Gerry Pearson – Director at Shirley Parsons

ABOUT USShirley Parsons herself has over 30 years Environmental and Health & Safety consulting experience. She is a Chartered IOSH professional and sits on the CMIOSH awards committee.

Shirley’s personal network spans more than 30 years in the Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality professions. Since formation, she has ensured that the scope of our networks and the quality of relationships within those networks remains at the heart of what we do. This is why we are able to excel at professional matchmaking across all industry sectors needing such expertise.

Who We Are

• Founded in 2005 by Shirley Parsons CMIOSH• Only HSEQ specialist recruitment company headed up by a Chartered safety

professional• UK, USA, & Germany• Each Consultant sub-sector specialises to grow the strongest network on clients.

• Construction (build, fit out)• Civil Engineering (rail, highways, utilities)• Services (FM, retail, consultancy)• Manufacturing & Logistics • Energy (renewable, oil & gas, energy from waste)

• Approach • Career agents • Building long term sustainable relationships • Different and better

What drives us

“Our philosophy is one whereby HSEQ are drivers of business

success. This means that we always go the extra mile to understand

the business objectives and operating environments of our

customers.”

WHO WE WORK WITH

Qualifications & Experience

Commercial awarenessPeople skills

Make it happen!

Why?

Invest in yourself

Goals?

Getting a foot in the door…

• Short profile – tailor made for the job

• Key skills and achievements

• Qualifications + CPD• Institution or Institute?

• Career history – most recent first

• Family details/personal circumstances

• Interests

• Chek ure inglish!

• Ask people who can help

CV Basics

• 2 to 4 pages – concise but informative

• Include softer skills and achievements

• Standard “Word” doc

• No headers or footnotes

• No text boxes or graphics

• Do not protect password protect document

CV Basics

Ideal CV template

Interviews

• First impressions• Research the company & job role• Preparation

o Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer

o Create a checklist of your strengths & achievements

o Be prepared to answer standard interview questions and anticipate lines of questioning

o Have examples to support your answers (STAR)

• Appearance > play safe• Eye contact & body language. Smile • Relax, Concentrate, Listen, and be positive!

Interview Basics

STAR Model

hite SP Logo

• Arriving late or too early

• Criticising current employer or colleagues

• Bluffing your answers

• Being rude to receptionist!

• Ignorance of your own CV

• Being negative

Interview DO NOT DO’S!!!

• Examples of questions you could ask

• What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the person placed in this role?

• What criteria will be used to assess my performance?

• What do you enjoy most about working here?

• How would you describe the organisational culture / working environment?

• What are the ambitions of the business over the next 3-5 years?

Interview Success

• Preparation, Preparation, Preparation• Practice, Practice, Practice• Memory stick, paper copies, handouts • If appropriate: email presentation in advance

Interview Success – presentations

Where’s the money……

Sector breakdown

• Construction • Entry - £25k - £28k• Advisor - £35K - £45K• Manager - £45k - £65k• Head of/Director - £75k - £200k

• In demand: High rise, tunnelling, data centres, trade background, commitment to personal development, engagement skills, diversity, inexperienced hires with personality

• Manufacturing• Entry – £20k - £25k• Advisor - £30k - £45k• Manager - £40k - £60k• Senior Manager - £50k - £70k• Head of/Director - £70k - £170k

• In demand: COMAH, up and coming managers with engagement skills, Pharma & Chemicals

Sector breakdown

• Consultancy• Consultant £30 – 40k• Senior Consultant - £40 – 50k• Principal Consultant £45 – 60k• Associate £65 – 70k• Associate Director £70 – 100k• Director £100k +

• In demand: CDM, Fire, Training and Business Development

• Services• Entry – £20k - £25k• Advisor - £30k - £45k• Manager - £40k - £75k• Head of/Director - £70k - £170k

• In demand: FM, Fire

Qualifications & professional development

• Level 6 qualifications important • CMIOSH preferred BUT Grad IOSH generally accepted• CPD behaviour & candidate shortage affects client requirements• Outside of main qualifications auditing & environmental qualifications are

most in demand • Accompanying experience required so get them whilst ‘on the job’• Knowledge of management systems important – ISO45001• It’s ultimately a balance of experience and qualifications….

1. Persuasion and influence2. Commercial awareness3. Listening4. Attention to detail5. Building relationships

Final thoughts...

Qualifications & Experience

Commercial awareness

People skills

Contact Us

+44 (0)1296 611300

Shirley Parsons

@ShirleyParsons

enquiries@shirleyparsons.comgerry.pearson@shirleyparsons.com