Rank: New forum user 
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I have recently been made reduntant, since graduating from university i have been working in manufacturing. Covering alot of health and safety issues during my work in manufacturing, i decided i would puruse a career into health and safety. I recently completed an Nebosh certificate in Health and Safety, but am finding it very difficult to get entry into the health and safety field.
I presume there must be other's whom have faced this challenge to get into health and safety field, i would apperciate any advice on how to get into health and safety field at an entry level?
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Rank: Forum user
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I realise that this post was made late on Saturday, but I am somewhat surprised that after 60 "hits" none of the regulars who seem to make a comment on anything have not offered any advice to this hopeful new entrant to the profession.
Let me start by saying I am 60 years old, I have been a health and safety professional and a member of IOSH for 25 years. (I am also a grumpy old man).
The world of work has changed in that 25 years. I was not unusual in those days for someone to be appointed as "health and safety office" (to use the term of the time) without any skill knowledge or experience (yes no competence other that they had survived the previous career.)
Times have changed, companies want people who have "experience/qualifications". However, how many companies offer the opportunity for "apprentice" H&S professionals? Not many I would think.
While I'm not sure if I would like my daughter to marry one, my advice, for what its worth, for someone wanting to join the profession is simple, if you do have a genuine desire to enter and stay in the profession, all you can do is persevere. Use your local IOSH Branch for contacts. Keep as up to date on current H&S affairs as you can. Perhaps when looking for work offer your h&s knowledge/skills as "an as well as" to what is being offered.
Hope this stimulates some more responses.
Rodger Ker
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Another approach would be to use your H&S knowledge and qualification to help you get another manufacturing job, one in which you can further develop your H&S experience as part of the job and put yourself in a better position to ultimately move into H&S full time, possibly even in the same company.
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Rank: Forum user
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I agree with Rodger -'when looking for work offer your h&s knowledge/skills as "an as well as" to what is being offered'.
I've been looking for a Environmental Management job for several weeks now,I've had the IEMA Cert for a while but most of my experience is in engineering and H&S. I think my best approach is to aim for H&S jobs and offer to take on any EM stuff as an added bonus, then try to sidestep into a more 'pure' Env role.
Also although I've now got the NEBOSH Env.Dip, I've only ever seen 1 job directly asking for it. Has anyone else found this to be true ?
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Rank: Forum user 
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Hi Rob,
I have recently been made redundant from my role as H&S Advisor and am registered with a multitude of SHE Recruitment agencies.
The problem is that there are many more H&S professionals looking for work than there are posts available. This means that the client has the option to chose from a wide variety of candidates from various industries and basically has the "pick of the litter".
For instance, I come from the Highways Construction industry but can not seem to get a look-in in the Property Construction, Retail or Manufacturing industries. There are just too many other candidates out there with experience in those industries (despite any transferable skills one may have).
I think that Kate's suggestion is probably the best option you have at the moment.
Good luck with whatever path you chose.
regards, Mark L.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Rob, I was once in a very similar position to you, and in a similar economic and job market climate.
Unfortunately things are even tougher now than they were then. Local Authority technician/ technical officer or compliance officer used to be a good avenue, but even the LAs aren't recruiting now.
Not much help I know, but do consider these LA, Education Authority, College/ Uni and health trust openings. At least they're easier to find these days on the www.
Do look beyond the job titles, public bodies can tend to obscure the "real" job behind an odd /generic title.
There are many possibilities out there to match your skill set, the opportunities are few though.......the very best of luck.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rob,
The best way is to look for H&S Assitant Roles or even H&S Admin support, its all about getting your foot in the door and getting the magic word 'experience'. Experience will give you more opptunities than your H&S qualifications will and as Kate has mentioned, use you experience gained from working in Manufacturing. Its your biggest advantage. Look for Manufcaturing Safety related roles as thats your field and thats what you can relate to. One thing to remember when looking for H&S roles, its not all about health & safety. You need to be able to have good PC Sills, delegation and office poltics skills combind with presentation, leadership and good organisational skills. Make sure you reflect these points on your CV and get someone to sense check your CV for you as your CV gets you the interview!
Good Luck
Si
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Rank: New forum user
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Rob
I empathise with your situation, I have recently been made redundant after 25 years in the rail industry. I agree with the other comments made you are probably better staying within the sectors you are familiar with rather than trying to break into others at least for the time being.
GW
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rob, you have the NEBOSH cert, that is only the starting point I'm afraid. With so many diploma holders looking for work the only jobs available to you with your current level of competence (please don't jump on that because I have said competence please) you will need to go on to get your diploma status and possibly a competence in quality managem,ent as well and possibly environment. I assume you are still quite young and have time on your side. I am sixty and have semi retired (and still looking) after 45 years in the rail industry was made redundant about a year ago. It is very hard to get into H&S as a career, but well worth the effort. Look for some sort of work in the quality field as well as this will expose you to some very promising avenues into pure H&S.
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