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I'm new to H & S & finding it hard to find work - Midlands
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Posted By alice clark
Hi my name is Alice. I'm 24 years old & have just gone into to H&S.I've done my NEBOSH General Certificate and had booked on to do a Diploma but the course got cancelled. I am finding it really hard to get a H&S job as i have no experience. I have contacted a few companies regarding work experience (free of charge) & no one wants to know! I did a few days a consulting company which was good but i feel now i am stuck in a rut! Every one wants 2 years experience!
My perfect job would be either in Construction or as a Juniour consultant.
Has any one got any advice for me?
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Posted By joanne doherty
hey, welcome to the reality!! I completed my certificate two years ago, self funded am now doing the same with the diploma ( self funding) and I'm in the same situation, I don't lack enthuisiasm, I've had plenty of interviews, but it comes down to one thing experience!!
I've resigned myself to this and am currently getting involved in everything to do with health and safety i can within my working envioronment, this means pestering the pants off some people but hey, if it's worth it in the end then i'm quite happy to do it.
Don't give up, it'll be worth it in the end, but remember one thing, at risk of sounding as though i am putting you down, you are not gonna walk into that job, you have really got to work at it!! Anyways, Good luck, I hope you get there!!
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Posted By AJM
I can only sympathise with your predicament Alice. I am actually in the Midlands and know how long it took me to get a full time job as a health and safety manager after my studies, I am now a Graduate member of IOSH working through my CPD to become a chartered member so the struggle is worthwhile when you achieve the goal.
It is even hard to find jobs from a professional stance as I was looking recently. What i do find hard to believe is no company giving you any health and safety experience.
I don't know where in the Midlands you are but, Where I am Safety Manager for instance I would love to help somebody and would certainly put this to my company because if you are doing it alone it is a very hard task but fulfilling and you need any help you can get.
You just keep up the good fight and hopefully you will get where you need to be.
Alan.
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Posted By Jim Walker
Alice & Joanne,
Post were you live otherwise you will not get much help.
I'm looking for trainees but know from experience that money on offer (for 1st year)is no good unless you live close and can keep travel expenses to a minimum.
Incidentally, there was talk about IOSH helping match trainees with recruiters but nowt came of it - anyone care to comment?
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Posted By mark limon
There is an abundance of Nebosh certificate holders(100000+ I believe)many many of them with years of practical experience.You have passed an exam and thats about it.
Im afraid you have the extremely difficult task of persuading an employer that an inexperienced person is more suitable than a highly experienced and looking at some of the entries on this forum better qualified person.
Have you thought about going the safety rep route to gain more experience in day to day safety? and if you have a union take advantage of the courses they offer
I wish you well ,
Mark
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Posted By Jim Walker
Mark,
You are welcome to your opinion, I beg to differ.
Anyone who shows committment enough to self fund will get my attention.
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Posted By joanne doherty
HI JIM,
AM IN THE MIDLANDS TOO FUNNILY ENOUGH, NORTHANTS AREA
PLEASE E MAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST, I AM PREPARED TO RELOCATE
THANKS IN ADVANCE
JO
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Posted By mark limon
Thats your right Jim,but Id be suprised if you are the rule and not the exception.
I am presently at techIOSH status and a shift supervisor on a top tier comah site.Im also a qualified manual handling instructor
Next year I am self funding myself through the diploma.
Although Im not seeking employment in the near future I do look at the employment opportunities and most of them seem to want more qualifications( Ive got extensive experience in day to day H/S)than Ive got and pay a lot less than I get now.
I will be looking in 3 years or so when I turn 50.Then with my company pension(god that makes me sound old)I can apply for jobs that I want to do without worrying to much about the salary(as long as its over 30k :-)).
Even with my experience and hopefully a diploma I think I will struggle to find a position,hope Im wrong
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Posted By alice clark
I'm just outside of the Tamworth area. In between leicester & birmingham.
Alice
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Posted By Tomek Sladden
Alice, we sound as though we may be in the same situation. I live in the SE and am seeming to have SOME of the problems that you are experiencing. I have decided to go down the TUC Rep route within my full time occupation and am getting myself recognised outside of work offering my services to the voluntary and charity organisations in my area. Also working for a H&S training company which brings about work that way. ( Although freelance). The voluntary work that I do I ensure that when completed I send pictures and descriptions of myself, work done and the client to the local media!!! FREE PUBLICITY. You will be suprised who sees it!!!
I have the General Cert but am a full time firefighter so naturally specialise in fire consulting. It is good to hear that some people out there look admirably to us self funders.
Anyway I agree it is hard work but with the energy and commitent you will succeed.
Good luck
Tom
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Posted By Nick Higginson
Alice
I was in the same situation myself a few years ago. Keep persevering and you will get there eventually. I had to keep self-funding through Certificate, Diploma, Environmental Diploma and MSc but it was all worth it.
There is no greater motivation than paying for yourself. and your determination will stand out with prospective employers.
As it happens, I am currently looking for associate consultants, possibly leading to a full time role, in the Midlands. For the role I have in mind, I would value motivation and determination just as importantly as qualifications and experience.
