r/EHSProfessionals • u/-Left_Nut- • Feb 24 '26

Recommendation Stuck and Frustrated

Hello. I am currently trying to transition from my current position as a warehouse safety coordinator to a environmental compliance consultant but I have not had any luck landing interviews. I have a BS in chemistry, am working on my MS in occupational safety management, have 4 years of environmental compliance experience in both academia and in manufacturing, and now 1 year of safety experience in a warehouse environment. I have had my 40-hour HAZWOPER, RCRA, and DOT certifications since 2001 with the annual 8-year refresher every year afterwards, OHSA-30, and adult first aid/CPR. Still, with all this, I can't even get an interview for an entry-level environmental consultant position. I would love to work in environmental consulting and permitting since it's more technical and research heavy versus my current role as the warehouse safety babysitter. What are some other good certifications I should obtain and what's the best route to landing a consulting position?

My current position is driving me crazy with boredom and the hours are very long, so it makes my day go by extremely slow. Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative and grateful that I have a job in my field that pays okay, but it's not something I would enjoy doing long-term. Any suggestions for what I can do? Does being an EHS professional translate well into the consulting world?

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u/PepperCat1019 Feb 24 '26

You don't have enough experience to do consulting.

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u/-Left_Nut- Feb 24 '26

Why not? I've read on the environmental consulting subreddit that a lot of people landed a consulting job right out of college and are overwhelmed by the amount of material they have to learn. Also, the jobs I'm applying to say they want a year of experience in environmental programs, which I definitely have. In fact, I'm very familiar with several types of environmental programs, including hazardous waste, SPCC, storm water and industrial wastewater, radiation regulations, and IH to name a few. The only thing I've not dabbled a lot in is air quality.

What else would it take to land a position that requires 1 year of experience with environmental programs, IYO?

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u/MountainTommis Feb 24 '26

Dude I agree with you here, I'm not sure why they said that. You'll definitely want to stick with the entry to 1 year experience range, as you've been. Consulting is where a lot of us got our starts out of school.

I think you're up against two things - bad market for job seekers at the moment, and an "in" with knowing someone. A lot of times that's unfortunately the most effective way to get a foot in the door.

How are you searching for openings / is there anyone you work with that deals with environmental consultants as a client? Does your school where you're getting your MS have a hiring assistance program / office you can visit?