Food Safety is the Goal
Becoming a Consumer Safety Officer is a multi-step process, and it will take time to become approved, but the rewards are huge. A consumer safety officer is an FDA inspector who is well compensated for his service, but must be qualified by training and/or education. The job is classified under the department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under series #0696, Consumer Safety Officer.
Instructions
1. University Studies Prepare You for the Position
Complete a college degree that should include at least 30 semester hours in one or a combination of the following: biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, physical sciences, food technology, nutrition, medical science, engineering, epidemiology, veterinary medical science, or related scientific fields that provide knowledge directly related to consumer safety officer work. An additional eight semester hours in statistics, or course work including the principles, theory, or practical application of computers or computer programming is also advised. In some cases, appropriate work experience can be substituted for the required coursework.
2. Complete the Application
Go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website at www. jobview.usajobs.gov and review the key requirements for the position. Complete the online application. The process is well guided, but will include many items not usually seen on a standard application for private industry. According to OPM, you may be asked to provide KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities), such as courses of study or experience specific to the position. These KSAs should include: Knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices of environmental health science; Skill in selecting, adapting and applying inspection and investigative techniques; Ability to communicate effectively orally.
3. Answer Honestly and Completely
Complete the online questionnaire as offered by OPM. The Office of Personnel Management is trying to select the best candidate, and the questionnaire asks more pointed questions about your aptitude and background.
4. Prepare for interviews. The interviews could be either by telephone or in person. Go to the FDA website at www.fda.gov and read the material under "Working for the FDA." The information will enable you to understand the interviewer's acronyms and special verbiage. You may even want to build a binder with your own answers to questions about yourself and your experiences. During a telephone interview, you may not remember some items that could be valuable, and referenced pages in your binder could help.
Tags: Complete online, consumer safety, Consumer Safety, Food Safety, medical science, Office Personnel
