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You will usually need to be a registered adult, child, learning disability or mental health nurse to apply for occupational health posts. Applying for a job within a large occupational health service should help you gain adequate supervision and support. This is especially important for a first job in an occupational health.

Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. Occupational nurses in the NHS will usually start at band 5 and work standard hours of 37.5 per week. Many jobs in occupational health nursing will be outside of the NHS where terms and conditions can vary.

You have to be highly organised, flexible and able to prioritise effectively. An occupational health nurse is also highly observant, able to assess patients and take responsibility for determining the best course of action for them.

After qualifying and gaining some experience, there are a variety of routes you could take as the next step in your career. With experience you could progress to a senior nursing adviser within an occupational nursing department. You may also choose to qualify as a specialist community public health nurse (SCPHN).

To be fully qualified as an electrician, you need a level 3 qualification, usually an NVQ and/or a Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment. Although electricians often join the NHS fully qualified and experienced, it may be possible to train as an electrician. Employers usually ask for at least three GCSEs (or equivalent), including maths, English and science. They may ask for some experience in construction or other practical work. There are sometimes apprenticeships in estates support/estates maintenance that can provide this type of experience. Employers may ask for a driving licence. When you start as a trainee electrician, your training will include health and safety, how to use the tools and equipment and all aspects of electrical work You will be encouraged to study for qualifications such as NVQs.

Estates staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As an estates support worker, you could start on AfC band 2. As a qualified electrician in estates maintenance, you will typically start on AfC band 3. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 4 and above. Electricians in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. The job may involve shifts including early starts, evenings and weekends. Electricians may be part of an on-call rota for emergency cover. Terms and conditions will usually be different for electricians working outside of the NHS.

As an electrician you'll need to be very health and safety aware, able to follow procedures, careful and responsible, able to work alone or unsupervised when necessary and able to work to deadlines. You'll also need good manual (hand) skills, good organisational and time management skills.

Once fully qualified and with experience, an electrician can become a team leader, supervising the work of others. With further experience you could progress to manager, responsible for electrical services in a hospital, area or trust. Electricians may be able to move into other estates services roles such as estates technician . They can apply to train as engineers. There are opportunities outside the NHS.