A common question at interview is what will you bring that the other candidates will not. So obviously you have your specific industry safety knowledge (this is a given, so what else). Do you feel that one of the main things you bring is industry knowledge since you were a lad / young lady or knowledge of many industries but less time in each? Perhaps it is something else, for instance I like to think I’m methodical in my approach, especially the systems that lie behind everything we do. So what would you say the main thing is you bring to the party? Bear in mind this is an interview, so answers accordingly (until Friday, where you are welcome to then make it a Friday fun topic)

Agree.. they've got your CV so know what your technical skills are so soft skills like you can communicate effectively with all levels of staff from board level down. That you are approachable. That you love a challenge both professionally and personally (say perhaps if you run marathons or play a sport and compare with a project you've been involved in at work). They want to see if you will "fit" their organisation so if you've done your research on the company and and what their missions and goals are [people orientated - value staff etc..] then these soft skills might be that extra something they are looking for that put you ahead of the other people in suits waiting outside for their chance to shine!

Chris42 If you want to get (sane) interviewers on the edge of their seats with interest and perhaps a touch of envy, may I suggest you show them a design for a valid 39-question survey on safe teamwork to be completed online or by smartphone by line managers, in between 4 mins 30 secs and 8 minutes. But keep the display to four A4 pages in a 'twentieth century' perspex folder so no interviewers can walk off with your survey content.

I was recently interviewed for an incredibly technical job, way over my head, but I thought that as I was invited to interview for the role (contract role btw) they must have seen something in my CV. I prepared by reading the technical information that most closely matched what the company did so at least I understood what they did and had some knowledge of the buzz words. For the interview it was a personality fit more than anything, so I was affable and made them laugh...apparently that is what got me the job...they thought I would be fun to work with and I would fit in nicely. I doubt this would work in every interview, but you just have to guage what the interviewer is after.

Maybe not literally but perhaps some amusing safety related story where you were involved (how you dealt with it or would have dealt with it given the chance). Though don't make something up as it might come back to haunt you if you do get the job. I got to work with firefighters in my last role (looking at their PPE and training) so mentioning that to the female HR manager perked her interest. She asked if they were all hunky and I replied that unfortunately most of them were just hot and sweaty (and not in a cute way). When I started the position, the first thing she said to me was that she remembered me - as I was the "firefighter lady". She then asked where the cutest firefighters I'd came across were located (and, as this is an open forum, I'm not spilling!). They want to know that you'll fit in with the other workers - that, if you're going to be an adviser / trainer / superviser etc that you can advise (so speak clearly and concisely but are approachable and open to ideas), are interesting and not boring when training and can direct people (and not take any proverbial from staff or contractors if you're supervising). Also, smiling and using "open" gestures helps [so watch your body language - watch crossed legs and arms, leaning back too far in the chair, maintaining eye contact etc]. Not waffling and knowing when to pause or stop instead of filling the void with irrelevant rubbish [yes, some interviewers will leave long pauses between questions and the temptation to fill them can be immense but that may well be the test rather than the previous question!]. So on that note, I'll stop waffling and get on..