You've just graduated college with your degree in Environmental Health and Safety, and you're ready to start your career. But where do you start? The job market can be tough, especially if you don't have any experience. Here are a few tips to help you get your foot in the door and land that entry-level job in EHS.
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Entry Level EHS Jobs
- How to Find EHS Jobs Near You
- Getting Your Foot in the Door
- Start by researching companies that are EHS friendly
- Create Job Alerts
- Research by Entry Level EHS Jobs, Job Title or Job Type
- Network, network, network
- Develop the skills the market needs
- Highlight your relevant skills and experience
- Conclusion
#1. Environmental Health and Safety
EHS is short for environmental health and safety. It's a broad field that covers everything from ensuring safe and healthy working conditions to protecting the environment from pollution and waste.
There are many different types of EHS jobs, but most entry-level positions will involve some combination of monitoring compliance, conducting inspections, writing reports, and providing training on safety procedures.
#2. Entry Level EHS Jobs
There are a few different types of entry-level EHS jobs:
- Monitoring compliance with safety regulations is a common entry-level job in EHS. You may be responsible for conducting inspections, writing reports, and following up on violations.
- Conducting research is another common entry-level job in EHS. You may be responsible for collecting data, analyzing environmental samples, and writing scientific reports.
- Providing training on safety procedures is another common entry-level job in EHS. You may be responsible for developing training materials, delivering presentations, and leading discussions on safety topics.
#3. How to Find EHS Jobs Near You
We know that its not easy as we liked to land at our first job, even though our team has done a research of the best practices of "how to" and it contains the following recommendations:
#3.1. Getting Your Foot in the Door
The best way to land an entry-level environmental, health, and safety job is to have a college degree in a relevant field such as environmental science or civil engineering. However, don't despair if you don't have a relevant degree; there are still many entry-level positions available for those with the right skillset. Many employers are looking for candidates with strong communication and interpersonal skills, basic computer skills, and the ability to learn new things quickly.
#3.2. Start by researching companies that are EHS friendly.
There are a lot of companies out there that claim to be environmentally friendly or concerned with safety, but not all of them live up to their claims. Do some research to find companies that are truly committed to safety and health, both for their employees and for the environment. Good places to start are companies that have been certified by OSHA or the EPA.
#3.3. Create Job Alert
One of the best ways to find out about new job openings is to set up job alerts. This way, you'll be notified as soon as a new opening that matches your criteria is posted. You can set up job alerts on most job search engines, including Indeed, CareerBuilder, and Monster.
#3.4. Research by Entry Level EHS Jobs, Job Title or Job Type
When you find an entry-level EHS job that you're interested in, take the time to research the company and the position. Find out as much as you can about what the job entails and what the company culture is like. You can do this by reading the job description carefully, researching the company online, and talking to people who work there.
#3.5. Network, network, network.
The best way to find a job is often through someone you know. Talk to family and friends, reach out to your former professors, or connect with professionals in the field on LinkedIn. See if anyone knows of any openings at their company or if they would be willing to put in a good word for you with their boss.
#3.6. Develop the skills the market needs
Some specific skills that will make you a more attractive candidate for an entry-level EHS job include:
- Familiarity with environmental regulations such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act
- Knowledge of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
- Ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Experience conducting research using environmental databases such as Envirofacts
If you have any experience working in an office or administrative setting, be sure to list that on your resume as it will be helpful in securing an entry-level EHS job. Employers are also often looking for candidates who have customer service experience or experience working in a team environment.
#3.7. Highlight your relevant skills and experience on your resume and in your cover letter.
Even if you don't have any direct experience working in EHS, you likely have transferable skills from other experiences, such as customer service or data entry. If you've done any internships or volunteer work, be sure to mention those as well. And don't forget to showcase your knowledge of EHS principles and regulations in your cover letter.
Conclusion
Landing an entry-level job in EHS may seem daunting at first, but it's definitely doable with some effort and perseverance. By following these tips, you'll be on your way to getting your dream job in no time.