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.

What a job!

Now that’s a job I wouldn’t turn down. The article in the November HSW ‘A day in gangland’ made compulsive reading. I couldn’t decide whether I’d rather be the investigative reporter chasing the story or the GLA enforcement officers dealing with gangmasters on a daily basis. Perhaps given the reporter had to get up at 4am, whilst the GLA officers enjoyed an overnight stay at a country hotel, the enforcement role would be preferable.

I had another interview last week, and have been invited back for the second round. It's progress, but I can’t imagine it will be as exciting as rooting out modern day slavery. I probably won’t need the stab vest either.

Improper Conduct

Tearing my hair out this week. With the tantalising prospect that I may get a few days paid work at some stage in the future if everything works out I started looking into the problem of how to get paid. The employment agency suggested I approach an umbrella company. I had an initial conversation with a sensible sounding representative of an umbrella, and forwarded his details to my agency. The agency sent me a contract to sign. This contract asked me to opt out of the Conduct Regulations 2003. Clearly, I’m not opting out of legislation without understanding what it means. So I looked up the text of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (SI 3319) as well as the DTI guidance on the subject. My reading of the regulations and guidance was that the regulation was put in place to protect us job seekers from unscrupulous practice – things like making you pay the employment agency to produce your CV, or asking for other fees to cover their costs. It didn’t sound to me that I would want to opt out. So I rang the umbrella. The previous sensible rep was not available. The person I spoke to admitted they didn’t have a clue. So I phoned the agency. They confirmed that of course, they could not and would not insist on my opting out, but they were sure the umbrella would want me to do so, and besides, opting out of the regulations would save me tax.

I looked again at the regulations. I searched hard for the word ‘tax’. ‘No matches found’ reported my browser. So I phoned the umbrella again. Clueless rep answers the phone. I asked if she could pass me through to someone who had a clue. His explanation of the Conduct Regs was that they would prevent me working too many hours, and I’d probably want to work more hours so I should opt out. I suggested this might possibly be the working time regulations? (1998, SI 1833). No, no. It was definitely the conduct regulations I needed to opt out of in order to work 100 hours a week. Despairing, I suggested we were not getting anywhere and terminated the call.

When you are told something you know is not true, it makes you very suspicious about the other stuff you are not certain about. I wonder how many people are persuaded to opt out of hard fought for legislation put in place to protect us? Has anyone been asked to opt out of their rights under the Health and Safety at Work Act? Right now I feel like applying for a job stacking shelves at the local supermarket.

Payment in kind

I was paid this week. For doing a risk assessment. A bottle of wine and a card, signed by the management committee of the local hall. But actually, the best payment of all was walking into the hall and seeing the new fire notices, emergency lighting and smoke alarms; seeing that the toilet doors had been shortened so as not to jam on the mat and block the fire escape; opening cupboards in the kitchen and finding they hadn’t been re-filled with open packets of food. And the people doing this work are all volunteers. My risk assessment had been the basis of their summer refurbishment. A council official’s visit overlapped with mine, and she was impressed by what they had done, and by the fact they had such a detailed assessment. Obviously, in the long run I’d like to get paid for doing risk assessments, but rather than spending the day staring at the recruitment pages I’d really recommend job hunters get out there and help voluntary organisations like this. It’s given me more confidence for the next job interview, and something recent and concrete to talk about when I’m there. And the thought that perhaps one small part of the world is just a little bit safer because of something you’ve done is surely why we all got into this business?

The need for voluntary organisations to carry out risk assessments was covered in 'Health and Safety for volunteering employees'.

Identity crisis

The issue of job titles was raised on healthandsafetyprofessional.co.uk last year. 91 visitors to the Safety and Health Expo reported 41 different job titles. I have looked and can’t find anywhere a description of the difference between health and safety advisor, health and safety consultant or health and safety manager? And isn’t a “contract health and safety officer” the same as a health and safety consultant? I’ve seen health and safety assistant posts advertised where there is apparently no senior health and safety manager to assist. But in following the recruitment expert advice to register on job search sites I have to select one of these titles. All this leaves me unsure as to how to describe myself, or the post I am looking for. Perhaps an ‘assistant health and safety advisor consultant manager engineer assessor co‑ordinator’?

