Rank: Forum user 
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Maybe I should have held this back for a Friday rant.
Wish Lists: By that I mean the number of qualifications listed on job adverts some employers ask of prospective candidates.
I have seen a number of vacancies which I was interested in then didn't bother applying as what they wanted in terms of qualifications is, imo, a "wish list." If any candidate had all of the qualifications listed on some of these adverts, I would best describe them as being professional students having spent most of their time in a class room, and having little or no actual work experience.
Don't misunderstand me, qualifications are important. It is just the number of them some employers expect you to have, which is ridiculous.
What are your thoughts on this?
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Rank: Forum user 
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Adrian
That is why I have went down the NEBOSH route for everything, as these as the quals that are most widely requested ( from Junior / Administrator to Director ), although I done these quals whilst I was getting experience at the same time and this lead to chartership to IOSH.This meant that I was getting the best of both worlds. I done this in the boom times of construction a couple of years ago. This was an extremely difficult step to take but I was fully committed to it.
Unfortunately this is the way it is right now and you can either get qualified and recognised or be stuck in the side lines wondering what your next step is going to be. As you can be sure that others will put the time and money and effort to do these courses to get the results they want in their career.
The competeition for health and safety jobs is likely to be tough this year anywhere in the UK so you need as many weapons as possible to even get to the interview stage in my opinion.
John
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Rank: Forum user
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The bottom sentence should read weapons rather than ' Weadickons ' !
John
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Rank: Forum user
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Adrian,
I agree with you. No doubt there are some very well qualified people out there, however I think they are in the minority. There are also some highly experienced people out there, perhaps without the pieces of paper to wave about. Experience counts for an alwful lot in this business so never under estimate it!
You are right, employers do have wish lists, and in todays job climate, they can afford to be picky. In reality they probably won't get someone with all the attributes thay have requested, but someone who is perhaps a best fit, with most (or working towards achieving most) of the criteria.
Don't be put off by long lists of required degrees, environmental, fire, etc etc so long as you can demonstrate that you are able and willing to learn, have some sort of knowledge of the desired subject, and can offer experience then apply.
Holmezy
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Rank: Super forum user
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Adrian
I have thought as much. Like yourself, I am not against good qualifications, indeed I have two Masters in h&s, but some of the skill sets are unbelievable. I have recently undertaken at my own expense a Lead Auditors OHSAS 18001 course. However, the jobs I would seriously consider generally ask for much more than I can offer - even within my own industry! Not forgetting other matters such as experience, people skills, computer skills and so on. If it is not enough to wear several hats such as environment, quality, occupational health, risk management...
The opportunity to move into another field or industry is almost impossible due to the long list of requirements. Okay, not all are mandatory, nevertheless a nice to have. I guess much of it has to do with the economic climate where employers can be as picky as they like. A list of some of the more 'obscure' requirements I have seen recently in roles for health and safety - loss/control, working in other countries, waste management, sustainable energy, engineering degree etc. Not sure many of these 'wish lists' are realistic. I hope not, at my age I am unlikely to find a company interested in investing in me.
As for the wages some roles are offering it is an insult. My wife is a PA and she earns £36,000 pa, plus bonus and other benefits. She has no degrees or diplomas worth talking about, although good experience. I've seen so-called manager's roles offering less with a list of skills as long as your arm. Can't wait until I retire and get out of this rat race.
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Rank: Forum user
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I suppose if you are looking for work in niche industries such as the nuclear industry or the oil industry, chances are you will need more sector specific qualifications rather than the standard quals.
Like most things it is difficult to get involved in these industries unless you have worked in these industries in a different capacity to safety.
Sometimes you need even more exposure to areas such as civil construction work to have a chance in getting work in civil construction together with say a HND / Dip / Degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management as well.
John.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks guys for replying to my little rant. I am glad to know that I am not alone in my thinking.
I have been unemployed for a few months as a result of my position being made redundant last year, so I will take up Holmezy's advice and apply for positions even if I do not have all the qualifications listed.
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Rank: Forum user 
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On this vein there was a job came up on oil carears yesterday.
QHSSE EH Coordinator - Quality, Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Environmental Health.
Sounds to my like they want one guy to do at least 3 jobs....Someone to dump all the unwanted work on You just wouldn't even bother applying would you ?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Adrian, whilst I whole heartedly agree that there is no harm in applying for jobs where you don't meet every requirement on the wish list (think we all do that, me included) may I point out that there are many professional with lots of qualifications and lots of experience That's not to say that they are the ones that will get all the jobs. But don't assume that those with lots of qualifications have sat on their backsides in a classroom their entire careers. It is possible to have both.
Good luck in your job hunting.
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