¿Cuáles son algunas de las oportunidades y desafíos de trabajar como entrenador de seguridad independiente o independiente?

In my experience as a freelance Health & Safety trainer, it has not only made me more comfortable in choosing my clients for training but has also provided benefits far beyond my expectations. The reason I say this is that when you work under an establishment, whether it's Training or Non-training, there are chances you could be limited to only a particular sector. For example, they might solely focus on oil & gas or any other specialization of safety, restricting your exploration of other subject areas within safety. You would be confined to only limited areas of safety. However, as a freelancer, you get unlimited freedom to explore a lot of subjects to upskill your training knowledge on safety training.

Freelance safety trainers enjoy autonomy in their schedules, locations, and client selection, offering flexibility and control over workload and income. Customising services to client needs fosters client satisfaction and cultivates a diverse portfolio across various sectors. This autonomy extends to professional growth, as trainers can expand networks and reputation by engaging with different industries. The freelance model empowers trainers to adapt to evolving market demands while maintaining work-life balance and pursuing personal and professional aspirations.

Você tem oportunidade de definir seus próprios horários de trabalho, permitindo uma maior flexibilidade para equilibrar trabalho e vida pessoal. Trabalhar de forma independente pode resultar em isolamento profissional, pois você pode não ter colegas de trabalho próximos. A falta de interação diária com uma equipe pode ser desafiadora para alguns. Ao decidir trabalhar como freelancer, é importante considerar tanto oportunidades quanto desafios. Estar ciente desses aspectos pode ajudá-lo a tomar decisões informadas sobre sua carreira e criar estratégias para enfrentar os desafios que possam surgir.

Trabalhar de forma independente pode oferecer um potencial de ganho significativo, especialmente se você desenvolver uma reputação sólida e conseguir atrair clientes regulares ou projetos de alto valor. Como freelancer, você não tem acesso aos benefícios tradicionais do emprego, como seguro saúde ou plano de aposentadoria, e também enfrenta a falta de segurança no emprego associada ao trabalho por conta própria. É importante estar ciente dos desafios e estar preparado para enfrentá-los enquanto busca aproveitar as oportunidades disponíveis.

Despite its advantages, working as a freelance or independent safety trainer comes with challenges. Uncertainty and income instability, lack of benefits, and fluctuating demand and competition are notable drawbacks. Personal investment in equipment, materials, insurance, and sole responsibility for administrative and marketing tasks add to the challenges. Staying abreast of evolving safety laws, standards, and best practices requires continuous learning and updating of skills and qualifications. Freelance safety trainers must navigate these challenges to maintain a successful and sustainable independent career.

Ser autónomo en España es un deporte de riesgo (nunca mejor dicho). Ser independiente, freelance, dueño de tu tiempo... suena genial, pero normalmente no se afrontan los desafíos que también trae consigo. Si no tienes una estrategia, un mes facturarás y otros no, no tendrás clientes recurrentes, no tendrás una previsión de facturación e irás siempre pensando qué pasará el mes siguiente. Hay que crear marca personal, hacerte un hueco como profesional independiente que ofrece consultoría y formación de calidad, reciclada, práctica, con tecnología moderna... Actualizarse, conocer bien el mercado y a los actores que forman parte de él.

In my experience as a Safety Trainer, I’ve encountered challenges that arise when you’re given less priority or importance over others. For instance, imagine a situation where your company is at risk of a fire. If the freelance trainer is given less consideration due to time constraints imposed by business targets, this could impact the effectiveness of fire risk awareness and firefighting training. The potential consequence of this is that the trainer may not be able to properly convey the necessary fire control measures. In the event of a fire, the trainer could be held responsible, despite the fact that it was the company that limited the time for training.

A renda instável e a necessidade de competir no mercado podem ser fontes de incerteza. Além disso, há o ônus financeiro de investir em equipamentos e seguros próprios, bem como a responsabilidade de gerenciar todas as operações administrativas e de marketing sem apoio externo. Manter-se atualizado com as constantes mudanças nas normas de segurança e investir na própria formação contínua também são requisitos essenciais, adicionando camadas de complexidade à carreira independente nesta área.

Si tienes una marca personal potente en LinkedIn, hablando de Cultura Preventiva en general (echo de menos artículos colaborativos para hablar de Riesgos Psicosociales), tendrás más oportunidades de abrir y fortalecer relaciones con posibles clientes, que querrán contratarte como consultor, formador... Hay que poner foco en crear relaciones, no solo publicar y ya está. Para mí LinkedIn es actualmente la mayor red de contactos profesionales, pero solo si la usas con criterio y con pasos hacia tu objetivo.

When I did this I had done some work previously as a contractor and so had built a reputation, you know what you got with me and so when I went freelance completely I had 5 major clients who basically gave me all the work I needed. In fact I didn't have to go looking outside these 5 major clients. Work hard, be honest, be reliable and credible and people will come knocking.

A major challenge for freelance safety trainers is client acquisition and retention. Effectively marketing oneself, highlighting credentials, testimonials, and a strong value proposition is crucial. Building trust and credibility through networking and relationship-building with potential clients is key. Providing high-quality training that meets or exceeds expectations is essential for client satisfaction. Following up for feedback and referrals enhances client relationships and contributes to sustained success as an independent safety trainer. Overcoming the challenge of client acquisition requires a strategic blend of marketing, professionalism, and service excellence.

One thing I found helpful is being able to add value to their business. Often as a third party, you can see thinks that those cannot who work within the business. Be honest when giving companies advice and always do it respectfully.