I was particular drawn to one job title recently that asked for a ‘responsible nuclear ventilation engineer’. I’m not qualified for this post, but I did wonder how many irresponsible nuclear ventilation engineers would have applied. Let’s hope there is a clear definition of what makes a nuclear engineer responsible.

Post Holiday Blues

I spent the last day before I went away creating or chasing up invoices. Invoices for such small amounts of money - £100 here, £150 there. First day back at the computer after the holidays I’m completing one of the many CPD activities I’m supposed to complete. Six hours of CPD for nine hours of work in the last year. I don’t think of myself as Jack of all-trades, but I do seem to be spreading myself rather thinly. I’d like to give up the (non-health and safety related) job that this year has provided such an overhead for such little reward, but until more health and safety work turns up, I feel I have to clutch even at such flimsy straws. For advice on CPD in the IOSH/ IIRSM context see ‘Ready and able?’

The proposal I submitted back in July has been turned down. See if you can understand this. The company interview 5 people and tell us all that they want someone to work as self-employed, on a contract basis. I was the only person who prepared a proposal based on this. The other four all said they wanted to be taken on as permanent employees. I was told by the company that we were all of equal merit. So if I’m the only person offering what they want, I’d get the job, right? Wrong. They decided that despite having made people redundant this year, despite the costs of employing someone on a permanent contract, the hourly rate was cheaper, so they’d do that. I was cross, especially as I’m suspicious that my proposal will be used as a project plan by who ever did get the work, but in the end I realised I was probably better off out of it. If they can’t understand that the costs of employing that person to do the job will end up way beyond what I was going to charge there may be little hope for their business in the long term…

Still, hols were good. Two weeks with no email – just sand, sea, sun, swimming, canals and culture.

Feedback

I’ve had people say lots of kind things to me recently, which has boosted my confidence if not my bank balance. The risk assessment carried out for the local youth centre has resulted in new fire procedures and emergency lighting, and one member of the management committee came up to me in the street just to tell me how “excellent” it was. Someone else described a piece I’d written on their favourite health and safety topic as “fabulous” saying they had been surprised there was anything else they could learn on the subject. Another potential client described how “very thorough” my proposal was. Sorry for blowing my own trumpet, but I think sometimes we need to do this. Much has been written on stress, and in particular on how staff should be supported by positive comments. For example Stress: The assessment stage describes the need for “valuing staff” and the HSE stress management standard for support includes the need for employees to receive regular and constructive feedback (see also Pressure relief: tackling stress). Working on you own you don’t get much regular feedback. And with job hunting, its easy to read not getting a job as negative feedback. So if you’re working on your own, or like me looking for work, it's really worth making a note when people say positive things about you, whether its work related or not. For example, if a friend thanks you for your reliability, write down what they said so you can enjoy the comment again when supportive comments are sparse. I’m convinced you can’t get a job without a bit of confidence, and if blowing your own trumpet occasionally gives you some confidence, your prospects of winning that job are a little higher.

Giving it away

Things are hotting up. I’ve had some extra short-term work I can do from home. A year ago I would have been delighted to have more work that fits around the family. But circumstances are that I really want to do some work which involves going somewhere else. It doesn’t look like they’ll be work within cycling distance. However, I have had two interviews in the last week which will get me out of the house (albeit in my gas guzzling car). One is working directly for a small company who want some assessments and procedures written, to keep the local environmental health officer off their back. I wrote a proper proposal, just as I would have done when I worked for a risk management consultancy. Except that it didn’t have to go through three rounds of quality checking with the boss insisting on changes up to the last minute. Pressing the “send” button on the email with the proposal attached was pretty scary. Had I bid too high? Or had I undersold myself? Had I included enough time? I expect I’ll have to put in more time than I’ve actually bid, but I suppose I feel I should know more, and that if I have to spend a few hours reading up on the control of workplace transport in order to produce a safe procedure for them, that should be on my time not theirs.

The other interview also involved me offering to give my services away for nothing. I’m pretty confident that once let loose on real companies employers will see that I have an eye for spotting what can go wrong, and a knowledge base to suggest how to make practical improvements. I just need to convince someone to let me try. So I’ve offered to work for nothing for a small health and safety consultancy for a short period of time to show them what I can do. This is not the first time I’ve made the offer to an organisation, but this time they’ve accepted. But not until the Autumn. I can’t believe how hard it is to give work away.

