Makes for depressing reading. Nearly every post being offered wants a Chartered member, plus many years of experience.

There isn't one position in there that I could apply for, and I'm starting to feel really down about this. I'm starting to question whether it was worth all the studying, and expense that went along with that.

My previous background is in insurance, with limited HSE experience, as I'm a newbie, albeit a mature graduate. Despite having transferable skills, it's just not happening at the moment.

I shall carry on until my next renewal is due for IOSH, then think about going back to insurance, as quite honestly, I don't know how to carry on with CPD without spending a fortune on more courses or getting myself something voluntary, which would be nice for the experience, but doesn't pay the bills.

Nikki-Napo

You don't have to do courses to keep up your CPD. Branch meetings, which are usually free of charge, are a very cheap way of keeping up the CPD (you only have to pay for the travel)

They are also an excellent opportunity to meet other members, and maybe get some leads to where the work is.

Nikki Nappo

Dont get down.

Searching for work is a skill in itself. I would never apply for a SHP job and I never look in the job columns but I always get work.

First stop is to get yourself a couple of good agents, ones who will genuinely chase work on your behalf.
Next stop is dont rule out any trade work. A good Safety guy can quickly adapt from construction, M&E, Legionella, PetroChem etc. I even did work for Haydock racecourse once.
Next stop is networking. Safety guys dont tend to share work opportunities so your networking has to be aimed at Project Managers, Contract Managers, Directors and other Managers.
Dont rule out short time contract work in fact dont rule out anything.
Dont send spec letters though because you will get more frustrated.
Finally do ensure that your skills can match across to QA and the environment. Most employers want someone who understands those three disciplines and they really are simple to match across.

Hope this helps

I Agree but don't lose faith. Having just sat NEBOSH General certificate it seems that the goalposts have moved in the last 6 months, and employers may be using the economic climate to demand higher qualifications. However I think best route is to work with a good agent at an agency, call them every week and build a rappor rather than going through the formal advert response route where you are likely to get zero feedback unless you get an interview.

Good Question

QA is pretty simple but is a bit like football. Just because its simple doesnt mean everybody can play it and the good players stand out.

Not quite sure how anyone can help you on QA, it is a subject you are going to have get your head around on your own especially if cost is an issue.

Baby steps at this stage. Get yourself a couple of good agents and pretty sure you will be finding opportunities within weeks. The best agents normally get you some kind of opening within the first month. Sometimes you need to badger them but thats what they are there for. My agent rings me every month with something or other and if you were in London you would probably get inundated.

The Chicken & Egg scenario is indeed a barrier to work that affects many people but there is always someone out there who will give you a chance.
Good Luck

Good luck to you too.

A guy told me some years ago that there are three types of Safety Officer.
Those that make things happen,
those that that watch things happe,
and those that go " Oh **** whats happened.

Take my advice get with the first lot.

Find this a little demeaning that you think QA is pretty simple?

QA (and QC) is a specialised subject in its own right.

I would tend to state that those who have the QA/QC skills can pretty much pick up the basics of the H&S and Env subjects, especially where these overlap with regards to management systems, particularly internal audits, non conformances, procedural writing, training, management reviews, statistics, continuous improvement, et al. But I am not convinced that those with H&S or Env skills can just pick up the relevant QA skills and off they go.........!

There are many other aspects to QA (as there is to H&S and Env), examples include understanding and using the the various QA management tools ie, Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, 5 whys, 8D, process capability, etc

I was solely QA before bolting on the HSE over 20 years ago, what I would suggest is contact the Chartered Quality Institute who will provide some more details on how you can develop your body of knowledge in that particular subject.

On the aspect of the job front, I think part of the blame lies with the agencies who are specifying higher level requirements than what is required for a position - at the end of the day, if they place a higher level candidate with a company, there is the likelihood the candidate will probably be employed at the higher end of the salary range (and in some cases it has been known to exceed the max) = higher commission for the agencies.

