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Posted By Nigel Davidson
I'm hoping that persistence pays off!! I arrived in the UK 2.5 months ago with the intention of starting my career in health and safety, and so far, it has been soooooo hard to even get people to look at my cv! I graduated in 2003 at the University of Newcastle, Australia with a degree in Occupational Health and Safety, and have a little conultant and construction experience, but am totally open to ANY area of health and safety. My main aim of coming here was to get some good experience and get my career started, but im beginning to think it won't happen (and the pound is eating my poor old aussie dollar like you wouldn't believe!)
so...can anyone offer me some advice? i've tried searching online, in papers, calling job centers..all i can think of. I was just wondering if there is something else i can do to help my chances here:) i live in the South east, and am willing to travel to london!
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Posted By Mike Miller
Hi Nigel
If your not having any luck down there you have not tried hard enough. I have the SHP delivered every month and there are hundreds of safety jobs from the midlands down to the big smoke. Whatever you do don't move North. Jobs here are as rare as hens teeth.
You may need to aquire a CSCS card to work in construction but with a degree thats not much of a problem. Also are you registered with IOSH, if not make that your first move.
PS just have a XXXX and give it some thought for a while!
Good luck Bud
Mike
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Posted By James Byatt
Nigel,
Agencies is the only search route you haven't mentioned. Have you registered with any yet?
An internet search for H&S Jobs should reveal a few of the biggies but be prepared to call them EVERY week to hassle them, otherwise you move to the bottom of their pile pretty quickly.
Also, 2.5months isn't that long to be job hunting. It took me 5 months to get a job offer this time round and 7 months the last time I changed roles. I found myself doing job-search activities every day for what seemed like an eternity but it does pay off in the long run.
SOmetimes you need a bit of faith thrown in with your persistence and a lot of luck to put you inthe right place at the right time.
I'll send you a list of agencies I used off-forum.
Best of luck,
James
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Posted By Kelly Hughes
Nigel.
Have you tried Jodie Peach, she collects C.V.'S.
On a more serious note, have you tried contacting the training agencies as these are always looking for additional trainers for all over the U.K.
The likes of CHSS, and National Britannia are some of the largest.
Whilst working for this type of company you are gaining experience and having training which you are not paying for.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
Regards
Kelly
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Posted By Keith32
'Whatever you don't move north. Jobs are as rare as hens teeth'...
This is a bit of a sweeping generalisation - get in contact with agencies based in the UK towns/cities in the north and you will find that there are quite a considerable number of H&S jobs in the north/Scotland.
In my view the main problem is that agencies want people that they can put forward to jobs with the minimum of effort/maximum profit i.e. they want to do the minimum of work. You should remember agencies have job applicants at least 3rd on their list of priorities...........1 get a placement and the associated money, 2 get the client company somebody who can do the job, 3 may be then consider the job applicants needs.
I'm afraid I have a pretty low opinion of recruitment agencies - they are just sales people 'sharks'.
It seems to me many of them are unadventureous and don't 'think outside of the box' as regards a persons skills/experience and future potential. I'm not even sure that most agencies actually understand what H&S people do - they just look for the magic letters MIOSH, CDM etc on CVs.
In my humble opinion, this also applies to a great many employers.
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Posted By James Byatt
Keith, I have to agree. I only mentioned agencies to Nigel as he didn't appear to have tried them yet.
In my view, in the heirarchy of job-search they are the same as PPE. Still important and play a vital role but try everything else first before you result to using them...
James
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Posted By Roj Smith
Keith,
You may be right about the general level of H&S knowledge and understanding within most recruitment agencies and consultancies. However, as a member of IOSH and a holder of the NEBOSH Diploma parts one and two, I worked for 12 years in H&S before recently moving into the field of HS&E recruitment.
Some of us do understand the content of CV's and the relevance of experience and qualification.
Roj
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Posted By Keith32
Roj
As orignially stated, I did say 'most' not 'all' recruitment agencies suffer from this problem.
I'm just very cynical about recruitment organisations.
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Posted By Roj Smith
Keith,
Don't worry, I wasn't taking it personally, I was merely trying to reassure you that at least some recruitment consultants do have the knowledge and experience to understand what safety professionals are talking about.
Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss this further or send me your CV if you are looking for a new position.
Roj
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Posted By Keith32
Roj
Forgot to mention in my last post, I note you did not deny my observation regarding recruitment agency priorities etc.
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Posted By Roj Smith
Keith
Try me!
Roj
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Posted By fats van den raad
Roj
Out of interest, what made you move from a positive profession in to the slave trade?
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Posted By Roj Smith
Fats,
First can I apologise to Nigel for hijacking his careers thread.
Second, anyone who wants to take it further, please contact me direct or start a new thread on the OSH Chat Forum. I am wary of falling foul of acceptable use guidelines.
Third, and in answer to your question, I have not left the profession, and "Slave Trader" seems a bit harsh! I am still a practising safety professional. Even recruitment company employees need to be kept safe you know! However, I am also a now a recruitment consultant because I found a company that convinced me that they wanted to take things seriously and to be better than the average for both clients and candidates in the field of health safety and environment. Am I a game keeper turned poacher? Or, Is the fact that there is now at least one MIOSH safety professional, working to get other professionals (and new starters) better jobs a thing to be regarded as a positive step for all of us? Time will tell.
Roj
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
Some interesting observations regarding agencies and jobs. First, my aplogies to Nigel for hi-jacking his thread, but you may find something useful by inference.
I am very disappointed with agencies and the recruitment process with many companies.
I recently graduated with a MSc in H&S Management, with some useful experience I am still unable to get a meaningful position. Also just commenced a degree in Project Management (MBA in Construction).
This year I have had several interviews but alas no job. Of the most recent the last company did not even notify me despite TWO interviews. My last two applications I never even got a response, both large organisations I might add. I am very near to the point of giving up my aspirations and staying put driving trains and being a TU rep.
Agencies...well I have signed up to nearly ten by now, most of these have been unsolicited. Not one has managed to provide me with an interview, despite promises etc. I am of the view that most of these so-called jobs do not even exist but they use them as an excuse.
Fortunately I am in a position where I can bide my time and I have a reasonably well paid job. Hence the university fees. I too do not know what to do and I am sorry I went down this road. Not looking for sympathy - just saying it like it is!
Regards
Ray
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