My advice would be to identify where you would like to work, arrange for an extended stay at the chosen location and network like hell.

Around the world there are many highly trained and/or highly talented safety and health practictioners who are providing excellent advice and guidance to Clients and Contractors alike, with local skill sets and knowledge built up from working in specific environments and specific industries over many years. It is a challenge to place yourself in a position to be seen as a better option (with added baggage risk factors such as you staying if you do not like the change) unless you are readily available and having shown commitment. I suggest it would take a brave Employer to recruit in the current climate from the UK unless the skill sets were very unique.

I am not too sure if this is the advice you want to hear though.

Hi guys!

I am also looking for a health and safety role in UK. After having applied online for many vacancies, finally I have decided to move there (UK) and stay for a period of two o three months.

I would really appreciate any suggestion or advice from you. What is your opinion about my intentions?

Which place would you recommend to me to stay (north, south...)?

Thanks in advanced,

Javier.

A suggestion for the OP. Apply for a job with a UK company which has international interests. After a while overseas postings may become available, not all areas or sectors are in recession, there are jobs around. I would also suggest that you find out as much as possible about any potential location before you consider relocating there. The ex-pat life style may sound great but it doesn’t suit everyone, for one thing you might only have other ex-pats for friends.

You say you have construction experience – could that be extended to petro-chemical? Most big projects start as a civil job anyway. Online websites like Oilcareers.com and others of that type have hundreds of jobs in many different parts of the world.

Hi

A photo on your CV is a must for certain industries abroad. Also the myth that you can charge really high date rates isn't necesarily so. I have come across people who think they have a right to charge £70k to deliver training for a provider just based in another country. It's not as if your life is at risk and that you are working in a hazardous environment, so be realistic to the work you are applying for.

Do spend your time networking, if you can spend time looking who the major client is in a certain country/area, then you could find out who their contractors are and approach them direct. Your CV is then going to the right people. I've just returned from the ME and know of a few jobs going, but on these forums I can't mention it, even though it's not me looking. There will be other people reading this in the same boat, it's not worth our while looking to help someone out, but if you keep posting and mentioning your skill set, then someone may contact you direct.

Regards

Linda

Hi I will be happy to expand on this when I am back in UK. H&S is still really struggling in many parts, and culture plays a large part. I will be happy to provide more information in April 2012!