14001 Career Enhancments

[albo193]

Hello all………..I am new to this profession as well as this forum. I just recently took a job offering as an ISO 14001 Administrator at a company with about 650 employees. I should add that I have no previous experience in the environmental field, or in auditing. Part of my job requirements is to be the lead auditor. In two weeks I will be going to a 5 day LA course in Virginia. Since I took this job (3 months ago), I have been studying the standard and have a pretty good understanding of it. When I come back from training, I will also attend a 2-day internal training course. My question is what else can I do to improve in this field? Like are there any college courses I could take? What type of requirements do companies look for when hiring a 14001 Specialist? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you……By the way, I’ve learned a lot already from this site.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by albo193

My question is what else can I do to improve in this field?

My guess is, is that you are going to be trained in Reston, VA.

As for your question.....Keep an open mind and don't worry about being a whiz-bang expert in the environmental field. You are involved in a business management system that focuses on improvement of overall environmental performance.

As for what do companies look for? They make that up as they go along.

[howste]

Hey Randy, are you teaching that class?

[albo193]

Yes..... I'm going to Reston Virginia for the class. How is BSI Management? Anyone ever go to this class using them? If so how was it?

[Mike Smith]

What type of requirements do companies look for when hiring a 14001 Specialist?

I dont know, but you must have it. Can you tell us why you got the job?
I`m sort of in the same boat as you, no environmental experience, but I did have some experience with quality systems auditing. Now I am the Quality/Environmental Systems Manager.

[albo193]

Ive been with the company for 8 years, and for the last two I've been a Trainer. I have written many procedures for ISO 9001. They just started to implement an EMS and they needed someone. The ISO 9001 Specialist reccomended me, because I helped him out alot with procedures for his system. And that was that. Plus I live in RI and its all about Politics around here.....LOL.....Just ask Buddy Cianci!!..LOL

[Randy]

Nope, I won't be teaching the one in Reston this time. Most likely the instructor will be Ken Clayman or maybe Joe Lissenden (VP BSI-Training). Both of those guys are great! I'm going to be in Newport Beach in 2 weeks doing a variety of EMS courses followed up the next week with an EMS-Lead Auditor course (busy, busy).

BSI is a great organization for both training and auditing as are most of the others, both large and small, in this business.

I tout BSI because they are a very good client and to be honest, the more business they get, the more potential there is for me. Don't be afraid to test the others though. Look at your value per dollar, check on the credentials of the instructor staff, make sure you get what you pay for.

Good luck..the EMS Lead course will fry your brain (I helped to develop it, snicker, snicker).

[albo193]

Thanks for all the advice......and I look foward to frying my brain. LOL