Being a Student Officer is the Best Job in the World!

Without sounding like a huge cliché, being a Student Officer is the best job in the world! Without starting your own multi-million pound business, you will never be able to have so much influence over the way a large organisation is run for years (or probably decades!)

As President, I am responsible for line managing the RUSU Chief Executive, so it is my job to make sure that the organisation functions on a day-to-day basis.I am a director of the two companies that RUSU wholly owns, including our own nursery.I am Chair of the Trustee Board of the multi-million pound charity that is RUSU and I am a member of the Council of the University; rendering me a trustee of that organisation with a budget of almost a quarter of billion pounds.

It is an absolute pleasure to represent Reading students and I primarily do that through committee work in the University. Whiteknights House is home to the chief offices in the University as well as the two main committee rooms. This becomes a President’s second home and it is at these committees that most of the decisions that affect students’ lives are made.

I also work nationally with the National Union of Students (NUS) as well as NUS Services Ltd (the huge group-buying consortium that stocks our shops and bars). I also am interviewed by the local and national press regularly on a variety of issues that affect students. This is a real buzz and I think it is one of the best bits of the job.

The most important thing about being a Student Officer is that you are passionate about making a difference to students’ lives at Reading. Running in an election is a fantastic experience and, if you win or lose (and I’ve done both), you learn so much and you meet people that you thought you would never meet. I have had the pleasure of meeting a huge variety of people in this job (including HM The Queen) and that’s what makes it so special.

I really encourage anyone who even has the smallest thought that they would like to run to be a Student Officer, to come and speak to one of the current Officer team. You are always more than welcome to come and chat about it with any of us.

If you would like to hear more about what the Students Officers do, then come along to Student Officer Scrutiny (SOS) on Tuesday 22nd of January in the RUSU Boardroom

It truly is a fantastic job and I would recommend it to anyone!

James Fletcher
RUSU President

Who Will Be Next? A Job Representing Students and Leading a Charity with a Multi-Million Turnover!

So the first term is over and your current Student Officers have made it through. It was hectic, stressful but crazily enjoyable to spend the term working for you. Honestly, this is the best job in the world.

It may seem mad but we’re now looking at you. We’re looking to see who will be running your Students’ Union next year! Every year thousands of students vote for five of their peers to represent all students at Reading. Those who win the elections will get the opportunity to be paid to work full-time for one year and lead RUSU.

It only seems a few weeks ago that I was nervously filling in my nomination form and trying to find some way to fill in my Spark* questions for their elections issue. I spent hours trying to create perfect answers that were funny, while keeping within the word limit! I’m pretty sure I failed massively.

I remember this time last year I was about to begin one of the most stressful times of my entire education. My dissertation deadline started to come in sight and my family begun asking what I wanted to do next! I imagine nearly all of last year’s 29 candidates felt the pressure. Running for election was the best choice I made. And the Spring Term of 2012 turned out to be the hardest and greatest time I ever had at university.

And now it’s your turn! This is your opportunity to lead an amazing charity and ensure that the Students’ Union and the University are doing their best for students. This job is like no other. I’ve gone from stressing about my grammar in essays to helping the Student Media streams progress and looking at the ways that students can make change in the Union, University and wider community. I’ve gone from ‘speed reading’ Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake to implementing our Gender Equality Policy that was passed at Student Voice.

It’s weird and daunting to think of leaving this job, but I’m so excited to see who’s going to get the chance to do this next. 

You may have been thinking of running for a while, or maybe it’s something that you’ve just heard about and think you’d be amazing at doing. Either way you’ve still got a few weeks to think about it.

Nominations open the Monday of Week 4 (4th February) and close Thursday of Week 5 (14th February). If you have any questions at all, come into the office when you’re back. The Student Officers are based above the RUSU reception and are always happy to talk to you. Otherwise, email us, tweet us, call us – all our details can be found here.

Campaigning to be a Student Officer teaches you so many things and it’s the most amazing opportunity!

Think one of your mates would make a great Student Officer? Send us an email titled 'I recommend' and tell us why. We’ll get in touch with them to encourage them and tell them about the process. 

See you all when you get back, it’s a little too quiet without you here.

Ceri Jones

VP Democracy and Campaigns