Risk assessor on a bicycle

I guess the person who got the job heard by telephone on Friday. Those of us who didn’t get the job received a letter in the post Saturday morning. I so loved the idea of working within a twenty mile radius of home.

On Friday I cycled up to the local youth club, clip board and risk assessment checklist on the bicycle pannier. I guess you’d describe the work as “pro bono” – in other words, helping them out for nothing. Something else to go on the CV, but also trying to get people to understand the benefits of a risk assessment, beyond the “elf and safety gone mad” discussions. I really enjoyed the process. I’ve been involved in small parts of so many enormous risk assessments, that to take charge of a small risk assessment from start to finish is really satisfying. And being able to do the job without enlarging my carbon footprint.

I approached one company who do office risk assessments and asked them to consider me on an associate basis to do assessments in my area. They explained this wasn’t the way they worked. I had to be prepared to cover a quarter of England, potentially driving hundreds of miles in a week. I just can’t see the sense.

So what about a campaign for carbon-free risk assessments? There was an interesting article in Health and Safety at Work in January, What’s in store for 2009? which suggested that companies should consider their carbon footprint in preparation for the Carbon Reduction Commitment. This should take account of where the consultants they use travel from. There are more than enough companies within cycling distance of my home. There must be enough work there for one person. I’d be interested to know how far other people travel for such work, and whether, unless it’s a really specialised area, they can justify their carbon footprint?

The calm

So the interview is over. Whatever happens, I'm pleased to have been invited to a proper interview. Given the job advert had asked for a NEBOSH diploma and I only have the general certificate (albeit a distinction, in case anyone missed that…) my CV must have stood out enough to get the interview. I did find the “Table talk” article from recruiters in the May HSW useful. Take a look for some interview and CV tips.

I can’t believe how much time I spent preparing a ten-minute presentation. When I practiced it at home the first time it took over twenty minutes. I then had to delete some of the fantastic overheads I’d spent hours crafting. Lesson there for the future – just prepare the slides in outline first, then time it, and only spend two hours animating those slides you’re actually going to use.

I had thought through some of the typical interview questions suggested on websites. Like what are you weaknesses? What are your strengths? How do you deal with conflict? They asked the last of these, but not the other two. Some of the voluntary work I’ve done was useful for answering some of the questions. They did ask what you might call the “Obama question”. If you get this job, what would you hope to have achieved in your first 100 days? I think it was the first question where I had to pause, and leave what felt like minutes (but was probably only seconds) worth of silence before I answered. If you’ve got a job interview coming up, perhaps it’s one to think about.Now the wait. They said they’d let me know by next Friday. I can’t help thinking that however well I performed they are more likely to give the job to someone already doing this sort of work than someone trying to break into the area.

Post Haste

Deadlines – interview preparation, lesson plans, free risk assessment for local youth club/ 50+ group, article. All this week. And this is part-time working? Do I really want to work full-time? Perhaps going to a party in London during the tube strike wasn't such a smart move …. Blog late (my deadline, no one elses – see interviewer? I am self-motivated).

Must dash…

This fortnight: job interviews offered: 1! Job preparation reports delivered on time – 2. Job interview presentation prepared: nearly. New applications: 0; agency phone calls: 0. Precisely 2 mugs of coffee a day.

Weaknesses

I’m afraid I’m moaning again about online application systems. This one sounded like a good idea. You are promised that you can “complete this brief screening form, and then if you meet our criteria we’ll ask you to provide more detail.” The brief screening form took 2 days to complete. Ok, most of that was spent pondering whether or not I ever have managed to “resolve a confrontational situation” rather than create them, or if I actually have any “emotional resilience”. Emotional resilience sounds a bit like stubbornness to me. The ability to keep thinking what you’ve always thought despite everyone around you giving you evidence that you’re wrong. Still, at least I wasn’t asked for my greatest weakness. I might end up saying something like “my attention to detail, and my inability to leave a piece of work until it is perfect” rather than the truth which is “my inability to resist pointing out when other people are wrong”.

This fortnight: one revision of CV (needed doing); one rejection (speculative), one application (website advert), one registration with new agency; three emails received from employment agencies; one on-line application process completed. Averaging 1.9 mugs of coffee a day.

