Posted By Stuart Boorman Hello! Like alot of people I am looking for my first health and safety role, but am struggling to get anywhere fast because most employers request experience. How can I go about getting experience when to get experience in the first place I need to get a job in health and safety which I need experience to get?! I passed my NEBOSH General Certificate in August last year. At the moment I work in Technical Support for a company that recycles printer cartridges. There is no chance to get experience in my current job as health and safety is not a priority there. So, I must get health and safety experience elsewhere. I have applied to a job in the Building Planning Section of my local council (Reading). The job is mostly administration, but they do have weekly health and safety meetings. Maybe that could be a chance to get some experience. Also, assuming I get this job in the council, is it a good plan to get a job in a local authority with the hope that once you have your foot in the door you may be able to transfer internally and get a job as an Environmental Health Officer? To restate my original question: How can I get health and safety experience? I would appreciate any advice. Thank you. Stuart

Posted By CW This boat seems to be awfully crowded. I had an interview on Tuesday, on Wednesday the rejection letter came through the door, despite interviews continuing all week! I phoned them and asked for feedback, and the answer was 'lack of experience' They saw my CV and called me in, why? The interview went well, I was in for over an hour being grilled by 3 people and gave good examples when asked, and provided evidence for other things. The last interview that I attended like this, the position went to an internal candidate, I feel this one is also earmarked for someone already within the company. Keep the oar strokes at the same rhythm, I think we're going around in circles.

Posted By CW I think you need Health & Safety 'working experience' to become a member.

Posted By Clare Gabriel Stuart I think you need to consider what you said - that your Company is not interested in health and safety. That seems a bit defeatest. I really struggle to believe that any Company today now hides it head in the sand and actively ignores health and safety. To be a good health and safety practitioner you need strong influencing and communications skills as well as all the usual skills. You have done your NEBOSH so you have the theory now put it into practice in your own company. Put together an action plan for your boss - go with your solutions not your problems!!! Put in place things such as the following: - risk assessments office/manufacturing/dispatch - accident investigations - manual handling assessments (ask to be trained as an assessor) - DSE assessments Put a justification in place - it will keep your boss out of court, potentially lower insurance claims and improve awareness and performance. there is a lot of information out there to help you with this. Here suddenly is the experience you crave - while you have a salary and job security (?) use it to your advantage and demonstrate to future employers your tenacious character to get safety implemented. Thats what employers want to see - not just what you have done but how you have done it. I am afraid if you cannot do it here you have to seriously ask yourself could you really do it elsewhere? Because contrary to what so many newcomers think, few employers hand you a blank cheque book, give you as much time as you need with the workforce and say 'we're right behind you!!! By trying it in your own workplace you will see how it really is!!! Sorry to be harsh but been in safety over 17 years and it gets no easier no matter how much experience you have. You may be surprised at the reaction you get.

Posted By Clare Gabriel If ever there was evidence that you need to be tenacious!! What was described is what you can expect anywhere so as said better the devil you know!!! You wont be popular - there is lots of confrontation - it will be hard at first but if you can get your MD/Manager round to your way of thinking you're there and how excellent to show future employers - we went from nothing to this - all my own hard work - you'll have to beat the offers away with a stick. Its not just safety any job requires experience - a friend of mine is a newly qualified vet who is struggling as there seem to be too many. Speak to your colleagues and find out what their health and safety concerns are, they are bound to have some - add this to your action plan. Yes you can do lots of free work which is hugely benevolent - but if possible far better to get paid for it!!! Ask for some time with your manager one one to one, put your plan forward, show you have done your research - also from your colleagues and tellhim how you are going to do it.

Posted By karina brady1 I also had no problem getting my first job as a safety officer in the construction industry. Based in Ireland there is loads of work here north and south.

Posted By GSP I doubt anyone would be taken seriously with just a general certificate and ZERO experience, regardless of how many jobs and lack of applicants. It the equivalent of a 'Basic food hygiene Certificate' in the food world

Posted By Bob Youel health & safety is not a 'priority' in your present company - them make it so if you can undertake work for charities & make contacts with conmpetent people to help you stick in your competence zone

Posted By Stuart Boorman Wow, what a great response! Thank you everyone for your advice and help. Claire Gabriel,RCH and Bob - I hear what you are saying about getting experience within my current role, however, I didn't give you all the facts. I'm sure in most cases your advice would be the right way to go, but I do feel that my company is a little different. I was warned by a fellow employee that if the CEO of our company finds out you have anything to do with health and safety he will get rid of you. He is not shy to fire anyone and the company is a very hire and fire place. This is one of the reasons why I want to leave anyway, because the company undervalues it's employees. It is not a pleasant atmoshere to work in. When one employee tried to start a union within the company the CEO basically forced him out of his job by giving him all the bad work. In spite of the warning I got, I approached my manager. I told him that I had just passed my NEBOSH Certificate and would be happy to use my knowledge, for no extra pay, to help the company comply with its health and safety obligations. He wasn't interested and I have heard nothing since. Another manager I spoke to thinks its a joke to push forward health and safety within the company. He thinks it won't fly with the senior management. Therefore, I don't agree with the statement that if I can't push health and safety forward within my current company, I can't do it anywhere. I think i'm better off getting another job, as i'm unhappy where I am, and trying your suggestions there. The advice on doing voluntary work is very interesting too. I'm definatelly going to try some of your suggestions. Thomas, I live in Reading at the moment and yes I am interested. Feel free to e-mail me. Thanks again for all your advice so far. Stuart