Yes, it is not so fair on those who have the knowledge, expertise and a lower level qualification, or even those struggling to get a foot on the ladder.

Tough times these days, but keep plugging away, it will happen.

Yes I am having the same problem. I have quite a bit of experience managing day to day safety but I have only just completed my NEBOSH General, so everyone I speak to is treating me like I'm totally green. I did get offered a very interesting role but the money was just too low, at the end of the day you have to pay the bills! I was advised to sit the NCC and FC modules, so that's what I am doing as well as running a small freelance business which is in it's infancy but still no luck.
I find that agents seem to want an awful lot in the way of qualifications and experience or they want to give you all the low paid work which is not too good if you have a family to support. I've sent my CV to about 3 agents but no luck so far.

The other thing which can prove a barrier is your CV. My son has the diploma and has a mundane job so sent off his CV to quite a lot of companies. After a time he realised that the old CV needed tweaking so we set about changing it for each individual job. Hey presto he starts with a Major Company in January as Civils Safety Manager.

Another idea is target certain companies, send your CV off and then follow it up with a phone call asking for feedback on what your CV looks like. Always send it to the main man if possible. In the past Ive got suited and booted and called in to personally hand my CV over to the main man. There were several knock backs and then one day a guy calls me in and gives me a day a week in a big joinery yard as Safety Advisor.

The other thing is always put a positive slant on your career, i.e working towards Chartered Membership, currently looking at Environmental Diploma, will be active member of British Safety Council etc.

Negativity shows up very quickly particularly at interview so start thinking positive and instead of downing your career prospects tell the world you have a plan.

Yes I have done and today I seem to be having a bit of luck :)

If you are wanting to go down the construction route, go onto careerstructure, its a fab site, I got my last two jobs there, and I'm not Chartered, but am working towards it, the agents on there are fab, and 1 guy got me the two jobs.

Dont get down, I couldnt get work for a year after I finished Uni, but eventually I got one.

Hi Rob

Happy new year to you.

The job hunting had slowed down over Christmas, and then came to a complete standstill as I had to have surgery on my foot. Unfortunately, my job hunting has ground to a halt as I'm still not able to drive, and my doctors don't know how long my recovery will be, so for now, I'm keeping my options open.

Good luck in your job hunt. Fingers crossed something comes up for you soon.

Another good source is the Jobrapido website, there are lots of H&S positions on here and they don't all ask for CMIOSH.

Hi Nikki-Napo

I can give you some pointers and some good places to look for your first safety role. PM me as my suggestion may not go down to well on here as its playing the Job Site game....lets just say its like looking on Ebay for the misspelled items and getting them cheap.

I know things are bad. I was in a similar position a couple of months ago trying to move into a full time health and safety career. I didn’t think it was going to happen as nobody seemed interested as had no experience in any particular health and safety field. So was looking bleak to be honest.

I had applied for a number of jobs, managed to get one interview but I didn’t get the position (I phoned them and thankfully got some feedback which made me change my interview technique for the next time). I started networking to get myself known (I also used the IOSH forums – not just the career forum but making comment on the general forum and raising the odd topic myself) finally this all paid off and someone asked for my CV.

This led to a couple of interviews and finally secured me my full time health and safety position. So that job is out there just keep trying.

My son just started with a big organisation as Safety advisor. The Safety Manager told him they were desperate for people in Ireland. E-mail me and I will forward you the details.

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In order to get experience, i need someone to give me a chance. But most jobs require 3-5 years experience.

I don't really know what else i can do?

It just seems like such a waste that i spent 4 years in uni, only to have no opportunity to use it.

Thanks for your response.

I feel your frustration Joe, i suppose it's just the times we are in at the moment - recession, over supply and all that.

But i have given myself until September to get a health and safety job, if not, i'll just have to forget about health and safety and go back to college to do my masters in a completely different area (i.e. IT).

I suppose at least i have a job, so it ain't all too bad!