Next steps?

Further to my musings about doing a Masters after the HSW salary survey reported on the salary benefits of having this qualication, I had coffee with a friend who had been job hunting for only 6 months (compared to the 12 months I’ve been looking around). She has already been accepted to start a masters (her second) in May. It was the final push I needed. I contacted three of the universities that do an IOSH approved Occupational Health and Safety MSc. Initial responses were disappointing. For one university the 2010 intake is already full; one email was responded to by an administrator who suggested I look at the website (duh!) and visit on an open day in two months time; the third has yet to respond.

Undaunted, I telephoned the course head at the second university. We had a long conversation about the course, clarifying facts that aren’t on the website and the outcome was that I’m going to one of the lectures on the current course to see if it suits me. Much more useful than spending a whole day at some general post-graduate open day where they’ll probably spend half the time talking about student loans. This way I’ll be able to meet at least one lecturer, and ask the other students what they think of the course. Wish I’d done the same for the NEBOSH certificate course… I’ll report back in a couple of weeks.

By the way, I saw an awesome job advertised this week. Climate Change Manager. Wouldn’t that be fantastic to be able to manage climate change? I think I’d stop it, or at least slow it down. Turned out it was only about measuring greenhouse gas emissions. Disappointing.

The Snow must go on

The school run took a little longer this morning. It took nearly an hour to walk home in the snow. But quite invigorating, and the few people that are out all said good morning. And so little traffic that most of the time it was possible to walk on the road. I was so glad number two child’s school was actually open. Number one child’s school is still closed. Not because the school is inaccessible, but because the school cannot make the site completely safe. Our county council website lists dozens of schools in the same position - closed, not because teachers can’t get there, but because there is ice on the playground and the schools are terrified of what might happen if a child slips on the ice. The fact that the children walk past the schools everyday to spend their time hurtling down slopes at 15 miles per hour, stopping just short of the barbed wire fence at the bottom isn’t an issue. It seems to be about liability, not societal safety. We can’t just accept that people may fall over on the ice, whether at home, at work or at school. Last year, even when the children were allowed back to school, they weren’t allowed to play outside for a week, despite the glorious sunshine and fresh crisp air.

I’m surprised how easily people give up when they see the snow. Obviously, given the hazards of winter driving no one should risk car journeys they don’t need to make, but people have forgotten they can walk. Last night I had to convince parents that the cub meeting would still be held as the leaders can walk to the hut; the night before I persuaded those who live within walking distance of the local yoga class that walking in the snow at night was really not that threatening. We normally all make excuses about needing to drive because of blocks and mats etc. But you know, it turned out we could carry these even when walking. It wasn’t even that dark when we walked home together at 8.45pm, with the moonlight reflecting off the snow creating a shimmering glow. A glow that was mirrored by the glow of satisfaction we all had of not allowing the snow to put to a stop to normal life.

If this weather is going to become a more regular feature we need to learn to cope. They cope in the Antarctic with much more severe conditions because they plan well. So next time you can get to the shops, buy yourself some boots suitable for walking in the snow (and take a look at Clothing tips for cold weather) and get on with life.

Improving prospects

Although intended as a benchmark for those already in work, the Pay survey in the January 2010 issue of HSW at should be essential reading for all those looking for work.

The comments reflected what I had noticed in the job adverts - that salaries offered appear to have gone down, whilst qualifications required had gone up. Before I booked my NEBOSH certificate in the summer of 2008 there seemed to be plenty of mid-range jobs asking for this as the minimum requirement; by the start of 2009, when I received my results, most jobs were asking for Diplomas. That salaries rise disproportionately for those with an MSc made me feel rather wistful, as I had looked into doing an IOSH approved MSc earlier this year, but bottled out, convinced that one of the applications I had in at the time would materialise into a job. It didn’t and I now wish I had applied.

However, I don’t know if more qualifications are really the answer. Another interesting comment from one of the highest paid health and safety managers in the survey was that “safety professionals need to considerably increase their commercial and leadership skills”. I gained a distinction in a management diploma some years ago, which included finance and leadership, but no one has commented on it at any interviews. Ultimately, employers I think want some recent practical demonstration of these skills, and the catch 22 of job hunting without a “real” job is that this is difficult to provide.

Video oblivion

Now, I wouldn’t want you to think I’m the sort of person who wastes time browsing inane video clips on the Internet, but whilst using You Tube for legitimate research recently I came across this video of a job interview. It rang such a chord I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It so summed up my last interview - feeling that there was some clue I hadn’t understood, some answer that was expected of me, but I had no idea what it was.