Posted By mark limon 1 day food course followed by multi choice test equivalent to the GC,Im almost speechless!!!!. Mark.

Posted By Allan St.John Holt Stuart, The best advice I can give you is to make full use of the local IOSH Branch. I've always found people are willing to give work experience if asked directly. Talk to the Chair and ask if you can ask a question in the meeting and see what happens. Don't forget that most of the audience will have been in your position at some time or another and will be willing to help you. The same approach at your local RoSPA Safety Group may also be effective. Good luck, Allan

Posted By peter gotch Hi Stuart I agree with Allan's advice. Also, you are likely to get more response if you 1. Give the readers a flavour of any other experience you have prior to your current role. 2. Make your email address visible so that people can contact you direct. Regards, Peter

Posted By Pete48 You can also look for jobs that have a safety element to them but allow you to use other experience that you may have gained. There are loads of jobs where safety is not the lead skill but is important. Being able to show that you have "applied" your academic(?) safety knowledge is what most employers are concerned about and you can do that from any number of jobs that do not even have safety in the title. Try looking outside the safety box to find a job description that mentions managing h&s as one of the tasks.

Posted By Descarte This is an actual job advertisment (closes tomorrow) and would be an excellent starting job for any one wishing to progress in safety starting from the bottom with just a gen cert type qualification Administration Assistant You'll actively pursue improvements to our agreed best practice - revising manuals and controlled documentation in accordance with processes and procedures. You'll also promote safe working practice, participate in health and safety activities as well as perform general admin duties. Participation in a job rotation schedule will be essential to broaden and expand your skills and knowledge. A trained and effective facilitator, you'll have administration experience, IT skills - particularly MS Office - as well as excellent communication, organisational and team working skills. In return for your commitment and expertise, the company's superb package includes an excellent salary and bonus scheme. You will also benefit from a contributory final salary pension scheme and an optional share scheme. Advertised in a local paper, guess you just have to keep looking and an opportunity to get your foot in the door will eventauuly present itself, how long you wait depends on how hard you look and what sacrifices (location, salary etc) you are willing to make. But once you get that foot on the first step on that safety ladder an exciting, challanging and rewarding climb to the top. Des

Posted By Stuart Boorman Hi! I got some good news today. I recieved my first invitation to an interview for a health and safety job since I passed my NEBOSH certificate. I know I may not necessarilly get the job, but it is really encouraging none the less. Thank you all for your encouraging advice. I am going to keep applying for jobs and keep my knowledge of health and safety up to date in the meantime. I am not currently a member of IOSH, but as a couple of you have suggested networking through my local IOSH group I am going to join. It can't hurt. I am going to look into some of your other suggestions too. Please keep the advice coming. It's a great help to me and no doubt anyone else browsing the forum. Stuart

Posted By Sally Rose Thanks John My home area is the South Coast but I am also able to stay in the SW London area (Putney)during the week. My e-mail address is has.search@ntlworld.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Sally

Posted By Stuart Boorman Hi John, My e-mail address is boormanstuart2@yahoo.co.uk. I live in Reading and so not too far from High wycombe. Please feel free to e-mail me. Kind regards, Stuart

Posted By Kenny Abrehart Hi Stuart, I agree with most of JT's comments except for the consultancy bit. A good consultancy will identify your skills and weaknesses and try to advance your skills as they will obviously be able to sell you better to a client. I started with a consultancy and gained a huge amount of experience even though it was a steep learning curve. My background was as a plant operator in the Army which gave me some experience in construction but not always a modern approach. By shadowing an experienced consultant at the start i was able to improve my working knowledge to an extent that i am now studying for my NVQ 4. Good luck in your searches. P.S remember that you can turn a job down after an interview if they have given you false promises and it will give you interview experience. Kenny

Posted By 9-Ship Don't bother with NEBOSH Diploma - get further qualifications via the Open University. Take course T835 - £1100 and still recognised by IOSH for further membership - or it was when I did it 3yrs ago. Now I'm just about Chartered at a fraction of the cost of NEBOSH exams etc

Posted By J F Brewer Hi there I know that there's one or two jobs that suit your status on this website try registering and have a look. Good luck Jason http://www.hsejobs.probo...ndex.cgi?action=register