Nominations for the Leadership Elections 2022 have been open for 2 weeks now. You might be weighing up your options; you have lots. Grad schemes, undertaking further study, having some time off, or even travelling - these are all great options. But have you taken the time to consider how running for a position in the Leadership Elections might benefit you in the long run?
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be catching up with previous Officer Trustees to see how their time in office has impacted their career trajectory.
Fifi Henry, Deputy President (Finance & Services) 2019-20
After graduating in 2019, I knew I wanted a career where I could analyse and solve problems whilst engaging and managing various stakeholders. As a result, I primarily focused on data/business analyst and business/strategy consulting positions in my job search.
Whilst I had initially applied for the consulting grad scheme, my experience in the role of Deputy President (Finance & Services) got me an offer in project management at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence (now Digital Intelligence) as the skills gained from taking on responsibility for the Summer Ball, creating and chairing the Services & Sustainability Board, and having financial responsibility and awareness across various aspects of the Union made me an ideal candidate.
As a Project Management Officer, the exposure to the Union finances and procedures was invaluable, and enabled me to hit the ground running when it came to billing, forecasting and reporting at BAE Systems. The Union also runs at full speed, and teaches you to find your moments and take advantage of them - like I did when the continuation of the Summer Ball was threatened.
As a result, I have come to the end of one year at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence with a professional project management qualification (and soon to add another), completed multiple personal and professional training schemes, secured several volunteering roles internally and externally, and received the approval to shift from the project management grad scheme to the consulting grad scheme, where I will be a business analyst on National Security projects.
Find out more about the Leadership Elections 2022 here. Nominations close at 12:00 on Friday 4 March.