Career Journeys - Megan Freeman

What inspired you to pursue your current path?

My previous roles organising events within universities led me to my new career in health and safety. I discovered that I had a passion for producing event risk assessments and wanted to spend more time doing this type of work. I was already familiar working within university settings, so a career in health and safety within the higher education sector seemed like a good fit for me.

Another factor that influenced my decision was the positive reports that I received from those already working within health and safety at universities. I engaged with several health and safety professionals within my network at the time, which enabled me to better understand the sector before making the decision to go into it myself. I was offered great advice and mentorship, which only further reinforced that it was the right career path for me.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job?

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is the opportunity it provides for professional development. The role itself is structured to provide on-the-job training, which will eventually result in me progressing to the role of Health & Safety Advisor.

I have access to mentorship from colleagues within the Central Health & Safety Service, as well as support as I study for my Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice. I am very fortunate to be in a role where I am encouraged to develop and learn as part of my day-to-day duties.

I also find the variety of work incredibly fulfilling. Every day is very different, which provides plenty of opportunity to build my skills and expertise in a wide variety of areas. The nature of my job also allows me to collaborate with colleagues from across a variety of Schools and Services. I am a social person, so working with a diverse range of individuals helps me to feel part of that wider university community.

What challenges have you faced? How did you overcome them?

The decision to switch careers has been my biggest challenge to date. I found it difficult to gain the confidence to start a new career, especially in a field that required a level of technical expertise that I did not feel like I had at the time.

A large part of gaining the confidence to take that step was working towards my first proper health and safety qualification. I saved up the money to self-fund it and started studying in my spare time. This was a huge personal investment in my professional development, which gave me the confidence to start applying for new roles.

To this day, I still struggle with self-confidence and a sense of ‘imposter syndrome’ working in health and safety. Fortunately, I have great support from my team who continue to value the contributions that I make and empower me to have conviction in my own skills. It has taken me just over 6 months of being in post, but I am finally starting to think of myself as a health and safety professional.

What advice would you give someone considering a role which requires a high level of technical expertise?

My biggest advice would be to put yourself out there. Reach out to other professionals within your networks who are working in the field you’d like to join, and start building those connections. It is difficult at first but the best way to determine if that field is for you is to hear more about it from those who do it.

Another piece of advice is to not be afraid of not knowing enough. I was so self-conscious of my perceived lack of technical skills that it prevented me from getting involved in health and safety much sooner. I have come to realise that everyone was once a beginner, so putting yourself forward and asking those silly questions is the only way to make a start and learn something new.