Posted By Stuart Caroline
After seven months of trying I have got an interview for a HSE Advisor role. This role is in a newly built environment and covers support services.

At the interview I have give a 15 minute presentation on - What would be my priorities in regard to Health and Safety in my first month.

This is for a large company so some things ill be transferable.

I am thinking along the lines of including: POPIMAR
Risk Assessments
HSG 65
Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
Fire Training
As it is a new build more visual checks of emergency equipment and escape routes

Any advice or guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation

Stuart

Posted By RP
I would suppose that like many new jobs taken on you would want to gain an in depth knowledge and understanding of the work environment and work ethics. The processes and procedures in place at the current time and to identify areas of improvement that will benifit the financial performance of the organisation. by the end of the month you would be in a position to identify any short comings if they exist and the action required to meet any areas identified, including management responsibilities.

Posted By Makka
The gap analysis approach would be a good one, what they have in place, staff training and awareness balanced against the statutory requirements and site specific issues.
Use this to create a time lined action plan prioritising actions to be undertaken appropriately.

Good luck. Just remember to relax, make clear eye contact with the interviewers, and engage with them. Know your CV inside out and ensure that any questions on past activities are answered in personal 'I did' terms rather than the collective 'we did'.
Make notes as appropriate, and ask clarifying questions on anything you are unsure about (this shows good attention to detail). If they ask you about something you don't know about don't try and bluff it, be honest.
All the best!

Posted By GSP
New build, has it been Fire Risk Assessed. Probably not! Get them spending money from the start!!

Posted By Martyn Hendrie
My priorities for the first month would be to get to know:
-the key people;
-the management structure;
-the policies and procedures;also
-get out in the workplace and see what actually happens (to compare against what should be happening; and
-to report to management (written or verbal) a strategy to move forward and improve the company's H&S performance.

I would also not be too keen to get my certificates out and thrust them in front of the interviewer.
When I used to interview I always found that a big negative, they are probably more interested in how you can express your skills, etc. Once interested in you they may want to see evidence of what you have done.

Good luck with the interview.

Hope this helps

Posted By Merv Newman
sorry folks, but Stuart has not even got the job and we are already telling him to do a gap analysis. He can't !

Apart from his own professional knowledge and any research he can do on the company/new facility he knows nothing. (no insult, Stuart)

Other than that, very good advice from John Lewis. I did exactly as he says when I went for my last job interview (1967)

Sorry, but I've forgotten when you are going for the interview. If you still have a couple of days then spend them in the prep, especially on the power point. (Xmas is a coming, there's time to spare)

By the way, how will you be showing it ? On their system or from your portable ? Compatibility problems can be a bitch. Between your portable and their projector or between your USB key or CD-ROM and their projection system.

If you can begborrowsteal a projector to test for compatibility with your portable than have it in the boot of your car. Do a CD-ROM and a USB key. Be prepared. (try to avoid leaving them a copy. Remember the copyright is yours)

If you are really nervous then do overhead transparencies as well. Though I'm finding that a lot of companies dont even have OHPs anymore.

And rehearse. Start off in front of the mirror, then the cat. Next comes your wife. Finish in front of your youngest child. If you manage to keep every one's attention (no-one laughs) then you might be OK.

Good luck and remember that we always want to know how it goes.

Merv

Posted By Stuart Caroline
Many thanks for all the responses I really do appreciate it.

My interview is on the 3rd January so I have got time to prepare and on another positive not I have another company who wish to see me in the new year so fingers crossed and I will of course let you all know how I get on.

Finally as a new kid on the block it is great to know there are people out there willing to offer support and guidance.

Once again many thanks and Happy Christmas.

Posted By Christopher
You will need to identify any key objectives that may have already been flagged up by the company for you to focus on as a priority and prepare action plans. Are there any meetings that you are required to attend? Will you have to prepare any reports? Have any reports been provided previously for these meetings? You will need to obtain copies of minutes of these meetings. Determine and evaluate where the information for these reports comes from? Are you responsible for any meetings? Are there any outstanding actions that you need to address, or chase up by others?

Are there others in a similar role either in your own organisation or similar- consider networking, thus reducing the time in producing your own policies, this can be put under good time management and best use of resources.

Think about what you would like to have as part of your induction. Always ask them if they have an induction plan already prepared, thus you will be able to establish what you consider needs to be added subject to further information becoming available.

Have your suit cleaned, your shoes polished, hair looking just perfect. Smart looking tie. Then imagine you are an actor providing a training session on how to obtain a job. Imaging you are already doing the job. This is just an exercise to help others.

Always ask for feedback if you don't get it, and ask for feedback if you do get it!

All the very best

Posted By Stuart Caroline
Glyn

Taken in good spirit - check your e-mail

Regrds
Stuart

Posted By Stuart Caroline
Have just heard that I have been short listed to the last two, next interview will be early Feb due to reasons beyond my control.

The feedback from the interview panel was excellent and the agency that put me forward have said that out of the candidates put forward I was the strongest and the company just want to interview one more to give some comparison (whatever for - I don't know).

At the interview they said that my presentation was very professional and covered all of the points they wanted to see and hear so that is a big thanks to all who contributed to this discussion.

Also I still have another iron in the fire although this would be my first choice role and a superb place to begin a new and exciting career.

I will keep you posted with any developments.