Posted By rookies Hi Guys My husband wants to make a complete career change from wall and floor tiling into Health and Safety work. He has always been interested in this field but lacked the confidence, until now, to do anything about it. But I look at all your threads for work wanted and wonder to myself; how hard is it to get into Health and Safety with a NEBOSH General Certificate and no experience? Any advice on this would be most appreciated. My husband is about to start the NEBOSH Cert in a couple of weeks time which should only take him one month to complete. p.s. He intends to self-fund the NEBOSH diploma straight afterwards) Thanks!

Posted By Bob Youel he has extensive experience in his own area and probably construction generally so this is an area/strength to look at as many pass exams without experience in anything but school! Keep working at what he is doing whilst trying to get H&S work and there is always the union route

Posted By Sean Thompson Hi there, I would suggest that he rather than you should be posting this question. He needs to get networking with people in order to seek out the best opportunities. Regards, S

Posted By ITK It will be nigh on impossible to get a H&S job with only the certificate and no experience. I had two friends who passed the certificate with distinction, neither could get an interview due to lack of experience. They have both since pursued alternative careers. ITK.

Posted By garyh I think that what is needed here is a touch of realism. Turn the question around: would you employ someone eg to be an electrician, with no direct experience and having only just gained what is one of the most basic (ie level 3) qualifications? Very often, people do safety work as part of their job, then obtain formal training via IOSH or NEBOSH routes, before gaining a solely H&S role. Without being harsh, you can't really expect to drop straight into a safety role; I would suggest go for a role in which you can develop your safety experience, gain some transportable skills and achievements, before going into safety "fully". I do hope this helps.

Posted By Andy Forbes It can be difficult getting started. Volunteer to do some 'free' work for companies to get experience and practice. Trade off time for experience, future possible employers will take this as a positive effort to succeed in H&S Andy

Posted By George Burrage In my opinion you really need a sprinkling of good luck (an opportunity) then you need to be able to demonstrate experience if not directly as a H&S professional then as someone with a level of responsibility such as a first aider safety coordinator. Such previous experience would place you head and shoulders above someone Worth zero past experience. I would add that the job is much more complex than you may first believe. Not wishing to make it seem unachievable, but its certainly not a 9 till 5 job. Most days are 12 -14 hrs for most people in a serious role. Being positive, by all means aim for the NEBOSH Cert. this is still a solid place to start and I know plenty of people working in good jobs with just this and earning a good salary. The Diploma is very hard work as I can testify to, but we all start somewhere. Reading and web surfing can help with appreciation of terminology. I can highly recommend the RCS support books take a look on their web sites these are the best books for support I and many others SP's have had. If you want this job its out there just get yourself in as a good a osition as you can and it will happen as it has for many of us All the best

Posted By Caitlin O'Connell I passed my NEBOSH General Cert earlier this year & have recently started working in an H&S Assistant role. It's a good way to gain experience whilst drawing on the skills & info gained by the General Cert; as well as obtaining further training. It may not be as much money as a H&S Officer but it'll put him on the right track! All the best!

Posted By GaryC40 Hi Many of the previous posts are correct, a NGC with no experience will prove difficult, but hey lets face it nothing is easy these days! Your husband is being proactive and taking the first real steps to a new career, the practical experience he has in his existing trade will stand him in good stead and assist him greatly with passing his exams. I started off as a panel beater and have ended up as a hseq compliance manager with one of the country's top ports, it wasn't a easy route to get here and has only happened because of dogged determination and lots of luck! Take note of this, i got the job with no formal HS qualification (admittedly the role has evolved a great deal) from what it was originally. Over the past 3 years i have had to pass various IOSH courses (recommend working safely (1 day) and managing safely (5 day) before attempting NGC) NGC and now embarking on an MSc in Safety and Risk. I was lucky that my face fitted and i have the gift of the gab. Things tend not to happen overnight in this game, it is a long hard slog and once you get there, there is more to learn! Tell your guy to go for it! It seems like only yesterday that i was working on old bangers in a crappy garage in Glasgow. Finally, the partner of a health and safety person needs to be a very special person themselves! I hope you know what your letting yourself in for! All the very best GC

Posted By rsellars I passed my nebosh cert 3yrs ago and have been trying to get my foot in the door ever since. I tried to get a foothold with the firm I used to work for but all that got me was the sack under the guise of redundancy. It is very hard to get a start I haven't given up but when I have managed to get an interview I always get the impression that they are always looking for someone who has already held some type of H+S role. Its catch 22 I wouldnt say its mission impossible but it does appear that luck plays a big part getting that first role, right place, right time etc.. I hope your hubby has better luck than me. Bob