Please send me a copy of your CV and maybe we can talk.
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Posted By naomi
Hi Alice
I live just outside of Tamworth and 4 years ago I was in the same situation.
I was one of the lucky ones I trained as a further education tutor and went on to complete my NEBOSH and eventually taught modules of NEBOSH Cert.
I also completed a train the trainer course in Manual Handling and got experience through delivering this to local companies.
I then had a lucky break where I was asked to deliver training in other areas which led me on to a full time position with a local company.I am now nearing completion of NVQ 4. I had to self fund and at times felt like giving up.Have you thought of seeing if local colleges would take you on as a part time tutor (this way you could gain experience from their health and safety officer)
I wish you and others all the best of luck and hope you find your break soon.
Naomi
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Posted By Chris Ivan
Hi Jim and to all those posting
There is a new free to join website which has launched this week which will enable those seeking experience or work placements in order to progress up the safety career ladder with those who wish to benefit from their enthusiasm and assistance, be they consultancies, voluntary organisations, smaller SMEs or indeed large organisations looking for a low cost way of try before they buy recruitment.
Email me for the website details, as I dont want to breach AUG's
Your friend in safety
Chris
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Posted By Tomek Sladden
Hello Chris
Where can I get your email from please,
Thanks
Tom
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Posted By Tomek Sladden
Sorry ignore my last post. LOL (DOH)
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Posted By Asha Matovu
Hi Everyone
I just wanted to say that I have been advetising on this page a few times for some voluntary work only once or twice a week with no success.
I live in Birmingham and still waiting for any employers to help me out for some experience. I do not want to be paid.
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Posted By Descarte
There are LOTS of H+S agencies out there that make their livings out of finding people in your circumstances work, whether you have a diploma or a gen cert.
There are also lots of jobs out there only requiring gen certs as minimum and having this does get you off to a good start.
However there are few employers out there who would be willing to take on a new safety advisor without any work expereince except in a assisstant or similar role unless you have the dip or other qualification you may get lucky.
So, register with many agencies online, look for that starting position if only for a year (safety assistant), being willing to relocate will double if not triple your chances of finding a position, however the salary expectations would be low and can make this move expensive.
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Posted By Robert Weiland
Alice
I had the same problem, I had the General but struggled to find experience. One route which may help is to work in a union environment where you can become a safety rep.
I did this via one of the big supermarkets and it allowed to me to get masses of experience and deliver training, compile risk assessments etc.
Good luck - as for further advancement why not try distance learning ? Ideally I would avoid the NVQ 4 until you are directly involved and get a practical "hands on" role as evidence is a pain to gather at the best of times.
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Posted By Dave West
I want to add something on this. I have not even had my results yet and have landed a H & S co-orinators role in the Midlands.
I was told that others that applied had more experiance but my enthusiasm played a big part. They felt i wasnt the finished article but would provide me with the support and resourses to be so. I know i have fell lucky as it was only my second interview but what i am trying to say is dont give up hope as i have spoke to plenty of employers who feel the same as my new employers. My new employer is even keeping on the the H & S Consultancy it uses at present.
Good Luck
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Posted By KB
Alice
Keep knocking on every door that is available even the locked ones.
I get really disheartened to hear from all of the people that have such enthusiasm and spirit that are trying to get out there and use the skills they have aquired.
You will get there eventually. I did.
I have now been doing this for twelve years and I am at the other end of the tunnel. I am too qualified and too experienced.
Keep trying I am sure there will be a role you could fulfill.
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Posted By Stuart Caroline
Alice,
I can truly sympathise with you as I am in the same position - self funded all my training and doing so for Diploma next year. Plenty of applications in but no interviews, but I will keep plugging away as I am sure you will and eventually something will turn up.
I have even decided to relocate if need be.
Keep your chin up and good luck
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Posted By Chris Ivan
May I suggest that if you wish to gather experience you perhaps try some of the business breakfast clubs run by BNI , BRE or chambers of commerce and try networking with smaller businesses, some of whom are desperate for the help but dont want to pay consultants fees -you;d have a great impact in a short time and am sure the experience would be worthwhile - particularly dealing with uncommitted managers!- otherwise, why not contact your local charities and see if they need help -
just a thought!
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Posted By joanne doherty
all,
first of all, congratulations to alice on gaining her position, secondly, after the posting i had put on i was contacted by email by a Russell Walker, asking for my details, what type of work i was looking for, etc. I was disheartened however to find this followed up by an email scouting for wannabe models. I have returned his email asking him not to contact me again, just to warn any other unsuspecting people out there.
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Posted By R Walker
Please ignore the response from Joanne Doherty, unfortunately she appears to have a grudge to bear and is dealing with things very inappropriately by fabrication.
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Posted By R Walker
Many congratulations Alice!
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Posted By joanne doherty
well done Alice!!
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Posted By JM82
Anyone else in Alice's position?
Congratulations by the way on finding something!
Cheers,
JM
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I'm new to H & S & finding it hard to find work - Midlands
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