Candidate Writing Guide

CANDIDATE WRITING GUIDE

When writing your candidate statement, you need to consider what you represent. This is a combination of who you are, what you think needs changing, and why you are the best person to make those changes happen. This statement will serve you across your campaigning and tell student voters more about you.

1. WHO YOU ARE

Think long and hard about your student journey so far, as well as details pulled from your wider experience. To achieve this coherently, use the classic ‘show, don’t tell’ method of writing. Don’t just tell people by listing who you are, but demonstrate your personality, values, and beliefs through your actions. Make sure it is specific to the role you are applying for.

2. WHAT PROBLEMS HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED?

You will need to do a bit of research to explain the problems you’ve identified, and you will want to clearly provide details as to how this is affecting students and what you think needs to be done about it. Communicate the issue but focus on your vision for the future. In other words, be cautious not to dwell on the problem too much. Think about what might benefit the student experience on this issue and communicate why you think it’s important and how you would want to address the issue.

This problem may not affect to the whole student population, so you will also need to use persuasive techniques that convince as many voters as possible to get behind you even if they aren’t negatively affected by a problem you’ve identified.

3. WHY YOU?

It is easy to find problems and have ideas for solutions, but we aren’t always the best person to implement them. You really need to convince your fellow students exactly why you are the person who is the best candidate to make change happen. This is a combination of the first the two points, but you need to take it further. What evidence do you have for making change possible? Have you made change before? What are your talents and skills? Do you have any transferable skills? Do you have the right knowledge? Can you prove you’ve got the drive?

Top tips:

- Appeal to your fellow students – you need voters to back you.

- Keep most of your sentences short and to the point.

- Be specific. Don’t try to change EVERYTHING.

- Demonstrate your values.

- Get creative – tell a story.

- Share it with others – speak to those around you for advice and support.