Safety Auditor Interview Sample Questions

• Mining is one of many industries utilizing the services of safety professionals. salt mining image by jesse welter from Fotolia.com

  A safety auditor plays an important role in a variety of organizations. Whether it is ensuring a mine is up-to-code with legislation or conducting an assessment of airport safety practices, safety auditors must be diplomatic and committed while always remaining aware of the latest industry developments related to their sector. Interviewing candidates for this position requires a blend of questions focusing on skills, education and experience.

Education

• Interviewing for prospective safety auditors involves questions about education, skill, experience and often sector-specific knowledge. la rencontre image by Yves Damin from Fotolia.com

  Employers have varying demands and expectations for safety auditors. Asking about a candidate's education background is often a great interview opener -- a simple question that relaxes the candidate. Inquiring about candidates' alma mater and asking how their education has assisted them in their career sets the tone for a relaxed yet focused interview experience. When interviewing for a safety position, asking about related courses in government relations, industry technology and compliance might be suitable questions.

Soft Skills

• Safety auditors require strong interpersonal and investigative skills, and conflict resolution abilities.

  These people are generally individuals with a strong command for details. When assessing interview candidates' soft skills, asking situation-based questions provides the best answers.

  An example of a situation-based question is "Tell us about a time you resolved a challenging situation on a job site" or "Do you remember an experience requiring use of your strong communication skills?" Questions that seek demonstrated examples of behavior from past experience provide employers with indicators of how individuals will act in the future.

Experience

• The previous experience of a candidate for a safety auditor position is an important assessment tool in the interview process. A safety auditor is a responsible role affecting the livelihood of many individuals. Positive past experiences in the profession provide a guarantee for future employers and their stakeholder groups.

  Questions such as "Tell us how your previous experience has prepared you for this position" will provide interviewers with a method of assessing past performance.

Sector-Based Knowledge

• Safety auditors work in a variety of industries including aerospace, mining, oil and gas and health care. For positions in a specific industry, asking questions about sector-based knowledge is critical. Probe interview candidates with questions such as "Why did you build a career in the aerospace industry as a safety auditor?" or "What has been the biggest challenge of delivering safety auditing results in the mining industry?"

Industry Registration and Accreditation

• Many professions have a professional association or accreditation body that sets standards and licenses individuals. Often a safety auditor position requires membership in good standing in a professional body and often the successful completion of a licensing exam. Ask your candidates questions such as "Are you a member of a professional organization?" or "Why did you join your professional association?" The National Association of Safety Professionals provides training courses and certificiation information, useful for both employers and prospective employees.