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Posted By Andy Camroux
I left my job as a Warehouse Manager and H&S Co-ordinator last August, with the aim of concentrating solely on H&S. I passed the NEBOSH National General Certificate in 2005. Since leaving I have passed the NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate and sat the Construction Safety Certificate exams in December. However, I still haven't found suitable employment.
I am a maths graduate with a masters degree in Scientific and Engineering Software Technology and submitted a PhD thesis on the structural response of buildings during fires. This knowledge and experience seems to count for very little, so is it worthwhile gaining more specific knowledge? Environmental Management and Quality Assurance would seem to be appropriate subjects to study. I can afford to self-fund more courses but is that really likely to help me gain employment? I welcome any constructive comments and guidance.
Andy
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Posted By peter gotch 1
Hi Andy
Should stand you in good stead with companies that have fire specialist units or perhaps local authorities.
Good luck, Peter
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Posted By Eliza Flutterby Hi Andy! First of all, congratulations on gaining these qualifications so far!! Have you thought about doing some contract work? I know it's not ideal in this climate, but you could pick up some more experience, make contacts, build up some confidence and earn a few bucks while you're at it. Plus (and no offence, I speak from personal experience here) you're more likely to get a job while you're in a job. As for more courses, well as I said already, you've achieved a heck of a lot. Have a think about where you want to concentrate your skills, interests, experience and knowledge. As you're looking for work, why not save a bit of dough for now and apply for a Career Development Loan? If you're unemployed at the time you apply, this will cover 100% of your course fees, as opposed to 80% if you're in employment. Have a look here: http://www.direct.gov.uk...velopmentLoans/index.htmYou won't have to pay this back until a month after your course ends, so it's worth considering, especially if it's a 2 year course. Finally, have you considered voluntary work, eg doing risk assessments for a charity shop or similar? Won't get you any money, but it looks good on your CV... Best of luck!! Eliza
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Posted By Bob Youel
best of luck; you sound like a genuine trier and that's what the profession needs
try shadowing for free [worth its weight in gold on a CV and in life] and get to your local IOSH branch meetings to mingle & possibly hear about jobs
environment and QA areas are definitely the way to go with what you already have especially for a young person
again best of luck
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
Andy
There are no simple answers with this one. Good qualifications will be an advantage but experience is also an important ingredient. You can't get a degree in experience. There is of course plenty of competition out there, so learn as much as you can and when a break comes you will be ready.
Employers are always on the look out for good staff, those than can prove they have the necessary skills, intelligence and 'can do' attitude. I think you will be an asset to the right company, but getting a good break relies on perseverance as well as some luck. A few years ago I was in a similar position having graduated with a Masters in H&S Management. Believed in myself, got a break and made the most of it - I think!
Good luck.
Ray
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Posted By John Fraser
Andy
Do the NEBOSH Diploma distance learning as it will give you core knowledge of health and safety - if you want to become a health and safety advisor. As with comments elsewhere get some contract work so you can get some experience, with your ultimate aim becoming a chartered member of iosh.
Q.A & Env Man courses are good, but most employers nowadays ask for the NEBOSH Dip first and foremost with appropriate experience to back the qualification up. You can do Q.A & / OR Env Man courses if you find a role that you have responsibility for.
Good Luck
John
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Posted By Descarte
I suppose with those qualifications you could really look at being a safety engineer or fire safety specialist, however both are specialist areas and would require further study, eg. With IChemE etc…
Doing the H+S Diploma would obviously get you more in to a general safety position but I guess it depends when your interests and passions lie
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Posted By Andy Camroux
Thanks for the positive responses. I appreciate that there is no substitute for experience and that there are no courses I can complete that will give me that experience.
I already carry out a fair amount of voluntary H&S work as a volunteer at CAMRA beer festivals, where a surprising number of different types of hazard are present, i.e. work at height, manual handling, electricity at work, control of noise (live music), COSHH, safe loading of vehicles, etc. Oh, and alcohol... This voluntary work is currently my main source of experience, but it's really not enough.
The idea of 'shadowing' somebody was suggested. Does anybody know of any companies that would be open to that?
Andy
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