Executive Officers - you may remember being harassed by them, armed with lollipops and signs asking for your vote yet you're probably not too fussed who they are or what they do; that is until you need one of them.

Executive Officers - or "Sabbs" - are the elected student leaders on campus; they are your voice to the university and the city, they lead the students' union deciding on what it does for you and, perhaps most importantly, they get nearly £20K of your money each (excluding additional training budgets and expenses!).

UPSU has five of these important people, including a President, Deputy President and three Vice-Presidents, and guess what - you can become one of them too.

But what's the point? Why would you want to take a year doing a job like this?

Quite frankly, you're not going to get the opportunity to run a £3m charity taking on top level strategic management and financial decisions and manage large project management anywhere else. It's an amazing opportunity for your own development adding something very special to your CV that employers like a lot, in all sectors.

You'll also be doing something that's worth while, helping your fellow students have the best time they can whilst at university including activities, advice services, social facilities and campaigns.

All in all, being an Executive Officer in your first year after graduating (or as a gap year) is something not to be missed. Taking on the challenge, learning a huge amount about the professional world, helping students and getting the benefits attached to the job is a role no one in their right mind would miss out on.

Give something back, propel your own career and have one of the best years of your professional lives - become a Sabb.
Darren P Jones