In this lesson I share my real experience of my first client-side safety officer interview on an oil and gas project in Saudi Arabia: how I reached the interview, the questions they asked, and the reason I was rejected. If you are preparing for your first interview, learn from my mistakes so you do not repeat them.
How I reached the interview
My CV went to a supplier in Dammam. First I cleared an interview with the contractor company, and two days later they sent me to the client side. I was given a one-hour window (11 to 12). The supplier’s car picked me up at 8 in the morning, and after a long drive we reached the site around 11. I waited about half an hour, which actually helped me relax. Two people from the HSE department interviewed me face to face. The whole interview took about 15 minutes.
Question 1: Tell me about yourself
This is the first question in almost every interview. Before you start speaking, the interviewer already has your CV open in front of them, so your introduction must match your CV. Keep it to about two minutes and follow a clear order:
- Thank them for the opportunity and say your name.
- Your education and safety certificates (for example, NEBOSH).
- Your professional experience: company, project, dates and your responsibilities on each project.
- Every date, project and company on your CV should be at your fingertips.
Know the activity you are being hired for
Always find out which activity they are hiring for. If you are going through a supplier, ask them directly. In my case it was a piling activity. I had only basic knowledge of piling from reading online, so I could answer the basics but not the in-depth questions.
They gave me a scenario: piling work is going on, but the company does not have proper resources for barricading. What will you do as the safety officer? I answered that I would first give awareness to the workers through a toolbox talk, keep reminding them on site to stay away from the danger zone, and barricade the area properly as soon as resources are available.
Other questions they asked
- Excavation: what it is, its hazards and control measures.
- Confined space: definition and control measures.
- Crane lifting operations: hazards and control measures.
- One or two general safety definitions.
For every activity, you should know the definition, the main hazards and the control measures.
Why I was rejected
Overall the interview went well, about 85 to 90 percent. At the end they looked at my CV again and said: you have not worked on an oil and gas project before, and our requirement is two years of oil and gas experience. I told them I am a quick learner and that I can only gain experience if someone gives me a chance. They understood, but explained that if they passed me, the CV would be rejected at the next level and the blame would come back to them.
My biggest mistake: I did not ask about their requirements before going, and my CV did not meet them. Always check the job requirements first, and make sure your CV clearly shows what they are asking for.
Tips for your interview
- Be fully confident. Do not freeze, look at the ceiling or count the tiles. That tells the interviewer you do not know.
- If you do not know an answer, say so politely: “Sir, I do not have detailed knowledge of this. Can we move to the next topic?”
- You do not need fancy English. Simple, clear English is enough.
- Keep a light smile and look at the interviewer’s face, so you stay calm and connected.
- If one interview does not work out, do not lose heart. Keep trying. Your chance will come.
If you are preparing for interviews, also read: practice with our safety quizzes, or get a professional CV that matches the job requirements.