It’s never too late for a new health & safety job
The following appeared in the Safety & Health Practitioner magazine in June 2007.
Q: I hold a NEBOSH General Certificate and am currently studying for my NEBOSH Diploma. I have undertaken health and safety work in my present job (education sector) for several years but as part of a reorganisation my health and safety duties seem to be coming to an end.
I would like to continue in safety work and I am considering applying for other jobs. However I am concerned about leaving a secure job in order to start again after 25 years with a single employer. Is it wise to consider a change of career at this stage?
A: Steven Bryan, section manager at Hays Health & Safety, comments:
The first thing you need to do is clarify the situation with your current employer. Let them know that you would like to continue with your health and safety responsibilities and don’t assume that this won’t be possible.
Since you have already invested significant time and resources into pursuing a career in health and safety, if your current employer is unable to offer you the opportunity to continue with your professional development, I would advise you to start looking for other more suitable positions.
Before deciding to leave your current employer, you should also consider your market value in a dedicated H&S role. You may need to take an initial reduction in salary because you are effectively making a career change - personal circumstances will determine whether this is viable in the short-term.
You can get salary advice and guidance from other H&S professionals on the IOSH forum and from specialist recruitment agents, who will be able to give you information on the market and the types of roles available.
It is important to be selective and only pursue opportunities that meet your long-term objectives - you should always take the time to talk to potential employers about training, development and promotion opportunities.
For further information or the latest health and safety jobs contact Steven Bryan on 020 7259 8724.
