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Career Advice for a Student new to health and safety
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I am currently a 20 year old university student studying Public Health Nutrition and stumbled across health and safety when I decided that I wanted a change in career path. I have been offered a place on a masters course next year to study Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, therefore I decided to undertake my NEBOSH general certificate so that I could gauge wether I enjoyed health and safety or not and so far I LOVE it ! I have been looking in to becoming a HSE inspector as they offer a traineeship once I complete my degree with a 2:1, but I am unsure if I should complete my masters first.
If anyone is willing to offer me any advice it would be greatly appreciated, I have already planned work experience with the fire service and also a local refinary. I am aware that the traineeship involves completing the nebosh diploma also which I believe will be extremely beneficial for a career in health and safety.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Chloe. Firstly welcome to Health and Safety.
I am doing my MSc now but the acceptance criteria was NEBOSH Diploma asa minimum, so you have done well to be accepted on the course. I would say that the NEBOSH Cert is not enough detail as far as H&S knowledge is concerned to be able to do your dissertation. You would also need access to workplaces. Just be careful before you set out.
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 1 user thanked Bigmac1 for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thank you for the advice, I have been advised by the course leader that the general certificate should be significant enough for me to be able to complete the masters easily as I will have already completed my Bsc. I will be then hopefully complete my diploma through the HSE after my Msc is complete. I have hopefully secured 2 placements with companies to gain experience as I will not be starting the Msc until next September 2018.
Do you have any advise on the Msc? Where are you studying?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I completed my MSc in Safety straight after my BSc in Biomedicine - no NEBOSH required. In hindsight it might have been worth doing the Cert like yourself, but upon reflection of my career to date, I wouldn't say it's critical. Having taken a similar route, feel free to PM me with any specific queries. Jamie
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: ChloeH96  Thank you for the advice, I have been advised by the course leader that the general certificate should be significant enough for me to be able to complete the masters easily as I will have already completed my Bsc. I will be then hopefully complete my diploma through the HSE after my Msc is complete. I have hopefully secured 2 placements with companies to gain experience as I will not be starting the Msc until next September 2018.
Do you have any advise on the Msc? Where are you studying?
I am studying at Hull. What I would find difficult, without a workplace would be the essays on "For a company of your choice" As Jamie has alluded to through his experience Diploma is not essential but boy would it help. I just feel your doing them in the wrong order, the MSc would then be a higher qualification so if I were you I would then just do an NVQ when you find employment.
Gary
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Rank: Forum user
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I completely understand what you mean, I have thought about waiting and then going back to do the masters but worry il never get the chance to go back :/. If I do the traineeship with the HSE it's paid and you work for them whilst doing the diploma, so I worry I won't get the opportunity then to do my Msc. I would be doing the Msc in Cardiff metropolitan university , I imagine it's similar to your own in hull, I'm looking to get a part time job whilst doing the Msc to help me get more experience.
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Rank: Forum user
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Being a similar age i'd say the traineeship would offer you more certainly in the way of experience. Even if that doesn't come through the general cert is enough to get into a health and safety role to build experience. In terms of the MSc this can be done part time also so is something which you could be able to do in the future whilst working. This is the route which I have taken and will be starting the MSc part time in USW this september while working full time.
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Rank: Forum user
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Scott do you mind me asking what you've done? Have you completed a diploma? Or just the general certificarte? GoodlucI in September, I wont be starting for another year because I need to finish my degree now. I think I will probably do my Msc full time and then on my days off do work experience and placements. Did you get a job with your GC?
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Rank: New forum user 
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1 user thanked Philip Nightingale for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chloe
Sounds like you have a plan and have made your mind up.
Build as many contacts as you can and get out there even if its working for nothing, just to get the experience under your belt.
Gary
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1 user thanked Bigmac1 for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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Chloe If you send me a message, I have a possible opportunity depending upon location.
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