Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ...........lol :-) Not sure why I'm laughing, I think I should be crying!!!

Graham, in truth, its pretty much all about the post nominals for me! If I needed to be a member of the association of donkey strokers (ADS) to get the right job and package, I'd sign up in an instant!

As an ordinary member of IOSH I share david bannister's comments at #39 about being "proud of MY professional body, protective of it and a promoter of it. One of the best things I did workwise was to join IOSH while still working for HSE over 25 years ago. One reason was that I was starting to think about leaving HSE for a different type of role within OS&H, and thought that being able to include IOSH membership on my CV and application forms might be an advantage. However, it wasn't the only reason. I had been impressed over time by the professionalism of several safety advisers I'd encountered through my work and learned were IOSH members. There's a question for IOSH members arising fom this point: What sort of impression do we create about ourselves as individuals and also IOSH among those who are not members? Also, as a parallel to the scene from the Monty Python film "Life of Brian" in which a leader of opponents of the Romans asks "what have the Romans ever done for us?", I can imagine some IOSH members thinking/ asking "what has IOSH ever done for us apart from giving us some nice letters to put after our names?" Well, the branches, districts, sections and other parts of the IOSH network organise some very useful presentations about a wide range of relevant topics at their meetings. Admittedly this isn't much use for members who, for various reasons, cannot attend any or many such meetings. Also, some of you evidently enjoy using this IOSH discussion forum. In addition, there's a lot of unseen work done by IOSH on our behalf. For example, didn't IOSH have a stand at the annual conference of each of the UK main political parties this past autumn? Though far from sensational and newsworthy, I understand (from SHP magazine I think) that the stand attracted interest from a number of MPs at each conference and probably helped to confirm or enlighten them as to what real OS&H is about.

I am not sure just how representative the Salary Survey is. I have made comments about this in the Members section and others seem to share my views

I am currently involved in recruiting a new member of our team. The recruitment experts we used were horrified when I said I did not want to use membership of any organisation as a application criteria, but want to assess candidates in a holistic way by looking a mixture of experience, CPD and competencies. This recruitment specialist company pointed out that I could not ask for a 'minimum 6 years experience' as that was age discrimination (What a joke), but did eventually agree to my demands. Just as well as I represented the company employing/paying them. It was obvious that the only reason that membership of a professional organisation was needed was to make it easier for the recruitment company to sift applications. It did little to ensure the best candidate for the job actually ended up at interview. I have to say, I can see why these filters are used as we had 200+ applications for the one job, and sifting is time consuming, frustrating and mind numbingly boring. But I like to deliver quality over quantity and I do not think you always get the best person just because they have a string of letters after their name. After all, Jimmy Savile had an OBE and KCSG on his CV, but would you want to employ him?

In reply to post #40:- Just curious, I have certainly experienced a number of the aforementioned higher grade individuals who were Freemasons (an invitation was extended to me which I roundly declined.) They were far from charitable or honest. Jon

An interesting discussion which up to now I have not yet joined. There is no doubt that IOSH have promoted the chartered practitioner as being the criterion with which employers should be looking for. Whether that is fair and unbiased is another matter - I'll keep an open mind. I suppose if you are in the club you think it's good and vice versa. Some years ago there was a discussion on these forums about whether chartered status would improve the status of h&s practitioners and moreover, increase salaries? It is easy to be critical with hindsight, but in my opinion I cannot say that either have been achieved with much success. Of course, the recession has not helped matters with regards to salaries. The fact remains we are just 'safety officers' to most and a long list of post nominals means little to those outside of the industry. Would be employers tend to ask for chartered status on most jobs which I have seen. Some still ask for NEBOSH Diploma, or equivalent, whilst others ask for a degree level candidate. Apart form the fact that it is the HR department who often place adverts, obviously with little support from those seeking candidates, it depends on the status of the role which dictates the qualifications sought. We all know that many good candidates cannot fulfil some of the criteria. The moral of the story is if you want to progress your career, then your goal is to get the best qualifications possible, including chartered status. There is no point in moaning about it - just crack on.

I had the invite to take on the roll of company H&S supervisor due to my electrical and NEBOSH qualifications. (Coupled with 40 years as an electrician, the last 20 in teaching electrical and training pluss the H&S stuff). Could I get a H&S job in Wales? No chance.

Cerith, I work in Swansea but the point I'm failing to make is that H&S jobs are few and very far between in H&S in Wales. Take a look at the adds for Wales in the SHP mag. I'm one of the lucky ones working for a switched-on company

:-) That put a smile on old grumpy face

Again I'm lucky Cerith. I'm an electrician, assessor , H&S and teach so I'm never without work if I need it. Just like the H&S stuff at the mo. :-)

Quite an interesting thread. So thought I would add my little part as someone who is CMIOSH (was MIIRSM), finishing of MSc and holds Diploma etc. Do employers know what IOSH is? Depends on who is doing the hiring i.e. with a safety professional closely linked, an agency or just HR. I got asked one if I had NEBOSH membership and my IOSH diploma of which no matter how clearly I tried to point out there errors they argues with me and told me I was wrong. Have IOSH cornered the market or hi-jacked ther job market? It seems possible they have an involvement in the larger share of the jobmarket which I thinks shows that they got marketing right and that people have more awareness of their brand (maybe not what is stands for) and it has something to do with Health and Safety. With regards to the NEBOSH diploma, I have the British Safety Council Diploma (paid for by past employer who used them) and sometimes employers ask how this compares to the NEBOSH one. Is it right to ask for someone with IOSH membership when hiring? When I have hired in the past and if I was hiring now CMIOSH would be a desirable, I am not blind to the fact good professionals exist without these qualifications but I also think for me someone wanting CMIOSH has to jump hoops intially as part of the process and keeping CPD. This to me demonstrates someone who is committed to the profession and wants to go that extra mile to achieve. Someone without would still be considered on merits of experience and other relevant qualifications but CMIOSH would show commitment and benefit them in my eyes.

I was approached by a long time friend of a Ronnie Kray to join his lodge some decades ago. Refused it but it is good to see some safety groups use lodge premises for mettings Bob

CW, maybe it's becaise the previous job holder was an IOSH member and did a splendid job.