...and then the wait

My friend, it turned out, wanted me to do what I used to do, but for mobile phones. And to do it 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. She was very honest about the job requirements. I was equally honest in explaining that wasn't the job I wanted, but thanks for the offer.
The other interview appeared to go well, and I was told I would be contacted in a couple of days. In a couple of days I was told to hang on a couple of weeks.....

So now I'm trying to find something closer to home, in case he does come back and offer me a job on the other side of the big city. I've sent off some speculative letters and CVs to local companies I'd like to work for. And I'm in the midst of a couple of "online" application processes. The advantage of the old CV in Word is that you add stuff throughout the years, take other stuff off, and tailor your experience to each job application. Online applications require you to type everything in from scratch, every time. For each 'O' and 'A' level the district council website requires 5 mouse movements and 4 clicks in addition to typing in subject and grade. That's 52 clicks and 65 mouse movements just to add in my education up to the age of 18! Perhaps I could sell them some consultancy on how to reduce the chances of job applicants suffering from RSI...

This fortnight: one on-line application started, another one finished; three speculative letters sent out (good); two emails from employment agencies. Averaging 2.5 mugs of coffee a day.

Buses...

Job interviews are like buses aren't they? Nothing for two months, and now two tomorrow. Problem is, one is health and safety, but for an organisation that have changed my interview day and location 3 or 4 times; the other is doing what I used to do, but for an old friend. Mmmm. Watch this space....

Job hunting

Once the euphoria of the results subsided the practicalities faced me. Job hunting. A while since I’d done that. Well, surely a distinction would put me ahead of the competition? But the more I look through job adverts the more I realise that most companies are looking for recent practical experience. I’m sure a year ago when I looked, there were lots of companies asking for the NEBOSH general certificate. Now they also seem to want an IOSH Diploma. And chartered membership. And a PhD.

So, in search of advice, I went to visit a well known employment agency. Please don’t think me vain when I say I changed my mind twice about what to wear to make a good impression. Trying to get that balance between looking sensible and mature, without looking old and fussy. They say it’s a sign of age when policemen look young. Can the same be said about recruitment consultants? As I was coming up the stairs a young man in a white v-neck t-shirt and black jeans came out of the office to meet me. Now I know I do most of my work wearing jogging bottoms (not that I jog) and a fleece, but there’s no one watching me. I didn’t think office life had changed that much in 8 years. It turned out it was “dress down Friday” a concept which has never made much sense to me in customer facing roles. Still, I suppose in the current job climate, he represents the customer and so can wear what he likes.

Results day

The long wait is over. The results arrived a day earlier than I expected, such that I walked past the envelope twice this morning before I realised what it was. Then shortly before lunch I realised what it was, and ensuring no one was around to watch, gingerly opened the envelope. Exam notifications seem not to follow any standard for usability. Two decades ago it took me several minutes to work out my degree result. In November last year it took three reads to work out that my son had indeed passed his 11+. And this morning, I was at first disappointed by the individual mark for one of the papers before I noticed my overall grade. I don't like to brag, but since this is anonymous I can:

I SCORED A DISTINCTION!

It's all over (and so is the Nebosh course)

My "to do" list showed a blog between the last NEBOSH exam and Christmas. Somehow, it wasn't written. I think after the exam I went into some minor form of shock. Not shock of the exam. It was ok, although I hated the discussion afterwards when I started to realise that I'd probably "described" whilst the question had asked me to "state" or that "factors" doesn't mean "write everything you can think of about this subject". No, it was the shock that all around me people had been buying Christmas presents, writing cards and arranging parties for weeks! I had done nothing about Christmas. Unless I found some skates to put on, everyone would be receiving satsumas, chocolates and anything else the local supermarket provided. So somehow, the blog was laid aside in the escalation of shopping, writing, carol services and Christingles.
Now Christmas is over (cards are coming down this evening) I can reflect properly on the exams. I don't feel that on the day I performed as well as I could have done. Although I'd worked through previous exam questions at home, no one had ever marked them, so I didn't know if I was answering in the right way. My advice to anyone choosing a NEBOSH course for the future is to make sure there is a mock exam included, run under exam conditions, marked by someone who understands how NEBOSH mark, with feedback provided in time to adjust your technique before the exam.