If you watch it, you’ll see the punchline is that the job had already been given to someone else. This had a real ring of truth about it – or is that just sour grapes?

I was led to a much more cheering video via the HSE website. Apparently Judith Hackitt had allowed someone to set fire to her hands to show science teachers that its ok to do exciting experiments in school chemistry, providing of course that the experiments are risk assessed. Unfortunately the video from the IChemE (select No. 2) doesn’t show Ms Hackitt with her hands on fire, but demonstrates the same experiment with unnamed participants. There are another 9 experiments illustrated and my two children plus one grown-up "child" watched them all. There proceeded a discussion as to whether, since we had no Bunsen burner, the same effect could safely be achieved with butane from the camping gas stove or propane from the gas barbeque...

Some things in life are bad

I will not feel sorry for myself. An old friend sent me a lovely photo of himself, his wife, and their young baby this week. Along with his CV and the news that he had been made redundant and did I know any companies looking for his skills? And another friend told me her husband was about to be made redundant. So the fact that I have two rejections to report will not get me down.

Mr Workaholic chose the "other" candidate (if the job actually existed). Phoned me at 9.30 on a Friday evening to let me know. Great start to the weekend. After staring at a blank desk for ten minutes in stunned silence, I pulled myself together, went online and was exciting to find a role with a local college – closer to home than the job I’d just been turned down for, and a similar number of hours. Perhaps this was the job for me. Perhaps this was meant to be. I applied immediately.

I suppose the good news is that at least this was a short, sharp rejection. Not even an interview. Just a letter, with my name misspelled, telling me I had not been short listed. No reason. You never get a reason. It would be so useful to have a reason, but why should employers waste their time giving you a reason?

I read with interest the results of the Table talk: consultancy discussion. Some of the advice would work for job seekers too – they confirm my view that you should get more respect if you admit your limitations rather than try to bluff it. The discussion also dealt with how clients can get the best out of consultants. I understand the point they were making, but ultimately the client has the upper hand and I wondered how some clients would respond to being told what they needed to do. Imagine a bunch of job seekers telling potential employers how to treat us? Please acknowledge our applications, especially electronic ones which are so easy to respond to; please don’t keep us hanging around for weeks for a result; please don’t make us put lots of work in preparing a presentation or a proposal when the job doesn’t really exist or you already know who you're going to give the job to. Oh yes, and please spell our names correctly on rejection letters.

Blood out of a stone

I may have my first contract. I expect to hear any time now….. The job sounds very exciting, and the owner/ director I met at the first interview seemed to be the sort of person I could work with.

I was invited to a second interview - a good sign. Only this time, the MD invites his HR person. The HR person starts asking odd questions like - “supposing this company quadruples in size in the next six months - how will you cope if the work starts to take over your life?” I explained that I would not let it take over my life. The job spec had stated that they needed 3 days a week for six months, and that is what they would get. “Yes, but what if after six months we’re a multi-national organisation and we need you to spend two months in India setting up a new branch?” Let me think. I know - I won’t do it. I thought that was an honest enough answer. I wouldn’t want to get the job based on the false premise that although I had responded to a request for part-time help, I had a secret urge to work 80 hours a week. However, he went on, as if there was really some other question he wanted to ask but couldn’t, or as if he thought if he asked often enough I’d eventually give in and say “Of course, what I really want is to sleep in the office, give up my home life, and work myself into an early grave.” I’ve read all those articles on stress in HSW (see March 08, June 08(1), June 08 (2) and September 08) and I know I won’t be doing myself or my employer any good if I allow myself to be pressured into taking on more than is reasonable.

Feeling that the discussion with Mr HR Workaholic was fruitless and heading towards frosty, I took the decision to ignore him and talk to the more sensible MD about what he actually wanted done in the job. I’ll let you know when I find out if that was a smart move or not.

My own boss

All this messing about from the “umbrella” company and pressure to give up my rights under the “Conduct regulations” started me thinking. I had shied away from the idea of starting my own company because I thought it would be too much hassle. However, since I don’t want to pay someone else to produce my invoices and I’m quite capable of a bit of book keeping the "starting my own company" option suddenly seemed a lot easier. In any case, a regular, local job with the (part-time) hours I want isn’t going to turn up, so bidding for work to fit how and when I want to work seems to be a better option.

On the verge of deciding whether or not to start my own company, I attended a day organised by Business Link. This was free, with advice on tax, accounts, websites and marketing. It also gave me the opportunity to “network”. It demonstrated that apparently there is such a thing as a free lunch - quite a good one at that.

However, no one, but no one, not even the representatives from Her Majesties Revenue and Customs, had heard of the Conduct regulations of 2003.