Irwin and Colton have partnered with NEBOSH on a series of articles looking into questions from their alumni.
Question: What are your top tips for interview success?
Interviews can feel daunting, whether it’s your first one in years or just another step in a busy job search. They are your opportunity to bring your CV to life, demonstrate your expertise, and show how you can add real value to the organisation. For health and safety professionals, preparation is key, not just to answer questions but to show leadership, technical knowledge, and cultural influence. Here’s how to make a strong impression.
Understand the role and the organisation.
Start with the job description and read it thoroughly. What are the core responsibilities? Which qualifications, sectors, or technical skills are mentioned repeatedly? Those repeats are your clue to what really matters.
Then go a step further and research the organisation itself. Look at its size, industry, structure, culture, values, and any recent developments or challenges. A simple but often overlooked tip: check the news or press section of the company’s website. If they’ve published a recent announcement, it’s usually a big deal internally. Referencing it in an interview can give you a connection point and show you’ve taken the time to understand what’s going on in their world.
Our mantra is research, research, research. You won’t use everything you find in the interview, but doing the work builds confidence and helps you join the dots quickly when questions come up.
One of our candidates was interviewing with a major retailer and, before the interview, visited several local stores. He paid attention to layout, messaging, staff behaviours, and customer flow. Afterwards, the client told us that effort stood out and was a big reason he got the role!
Show the impact you can make
Employers want to hear about outcomes, not just duties. So instead of listing what you were responsible for, focus on what changed because you were there. Think of clear, specific examples of achievements - where you made a measurable difference: lowering incident rates, rolling out training that stuck, improving audit scores, or leading an ISO 45001 certification.
Back up your examples with facts and figures wherever possible. They help the interviewer picture the scale of your work and the value you added. For example:
How large were the sites or operations you supported?
What was the project value or risk profile?
How many people were in your team, and how many were you influencing?
What was the baseline performance, and what did you improve it to?
Numbers don’t need to be dramatic; they just need to be real. They turn “I improved safety culture” into something credible.
A useful way to structure answers is the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. It keeps your response tight and ensures you land on the impact, not just the activity.
For example: “Implemented a behavioural safety programme that reduced near misses by 30% within 12 months.”
That kind of answer is clear, evidence-based, and makes it easy for the employer to see what you could deliver for them.
Prepare for common questions and engage thoughtfully
While every interview is unique, certain questions come up frequently. Examples include:
“Can you tell us about a time you improved safety performance?”
“How do you stay up to date with legislation and best practice?”
“How do you influence senior stakeholders or frontline teams?”
Practising your responses helps you stay confident and focused. It’s not about memorising answers word-for-word but about being ready with clear, relevant examples that highlight your skills and experience.
Remember, interviews are a two-way conversation. Asking thoughtful questions shows you’re engaged and thinking ahead. You might ask:
“What are the biggest health and safety challenges facing the organisation right now?”
“How is the safety team structured?”
“What does success look like in this role after six months?”
Avoid asking about salary or benefits early on; keep the focus on the role and the organisation’s priorities.
Prepare for video interviews and follow up professionally
If your interview is online, preparation matters just as much. Test your technology in advance to avoid last-minute glitches. Choose a quiet, well-lit space, dress professionally, and look into the camera when speaking to create a sense of eye contact.
Keep your CV and notes nearby for reference, but avoid reading from them - it’s important to maintain a natural, conversational tone. Video interviews can feel less personal, so small details like smiling and using positive body language can make a big difference.
Finally, follow up professionally after the interview. A short thank-you email is a simple but powerful way to leave a positive impression. Reaffirm your interest in the role and highlight one or two key points from the conversation that stood out to you. This shows you are proactive and genuinely invested in the opportunity.
In short
Successful interviews for health and safety roles are built on preparation, clarity, and confidence. By understanding the role, showcasing your impact, practising common questions, engaging thoughtfully, and following up professionally, you position yourself as a candidate who can deliver.
At Irwin and Colton, we’ve supported thousands of health and safety professionals through the interview process. The most successful candidates are those who prepare thoroughly, communicate clearly, and show genuine enthusiasm for the role.
If you’re preparing for an interview and would like tailored advice, our team is here to help.
You can reach us by emailing info@irwinandcolton.com or calling 01923 432 633.