Gerenciar o tempo de forma eficiente como freelancer envolve estabelecer uma rotina estruturada, definir metas claras e realistas, utilizar ferramentas de gestão de tempo e tarefas, aprender a priorizar projetos e praticar o auto-cuidado. Essas práticas não apenas maximizam a produtividade e garantem a entrega de projetos dentro dos prazos, mas também promovem um equilíbrio saudável entre trabalho e vida pessoal, contribuindo para uma carreira freelance bem-sucedida e sustentável.

Effectively managing time is a significant challenge for freelance safety trainers. Balancing workloads, prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance, and setting realistic goals and deadlines are crucial. Avoiding overcommitment and underdelivery is essential for maintaining client satisfaction. Allocating time for continuous professional development to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in safety training is necessary. Prioritising personal well-being and taking steps to avoid burnout and stress contribute to sustainable success as an independent safety trainer. Efficient time management is pivotal for maintaining productivity, meeting client expectations, and ensuring long-term professional growth.

Ao liderar um projeto de treinamento de segurança, eu priorizava tarefas críticas e estabelecia prazos realistas, assegurando assim a qualidade do trabalho sem me sobrecarregar. Também dedicava momentos específicos na semana para atualização profissional, participando de webinars e cursos online sobre as novidades em segurança. Para evitar o esgotamento, era essencial manter um equilíbrio saudável, integrando atividades de lazer e exercícios físicos à rotina, o que me ajudava a manter o foco e a energia para enfrentar os desafios do trabalho independente.

Lembro que trabalhei com uma pessoa que tinha grandes dificuldades no gerenciamento do tempo, em virtude de ser muito atenciosa e comunicativa, mostrando que gostava de dar detalhes sobre qualquer assunto que participava, porém, as demais atribuições ficam perdidas e/ou esquecidas. Isso mostra que o profissional precisa controlar seu tempo, atender prazos e demais atribuições para que suas obrigações estejam em dia.

Scheduling Tools: Use digital calendars, project management software, and time-tracking apps to organize your tasks and appointments. Prioritization: Focus on high-priority tasks and set realistic deadlines to manage workload effectively. Work-Life Balance: Establish boundaries to separate work time from personal time to prevent burnout.

Cada día disponemos de más tecnología (IA, Realidad Aumentada, Realidad Virtual...) para desbancar al powerpoint y las charlas infumables. Actualicemos nuestros conocimientos, aprendamos la normativa, leamos artículos, post en LinkedIn... Consigamos mejorar no solo el qué sabemos sino también el cómo lo contamos, cómo lo expresamos, cómo lo llevamos a nuestros clientes en formaciones, consultoría, planes de seguridad, etc...

Remaining current on safety issues, regulations, and standards poses a significant challenge for freelance safety trainers. Regular research and monitoring of changes in the field are essential to adapt training content accordingly. Complying with legal and ethical requirements, maintaining certifications and accreditations, and staying informed about industry developments are crucial aspects of the role. Seeking feedback and evaluation from clients and peers helps identify strengths and areas for improvement. This ongoing commitment to professional development and staying abreast of industry changes is essential for delivering effective and up-to-date safety training as an independent practitioner.

In the field of safety, whether it’s training or non-training, staying up-to-date with your field is very important. You need to be aware of the changes happening around you, such as the newly amended health & safety regulations by your government. If you are not updated with the current standards, your competency may be challenged and compromised. Your competency can only be achieved by staying updated with the changing trends. This can be achieved by attending conferences/seminars, taking up safety courses such as NEBOSH/IOSH, and preferably doing a refresher course which might also update any changes made in the world of health and safety.

Na minha experiência, dedicar tempo regularmente para a pesquisa de novas legislações e melhores práticas no campo da segurança foi essencial. Por exemplo, participei de fóruns profissionais e associações de segurança, onde compartilhávamos atualizações e discutíamos mudanças regulamentares.

Todo profissional que esteja tendo uma vida de rotinas, deve estar acompanhando a evolução das tecnologias e demais acompanhamentos. Ainda, com a inclusão da IA, todas as atividades serão aceleradas e cabe ao profissional estar sempre presente a essas mudanças.

When working with clients, be clear with your expectations. Lay out ground rules so all know how you will deal with all enquiries, bookings, cancellations etc. Your clients will be clear with their expectations of you so be professional and do the same for them. No one likes suprises.

Remember not all clients will pay the same rate, and some courses are 2 days or three days while others 5 days .consider being paid per day or course and set rules as to what jobs you will priotise. Also have a back up.for when you get sick.

Cuando Trabaje para una corporacion cada vez que habia una reestructuración en el equipo de la oficina se generaba mucho estress, mas edad mas estress. Por ello a los 40a decidi dar el paso a profesional independiente. Fue un desafio , pero lograr la mejora requiere esfuerzo. Hoy con 55a llegue a construir un negocio consolidado. Como recomendacion tener claro al dar el paso a free lance/ independiente "no caer en ser un auto-empleado" les deseo Exitos en sus proyectos!

As a freelance safety trainer, I relish the autonomy to choose clients and shape my offerings, but I navigate challenges like income stability and client scheduling. Yet, by maintaining a strong personal brand and leveraging platforms like LinkedIn for networking, I find opportunities for growth. Efficient time management and continuous learning are key to overcoming hurdles and delivering quality training. The journey as an independent practitioner is dynamic, demanding, but ultimately rewarding, contributing to a safer work environment for all.