Hello

My name is Raj Odedra and I am looking to make the transition from a military career to a full time health and safety career like many other service leavers.  Unlike others I do have health and safety experience and qualifications gained from within the RAF as I and still am the health and safety representative/adviser for multiple locations as a secondary role.  I have 3 NEBOSH certs (General, Fire and Environment), Manual Handling Instructor, IOSH risk assessor and the level 3 award in education and training giving me good depth in the production and delivery of safety training and information. I am also undergoing my NVQ Level 5 diploma and I am around 4 units in so far. I have also organised some work experience in the near future from a large manufacturing company but I am also looking at gaining some experience in the CDM/Construction sector. So my questions are as follows:

1. Does anybody have any good contacts or know any organisations which may be willing for offer some work experience in the CDM/Construction sector in both the midlands area (Leicester) and/or the north east (Northumberland)?
2. Do any professionals have any further advice to strengthen my CV and make me more employable in the near future? I am currently in the process of revamping my CV to add greater breadth into the job roles etc.  Is there any hot topic qualifications at the moment which are differentiating candidates? I highly doubt it but it’s worth an ask.
3. Are there any good companies to look into which offer good transition programmes for service leavers and which recruitment agencies should for specialist HSE recruitment. I am currently aware of Shirley Parsons, The HSE network, Hays and Principle people.

Thanks in advance

Raj Odedra

Interesting that the MOD resettlement 'bods' and veterans are still banging away at SHE is the very best career path on leaving. The training credits give you a good path into the 'qualifications' aspect but industry, in my opinion, is so vastly different to the service environment.

I am a leaver but I went into a fairly comparative industry (electrical) when I left before moving sideways into SHE after a decade. The market is swamped with ex service men and women with a plethora of NEBOSH qualifications. I have recruited two teams (15 individuals) in my last two roles, the CV's came across the desk at least 80/20% in favour of numbers of service leavers. I could almost recite their approach to interview before they entered the room on each occasion it was basically a script.

Service leavers are being poorly advised, both by their careers departments and by ex service personnel. SHE is a brilliant career, I wouldn't want to do anything else BUT the outside world bears little resemblance to the service environment and it's quite a shock when you can't 'tell' somebody to do something........

all opinions of course