Focusing on Improvement in an Uncertain Time
Colin Brown, PhD, MSOH, CSP, CIH; BCSP's Professional and Organizational Advancement Manager; Adjunct Professor
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During the past few months, students in safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) programs have faced significant challenges. Many are learning how to adjust to a new normal while dealing with uncertainty. Students are learning how to study remotely, manage their finances, and navigate how to obtain work experience, given the cancellation of many jobs and internships.
The recent events have also highlighted the need and value of competent and qualified safety professionals. Emerging SH&E professionals play a critical role in protecting the workforce, especially now.
I want to offer some guidance and encouragement to help you thrive in these unprecedented circumstances.
Take care of yourself mentally and physically. Reach out to your professors, your fellow students, your family, and your friends to stay connected. Use video conferencing and connect face to face, virtually when you can. It is normal to feel overwhelmed or isolated during these times. Talk with your advisor and your mentors. Reach out to your school's health or psychological services if you begin to feel overwhelmed.
Create routines and take care of your physical health. Make a schedule and stick to it. Make sure that you are eating well, getting exercise, and spending time outside. One of the best ways to take care of yourself is to get enough sleep. Take breaks, ensure that you have time to recharge, and focus on activities you enjoy. This will make you feel better and improve your work performance.
Suppose your internship or a new opportunity has been canceled. You can focus on building your skill sets or creating projects or portfolios of past work. There are several free webinars and educational seminars by various organizations where you can make connections through networking and learn new skills in safety and health that will help you succeed in the future. Your commitment to continuous learning will show future employers how resilient you are.
Take this time to create a five-year plan and set milestones to help you achieve your goals. Look at current job opportunities, the skills that employers require, and make a list of areas where you want to improve. What topics make you feel excited? Perhaps you will learn that you are very interested in a specific area such as fire safety, industrial hygiene, or ergonomics. Write and revise your resume and cover letter to be confident when you apply to new positions.
It is never too early to consider which credentialing organizations can help you advance your career, like the Board of Certified Safety Professionals® (BCSP®). If you have not already, consider working towards the Graduate Safety Practitioner® (GSP®) designation offered by BCSP. It will set you on a path to attaining the Certified Safety Professional® (CSP®) and help you become a leader in advancing the safety profession.
This school year, remember to connect and take care of yourselves and each other. While the pandemic has presented many challenges, emerging SH&E professionals will meet the moment and play a crucial role in preparing our workforce for the future.
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BCSP Academic Database
BCSP maintains the Academic Database for those seeking the knowledge required to become SH&E professionals, looking to earn recertification points, or looking to stay knowledgeable of the latest developments in safety practice.
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SH&E Professor on Future of Safety Profession Post COVID-19 |
Safety is in an interesting place. As safety professionals, we know that the safety, health, and environmental field is an ever-evolving discipline. But, rarely have things shifted so drastically so quickly. As critical a field as ever, workplace safety in the near future will evolve and be an increasingly crucial factor in ways that affect not only how we work but how we live.
Lu Yuan Sc.D., CSP, is a Professor of Occupational Safety, Health, & Environment at Southeastern Louisiana University where he will educate his students through the unknowns of the immediate future, and the likely permanent changes of the long-term future. “COVID-19 has changed everything,” said Yuan. “It feels that the SH&E profession seems to be more important than ever.” He continued, “I think that this will continue to drive the force elevating SH&E as one of the core values for any kind of business.”
As for the long-term solutions to these current issues, Yuan sees remote instruction as a viable tool but one that relies on continued innovation, and a return to campus is viable only if the necessary steps are taken to eliminate risks with participation from all involved. “Remote instruction allows the continuation of teaching and learning. But the quality of remote instruction has to rely on many factors,” said Yuan. “Both teachers and students have to find more innovative ways for interactions,” he continued.
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The BCSP Career Center connects job seekers with prospective employers in the safety, health, and environmental industry. Results are a click away!
Posting open positions for companies looking to hire individuals who hold our credentials is also free. This site is your direct route to qualified individuals!
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Investing in Future Practitioners Through Scholarships |
The BCSP Foundation is pleased to support young, aspiring SH&E professionals pursuing higher education in ABET/AABI-accredited Qualified Academic Programs (QAP). Beginning Sept. 1, 2020, qualified students can apply for a $5,000 scholarship to offset expenses related to their pursuit of an SH&E degree from a QAP.
In addition to the BCSP Foundation's scholarships, the ASSP Foundation, the AIHF Foundation, and the AGC Education and Research Foundation provide scholarships to students in occupational safety fields, undergrads, and graduate students.
Click the Continue Reading button for more details on dates, deadlines, and submission information for each of these organizations' scholarship opportunities.
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Send Us Your News
Consider the BCSP Collegiate eNewsletter your eNewsletter.
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Newsletters and Annual Reports Archive
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BCSP Foundation to Host Virtual SH&E Job Fair |
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The BCSP Foundation, in an effort to provide meaningful pathways of engagement between qualified candidates and employers committed to workplace safety, is proud to announce the first BCSP Foundation Virtual Career Fair.
To be held on October 29, 2020, the Career Fair aims to seamlessly connect job candidates and employers seeking top talent in safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) roles. This interactive, real-time experience is free to candidates with BCSP credentials and military veterans.
The online format provides an easy and effective way to search and apply for jobs, chat with prospective employers, interview for exciting positions, and learn about the many opportunities in the SH&E field!
More information, including the registration link, can be accessed on the BCSP Foundation's website, when available. If you have questions, reach out to Colin Brown, BCSP's Professional and Organizational Advancement Manager, at [email protected].
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Job Fair Notes
- Search for jobs and instantly submit resumes
- Interact and learn about employers and their current openings
- Chat live with employers and schedule interviews
- Attend educational webinars
- Connect with employers that value your designations/certifications
- Visit virtual booths and instantly apply to job opportunities
- Attract and recruit top talent while saving on travel, time, and staffing
- Have direct access to candidate resumes and contact information
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Important Dates
Registration Dates
- Job seekers register by Oct. 23, 2020
- Employers register by Oct. 14, 2020
Pre-Workshops
- Resume Building: Sept. 24, 2020
- How to Interview and Prepare for Virtual Environment: Oct. 8 & Oct. 15, 2020
Virtual Job Fair
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Promoting the Value of Your School
If your academic program is a Qualified Academic Program (QAP), BCSP would like to work with you in making sure individuals seeking quality SH&E education know your school produces future leaders.
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Resources for Returning to School During a Pandemic |
With the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic comes an abundance of information, some conflicting, on ways to protect and prepare yourself. But how do you know which outlets you can trust?
We have compiled a list of resources at the button below from trusted partners and affiliates with up-to-date information that will help you prepare for your return to campus and/or work.
For more information on BCSP's partnerships, click here.
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Hazards exist in every workplace across the globe, and where there are hazards, there exists a need for safety professionals. Safety professionals prevent injuries and incidents, protect people, and ensure they return home safely.
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Show You Have What it Takes to Keep Others Safe and Healthy |
Business leaders are looking for safety and health expertise now more than any other time in recent memory. Your colleagues, coworkers, and community depend on you. Let them know you are ready to protect them by achieving a BCSP certification.
The widely-recognized STS and STSC demonstrate having industry-relevant knowledge and skills, giving you a competitive advantage among employers seeking high-quality safety professionals.
How will you take your career to the next level?
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Share Events With Us
Have an upcoming job fair, conference, or chapter meeting that you would like to share with readers? Would you like to invite a BCSP representative to attend an event? We would like to hear about it!
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