Build Your Skills & Experience

You can become a Brunel Volunteer, it’s a great way to gain experience, develop transferable skills, and make a positive impact.

More information can be found here: Volunteering.

You can also get involved with the Union of Brunel Students (UBS) and volunteer directly with us! If you’re interested, all you need to do is email studentvoice@brunel.ac.uk. We often need volunteers to support student elections and a variety of other events throughout the year.

Other roles to consider at the Student Union:

The Union of Brunel Students offers a wide range of roles that can help you develop valuable skills and gain experience through our Student Voice & Activities Team.

Here are some opportunities you might consider:

• Course Rep

  • Represent your fellow students by providing feedback on the academic experience and helping shape improvements within your department.

  • More information here: What is an Academic Course Rep?

• Community Organiser

  • Support campaigns, projects, and initiatives that bring students together and strengthen the Brunel community.

  • More information here: Community Organising.

• Elected Officer Roles

  • You can become a full‑time (paid) or part‑time (unpaid) elected officer and help guide the direction of the Union.

  • More information here: Elections.

• Student Trustee

  • Student Trustees sit on the Board and help oversee the strategic direction and governance of the Union. This is an elected, unpaid role.

  • If there is a Trustee vacancy, it would be listed here: Job Vacancies.

• Student Network Co-Chair

  • Join one of our Student Networks (open to all students), and if a co‑chair is needed, you can express your interest in helping to lead it.

  • More information about Student Networks here: Student Network.

• Sports Club or Society Leadership

  • Get involved in running a sports club or society through the Union Activities Team - or even create your own!

  • Each club and society needs a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and sometimes additional committee roles. This is a fantastic way to gain hands‑on leadership and organisational experience in a supportive environment.

  • More information about the Activities Team here: Activities.

Nowadays, with so many online platforms available, it’s easier than ever to develop your transferable skills. Transferable skills are abilities or competencies that can be applied across different roles, tasks, or work environments. They are valuable to work on regardless of the specific industry or job you hope to pursue in the future.

Developing these skills makes you more adaptable, effective, and confident in a wide range of roles - ultimately increasing your opportunities for career growth.

Examples of transferable skills:

• Communication

• Public speaking

• Teamwork

• Problem-solving

• Critical thinking

• Time management

• Adaptability

• Leadership

• Organisation

• Digital literacy

• Self-management / initiative

So how do you go about working on these?

There are many resources available - both on campus and online. On campus, the Student Professional Development (SPD) team organises workshops and webinars that can help you build and strengthen a wide range of transferable skills. You can find information about upcoming sessions here: Student Professional Development (SPD).

When it comes to online resources, here are a few examples of platforms that offer free workshops. And don’t forget - YouTube can also be a great educational resource when used well!

• Google Digital Garage: Google Digital Garage.

• IBM SkillsBuild: IBM SkillsBuild.

• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning.

• Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Learn.