Posted By James Gutridge After seeing a lot of posts on this site asking for help and advice for finding work, every post seems to be locked. I do no want to waste peoples time by asking again but I feel I have to. I am currently looking for my first job in health and safety. I have a 1st class degree in Sports Science and I am more than cabable to learn and progress. I am living in the North East UK, however I can move for the right job which has room for me to move forward, even abroad. Ideally I would like to gain experience within the oil and chemical industry. At this stage I feel it will be necessary for me to get an entry level job and work my way up. I am hoping my degree will count for something regardless of whether it is directly linked or not. I am due to complete my NEBOSH Cert very soon but would like a job / experience to get the ball rolling. Can anyone help me find anyone who might be able to help? Even if it is experience to help my quest for job success. Thank you for your time, if anyone can help or if anyone would like to know how I got on, please do not hesitate to contact me: james.gutridge@hotmail.co.uk James

Posted By James Gutridge Hi Phillipe Thank you for your post. I realise that my degree isn't directly linked, however I was hoping someone might recognise my 1st and see my potential. Its what I am hoping for anyway. It seems throughout every industry, experience is required which is why I am spending all my available free time gaining work experience and absorbing many H&S professionals knowledge. working 7 days a week for the past 4 month should prove my commitment. Confidential info, please send direct to my email address so that we can keep this post open for all to read. Thanks again.

Posted By WilliamTell James, I can't help but enquire as to why you want a career in health and safety? I would of thought with a 1st class honours degree in sports science you would find it a lot easier getting a job in your chosen vocation. Correct me if i'm wrong......good luck anyway

Posted By James Gutridge Decimomal, why would i want others to do work for me? I have worked very hard to get to where I am at the minute with no help from others. All I could ask for is advice from others who have been in my position. correct me if I am wrong but I thought forums were for people to go to ask for help from individuals with knowledge in that area. I have spoken to a lot of experienced professionals over the past 6 months and you are the first I have come across who has expressed critizism (non constructive). Thank you for your final comment about contacting larger agencies though, however this was the first thing I did when I decided I wanted a career in Health and Safety. I am currently working with 3 large industrial businesses within the North East area to help me with my work experience although none of these have vacancies at my level within H&S. Why would it be late for me to start career hunting at 23yrs? finally, this is the only forum I have been on as I was told that this was the most helpful. Williamtell, I wanted to get in to health and safety when I was 18yrs but was told there were no degrees in H&S so decided to stick with my strengths, get a degree and start my NEBOSH when I had finished. over 50% of people who qualify with a degree, dont continue a career in their chosen area of study. believe it or not but it is even harder to get a job in a sports science role. I know of many masters students who are still struggling to find work.

Posted By Jean Hi James Having a degree in Sports Science, probably means that you would be an expert in risk assessing behaviour, equipment, environment etc. Stop knocking your degree, you have a lot of experience. Your degree has taught you to think laterally, undertake research, and I suspect the benefits and needs of good teamworking. All of these are invalueable as a Health and Safety Practitioner. What I have done in the past, is worked in a factory on the basis that I would be their H & S advisor. Many small organisations can't afford a full time old, mature person on their staff. The NEBOSH certificate will assist you in finding work. You may have to make phone calls, write letters apply for posts that don't mention health and safety and then suggest at the interview that you would like to offer yourself for this role. You can then find a mentor through your local Health and Safety Group, post questions here, use the H & S Site, do a google and get the answers. Which is what most H & S people do. Jean

Posted By James Gutridge hi, jean thank you for your comment. I know my degree counts for a lot, i just wished others recognised that sport science has a huge infulence on the world as we see it today, being direct or indirect!! I will take your advice and put it in to practice. I do not mind getting my hands dirty in any industry if it will help my chances of securing a H&S position. I am a firm believer in working your way up from the bottom. Allan, you have mail. Thanks very much for your help, and good luck with the future!! Decimo, you assumed that I wanted everyone to do the work for me. In my eyes this is classes as a criticism. if it wasnt meant in that manner then I apologise. Thousands if not millions of people choose a different career paths from what they originally saught. My dad started in H&S when he was 40 and has made a very good career for himself, however I am not one 2 ride on the his shoulders and want to do it for myself!! speaking of shoulders, my shoulders a very broad as I wont let individuals stop me from achieving my goals, I just like to fight my corner!! the reason why I said all the posts relating to job help etc has the thread locked, which is no help to people like myself. this is why I wanted this link left open for people new to H&S could see the advice given!