Applying for a position in the HSU Election is like applying for any other job.

You'll need to answer a few questions about your skills, experience, and what you'd like to achieve.

Simply tell students why you're the best candidate and what sets you apart from other candidates.

As with any application, you should spend time doing your research and drafting your ideas before submitting your final version. The more effort you put in, the more likely your application is to resonate with students.

Your answers will be limited to 1,500 characters, so think about the main things you want to prioritise in your answer.

Remember, lots of students vote based solely on your application so make sure it's engaging and well-written.

The questions

Why do you want to be elected as a Students' Union Officer?

Explain to voters why you're passionate about being an Officer. Do you want to try and fix a particular issue? Have you had an experience that's made you want to represent others?

Tell voters who you are. Remember, getting students to vote for you is about hearts and minds - showing people how you think and how you feel.

What would your priorities be as an Officer?

Explain what you would change if you were elected. You don't need to have every detail planned out, but you should do your research to ensure your ideas are realistic, meaningful, and aligned with what Hallam students want.

  • Strike the balance between specific and general. Summarise the themes you'd focus on - avoid extreme detail about how you'd achieve your priorities - but avoid being too broad. For example, "representing students" is a nice priority but describes the role of an Officer, rather than what you would specifically prioritise.
     
  • Base your priorities on what students really want. Check out our research publications to see what students have told us is important. The Student Voice Report is a great place to start.
     
  • Be relatable. Speak to other students to find out what the big issues are and talk about why you think they're important.

Being concise is key. Don't think of your application as a Christmas list of ideas; treat it as a platform for communicating your values, ideas, and approach to the role.

What skills and experience do you have that would make you a good Officer?

Gain credibility with voters by telling them about your past responsibilities. You could mention:

  • Experience as a Course Rep, Society Committee member, or other Students' Union role
  • Volunteering roles
  • Projects you've worked on in a job, volunteering role, or in your studies

Try and mention how these experiences will enable you to be a good Officer, or how they show voters you can be trusted with responsibility.

Slogan

Though not compulsory, we'd recommend creating a short and catchy slogan to make your campaign memorable. It'll even be displayed next to your name when students vote!

The slogan could reflect your values and priorities, but it doesn't need to be too serious - some of the best campaign slogans are puns or rhymes.

Need inspiration? Check out these past examples (we're sure you can do better though...):

  • Together We Khan! - NUS Elections, 2020: Sarah Khan for VP Welfare and Liberation
  • Go With Joe - Queen Mary SU: Union Council Chairperson Joe Vension
  • Put the Ed in Education - Sheffield SU: Ed for Education Officer
  • Access Grows with Lily Rose - Cambridge SU, 2019: Access Officer, Lily Rose
  • Change is Pheasible - Nottingham SU: Joe Pheasey for SU President
  • Jos Do It - Nottingham SU: Josie for Sports Officer
  • Let's get GROOBY - Leeds Trinity SU: Chelsey Grooby, for SU President

Planned your responses to the three questions? Got a good slogan? You're ready to complete your application.