Caleb Jackson, President '09-'11 
Being a Students' Union Officer is the best chance for you to get those final skills that you need before going into the big wide world. It teaches and equips you with all the necessary skills needed to run an organisation. I can sincerely say that my worth in terms of salary went up significantly and helped me to land my dream job. Working as an Officer Trustee you get so many chances to stretch yourself! You will be surprised what capabilities it brings out of you. In an economy where it is competitive you need that edge, being an Officer will give you that 100% ...for example you interview and employ people, measure performance and turn students' wants into reality through strategic planning!
I embarked on the journey and immediately after I finished my two years, I became a City Team Leader for the organisation I work for. A job that you normally have to work a couple of years before you get a chance!
Miss it now and miss out the opportunity to be ahead of your competitors.
Leoni Sullivan, VP Student Development '10-'11 .jpg)
Being a part of the University of Derby Students' Union was a fantastic experience!
It was a truly supportive environment within which to learn and develop the skills that I can use in many vocations. I left the Students’ Union feeling not only that I'd made a difference to the student experience, but that the Students’ Union and its members had made a difference to me.
The time I spent at the University of Derby Students' Union will always be one I have fond memories of and a place I'm proud to have worked x
Laurence Barnard, VP Student Development '08-'10 
Being elected as a Sabbatical Officer isn’t just a job it’s a lifestyle.
My time as an officer was invaluable, the skills and experience I gained while in post has developed me as a personally and professionally. Whenever im asked what it was like to work at the Students’ Union I always say it was “the best and worst job in the world, real rollercoaster, no day was ever the same, and you won’t regret it!"
I could talk to you for days about the job, but to be honest you need to be in it to understand how much of a life-changing experience it really is.
Heather Morgan, VP Welfare & Student Rights '09-'11 
As I look back at my time as VP Welfare and Student Rights I can really appreciate how much it developed and helped me grow as a person. The elections gave me the skills to go out there and talk to people, argue my point effectively and be creative in how I wanted to portray myself. Most importantly though it was an experience where I believed in myself and what I wanted to achieve wholeheartedly.
The job itself was like none other I think I will ever experience, each day is different and you really have the opportunity to listen to peoples' needs and make a change for the positive. I can’t even start to list all the skills you will gain but all I can say is that in my current job, and jobs I have had since the Students' Union, I have not struggled in communicating effectively or report writing and that is down to the skills I was fortunate to learn while working at the Students' Union.
My team are friends for life and I have made some other amazing friends and had some brilliant times along the way. The staff team are amazingly supportive and the students are hilarious. If you are thinking of running but are a bit scared or unsure then my advice would be as long as you are passionate and genuinely want to help the Derby student body then that is all that matters as you will be given the support and skills to achieve and the rest will just fall into place.
Ben Whittaker, VP Education & Welfare '06-'08 
I was the Education and Welfare in 2006-'08. Running for a position in the UDSU Elections was one of the greatest things that I have done. I used to sit on campus and wish that my Students’ Union did different things, or campaigned on the issues that really affected me.
Following on from the UDSU I went on to represent students at a national level as the Vice President Welfare at the National Union of Students. I am now responsible for our Parliamentary engagement and Public affairs at Leonard Cheshire Disability, a campaigning organisations that works to empower disabled people to create a equal and inclusive society.
I have always believed that you have to be involved in something if you want to change it and that’s what you have to do. Take the risk and make your voice heard because it’s not only the winning that matters its asking the questions, having the debate, and coming up with a better solution, that process in itself help to make a better stronger Students’ Union for everybody.
