Union. It helped me meet new people who shared my belief and helped me find a church in a new city.

“Being a part of the CU introduced me to more of the work the Students’ Union did. As a result of this, the next year I became a student rep.

“I then decided to run for Health and Society Officer after being a student rep in my second year and a school rep in my third year.

“Being a school rep helped me understand the work that sabbatical officers do, and they change they can initiate in the student experience.

“Both the Students’ Union senior leadership team and the School of Health and Society team were super supportive, especially Neil Withnell!

“The role as an officer really helped grow my self-confidence and belief in myself, it provided me loads of transferable skills – from leading training, to presenting, to minute keeping, and even just as working as part of a team.

“All of these things I have continued to use in my job as a telephone counsellor. I truly cannot believe how much being a sabbatical officer helped me grow in confidence, be more comfortable in taking a risk and I learnt a lot about my strengths as working as part of a team!”

So, think you’ve got what it takes? We know you do!

Head on over to our Elections Portal and nominate yourself before Thursday 22nd February!