Hi All

I havent been on an interview for almost 17 years.  I have my first coming up soon and I aint looking forward to it. Is there anyone out there could give me some advice  on how to prepare and give me examples of types of questions I could be asked.  Really appreciate advice.   Thanks Eddy

Standard stuff really:

Research the company. Find out what they do. Establish what their values are. For an H&S role you might want to see if they have had any recent issues such as prosecutions.

Work out how you as an H&S bod will fit into the organisation. Find out what your role might be. Read the job description thoroughly. Be clear how YOU will do this job.

A popular thing nowadays is to use STAR which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. So describe situation that you had to deal with, explain what this mean you had to do, describe what you did and how it worked out in the end. Have a number of these prepared, to bring up at the interview (but only if they ask for something)

Be prepared to talk at the interview. Often people become very passive at interviews and only give the bare minimum answers. You should be doing most of the talking; remember that you are selling yourself.

Always big yourself up. Avoid saying “WE do this or this is how IT happened. Give the impression that everything good that has ever happened is down to you.   It’s b*******t but make it convincing b*******t.

Always have a few good questions to ask them “so how do you see the business developing over the next 5 years?” “what do you hope for from Brexit, as a far as H&S regulations go?”

Don’t ask about money, unless they bring up first.

Without wanting to sound too cheesy, be yourself. 

I've had various successful interviews over the years and the actual subject of H&S knowledge and competence was barely mentioned in any of them. Remember, by the time you're sat there talking to them, they've already read your CV and know your background, and are usually more interested in seeing what you are like as a person and how you will fit into the organisation on a personal level.

As an example, i was once one of a handful of candidates for a H&S manager role which, after an initial interview, was whittled down to just two of us. The other guy had 10+ years experience on me and a CV which made mine look pitiful yet i was offered the job. Why? Well from feedback during my interview, the other candidate had the personality of a brick whilst i spent a good chunk of the interview talking with the interviewer about football! 

That said, i think it's always good to have a look into what the company does and try and find some common ground in that respect (similar clients, projects etc) and also brush up on any legislation, guidance and standards which may apply to that specific field.

Again though, when it comes down to it just be confident, friendly and HUMAN (not a brick!)

Good luck!

Edited by user 31 August 2017 15:20:23(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I agree with Stern, be yourself. When I applied for the job I am in now, the first question the interviewer asked me was 'How do you handle health and safety'. I said 'In the only way I know how, I work with people, get an idea of what they do, and support them to be better in areas of health and safety'. I said the worst thing you can do is storm in with the H&S bible and quote 'thou shalt'. If you work with people, they are more likely to buy into your ideas, and want to be safe. Even more if they have made suggestions too. Some people have really good ideas, and just need a means of realizing them.

That got me the next interview. They wanted a people person, someone who was able to build relationships and influence at different levels. My CV told them of my qualifications and competency, they wanted to know about me.

Be yourself, ask lots of questions too. It shows you are interested in them, and find out a bit about the company or the people you may be seeing. Sets you in good stead if there is a common thread, but be you. I got the job on the basis I was a people person with good people skills and that other candidates were very eager to be the hot shot who charged around putting rules everywhere. Bascially, they would have rubbed everyone up the wrong way and that doesn't positively change anything.

Most of all though, good luck :)

if you are a reader, have a look at great answers to tough interview questions, it is very good and priced at a tenner, including interviewer side advice as well as interviewee. 

the guidance in it for excercise 1 - list of 10 things you have done 6-7 work and 3-4 home related, explaining what you did, how do better next time etc gives a way of practicing/honing examples to talk through with people so that it's better than making up on the fly, in a structured way. 

lots of resources about however I think it is good and have recommended to loads of people. may take your fancy, may not, but it covers the areas, to which you can think have i got this covered? 

when talking to people they are only people, and hopefully will see the benefits you bring, its just a case of talking through the examples that show how you best would suit them and work with them.

in additon, practice with wife/persons who know you to discuss how best to present info as usually most people don't think of themselves from third person perspective, so need to pre-think how that would apply in this case. 

perhaps ask the recruiter or agent what they want, why and get more background about them and the people, can you do some research on them with anyone who has worked there before or know what they are like before you go to visit, or ask for an informal chat on the phone with someone to see if you fit with the culture of the business too, and what would be your first 3 months' plan? so they can imagine you in post being there.

good luck

Originally Posted by: Shopland23872

One of the most important things to make clear to the potential employer is that you want to fit into their firm. The last thing any employer wants is one of those "clip board Hitlers". They will not want to hear things like "well I will change this and that" but instead ask "will you be open to suggestions for improvements from a fresh pair of eyes". But as said above, be human. I would advise you to remain relaxed and slightly jovial, this goes along way to showing that you will be a team player as opposed to "the fun police". Yes it is a serious role, but it doesn't have to be robotic, personality is a real plus in interview. I was interviewed once for a role and the interviewer tried asking trick questions to see if I could think on my feet and give a workable solution to a fictitious scenario (the question was... What would you do when an environmental health officer arrived to inspect a building site? As we all know an EHO doesn't inspect building sites, that is the HSE, the interviewer was trying to be clever) . I was offered the job but turned it down because it was quite clear that the interviewer who was a director would be quite impossible to work for, so try and guage from their interview techniques whether you could actually work for such a person.

I agree that most organisations don’t want a “Clip Board Hitler” but it is too easy to say “I will go along with whatever passes for H&S in this organisation”. H&S is about making things better, so (especially for an H&S manager role) be expected to have an H&S vision.

At my last interview I suggested that the best thing can do to improve H&S at a site was to blow up a nasty 1960’s building riddled with asbestos and full of rubbish services. The panel nodded but then the most senior person said “Would you evacuate the staff first”? I said “That is a matter for HR!”  

Got the job.