Written by Anson Hu
Coming out of high school, I was always told that one of the best experiences to take advantage of in university was to join a club. Whether that be an outdoors-related club like hiking, a music-related club like choir, or a personal and professional development club like SFU LYFE. What nobody told me though, was how becoming a club executive in particular is a great way to…
1. Learn How to Interview or Campaign for a Position
Under the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS), which oversees clubs at Simon Fraser University (SFU), there are two methods to become a club executive. Depending on the club, either an interview or election process needs to be conducted in order to select or elect club executives. When I was applying for a Vice President position at SFU LYFE, I went through the interview process, which also included sending in an application; answering short answer questions detailing my interests and skills. Additionally, I sent in my resume. In this way, the application and interview process is not too different from that of applying for a regular job.
Tips that have helped me during such interviews include: Preparing for the usual questions (e.g., introductions, interests, skills, experiences, how you would approach certain challenges), being yourself, and asking questions (e.g., seeing if schedules align, day-to-day responsibilities) so you can persuade the interviewer that you’re the right candidate, but also see if the position you’re applying for is really suited for you.
For the election process however, I haven’t personally gone through it, but I know that marketing is key to winning. Being able to promote yourself in different ways (e.g., social media, posters, word of mouth) is essential if you want to reach people.
2. Build Useful Skills That will Help with Academics and Job Prospects
As a club executive, you are entrusted with various duties to complete on time, as well as communicating, coordinating, and supporting your fellow executives. Clubs are a team operation that count on every exec to do their job. That’s why leadership positions inevitably push you to build skills such as time management and multitasking, as clubs rely on individual work as much as they do on teamwork to function well. Being pushed and supported to do well in a team will also help with academics and finding jobs as well, as the skills you build running a club are highly transferable.
For example, scheduling and creating lists for LYFE activities has helped me to apply the same habits when planning out my coursework. Furthermore, thanks to the various tasks I’m in charge of in my Internal Relations role, such as creating newsletters or conducting interviews, I have more skills to add to my resume that employers will value.
3. Get Directly Involved with Events That Interest You (it’s easier in a club!)
This point probably goes without saying, but if you’re thinking about applying to clubs, apply to one that you are interested in! As a club executive, you have a big say on what does or doesn’t get done, events included. That is why if you have an idea you want to bring to life, you’ll have the best chance of making that happen as a club executive. On top of that, being part of a club grants you access to more resources (e.g., funding, a team of people) to help you realize whatever vision you have. Speaking from experience, it is much easier to put on events (such as our International Snack & Study Night) when there is a passionate team of people, rather than just yourself, that are dedicating their time and efforts towards a singular goal.
4. Have Access to Funding From the SFSS for Club Activities
And lastly, there are quite a few perks of being a club executive. From food to travel, the SFSS allows you to apply for grants for club activities such as events and meetings. Again, working within a club, you are afforded more resources to be able to make your ideas come to life more easily. Rooms (including those that have equipment such as TVs and projectors) are also available in the Student Union Building (SUB) for booking to host meetings and events.
So, if you weren’t convinced of applying for a club exec position before, I hope you are now! In my role at SFU LYFE, I have found it quite rewarding to be able to work within a team and individually to help execute different club activities. If you aren’t selected or elected the first time at the club you choose to apply to, don’t be discouraged. You can always apply again in a different semester, as people graduate or move on to do different things, or apply to other clubs that interest you as well.