Advice on how to become an ISO 9001 auditor

bhz-2

Would anyone please tell me what's like to work as an ISO 9001 auditor?

Where do you get training and how long it takes, career prospects, starting salary, etc? Do you need to specialise in a certain industry?

Do you need to be self-employed for that? What are the best places/websites to look for a job as an auditor? What kind of skills do they look for?

Many thanks.

cazziebo

I have taken on a couple of consultancy jobs to help companies achieve ISO 9001/2. I was an internal auditor on the old BS5750. Lucrative assignments.

I find that most UKAS ISO auditors have worked as internal auditors and have been through Lead Auditor accredited training. Some of the larger accreditation companies do employ their own auditors and do seem to be kept very busy. (Many industries still demand ISO accreditation - it's almost essential to work in the oil and gas sector). Salaries are around £30k - £40k although varies around the country.

I haven't ever come across anyone who went in to auditing "cold". Do you have lead auditing experience, or is there any opportunity in gaining this with your current employer? It's not a popular job so there is a possibility that there might be an opening there. More and more - and it's a good move - auditing is seen as part of the business process rather than something removed from it, so good business experience is quite a plus. More emphasis is now placed on communication skills, and knowledge of initiatives such as lean manufacturing tend to be a help.

bhz-2

cazziebo wrote: »

I have taken on a couple of consultancy jobs to help companies achieve ISO 9001/2. I was an internal auditor on the old BS5750. Lucrative assignments.

I find that most UKAS ISO auditors have worked as internal auditors and have been through Lead Auditor accredited training. Some of the larger accreditation companies do employ their own auditors and do seem to be kept very busy. (Many industries still demand ISO accreditation - it's almost essential to work in the oil and gas sector). Salaries are around £30k - £40k although varies around the country.

I haven't ever come across anyone who went in to auditing "cold". Do you have lead auditing experience, or is there any opportunity in gaining this with your current employer? It's not a popular job so there is a possibility that there might be an opening there. More and more - and it's a good move - auditing is seen as part of the business process rather than something removed from it, so good business experience is quite a plus. More emphasis is now placed on communication skills, and knowledge of initiatives such as lean manufacturing tend to be a help.

Cazziebo
Many thanks for such an informative reply. I may lose my job within the next few months and I'm thinking about having a career change. I've been exploring a few options, but I haven't found anything suitable yet.
I don't have any lead auditing experience and it's unlikely that I'll gain this with my current employer. Does that mean that I can't go in to auditing (ie become an external auditor)?
If you think that it is possible (however difficult), what would be the first steps you would advise me to take? How long do you think it would take for me to get trained and be in a position to look for an entry level job in the industry?

floss2

bhz-2 wrote: »

Would anyone please tell me what's like to work as an ISO 9001 auditor?

Where do you get training and how long it takes, career prospects, starting salary, etc? Do you need to specialise in a certain industry?

Do you need to be self-employed for that? What are the best places/websites to look for a job as an auditor? What kind of skills do they look for?

Many thanks.

Look at the IRCA website (IRCA) as that will give you an indication of training & how to break into quality auditing as a career.

The career can take you in a variety of directions - from local ISO9000 / quality systems auditing to the auditing of international organisations within specialised manufacturing fields and to different international standards.

It can be very rewarding, particulary when you relate what you have found to user safety, but once you are established, the job can also involve long hours of driving within the UK and extended international trips away from home.

floss2

bhz-2 wrote: »

...I don't have any lead auditing experience and it's unlikely that I'll gain this with my current employer. Does that mean that I can't go in to auditing (ie become an external auditor)?

Lead auditor is a role which cannot be achieved without a certain amount of experience & number of audits undertaken on your log - you would have to have worked as an auditor for a while before you could progress to become a lead auditor, as you would then be leading the audit whilst on the client's site, and maybe also leading a team of 1 or more fellow auditors.

Have you done any recognised auditing or training in your current role? If so, compile a log and get it signed off before you leave to start your audit log.

bhz-2

floss2 wrote: »

Look at the IRCA website (IRCA) as that will give you an indication of training & how to break into quality auditing as a career.

The career can take you in a variety of directions - from local ISO9000 / quality systems auditing to the auditing of international organisations within specialised manyfacturing fields and to different international standards.

It can be very rewarding, particulary when you relate what you have found to user safety, but once you are established, the job can involve long hours of driving within the UK and extended international trips away from home.

Floss2
Many thanks for your advice. I'll have a look at the IRCA website and might ask you a few more questions.
Long hours of driving in the UK and extended international trips away from home seem very interesting indeed.

floss2

bhz-2 wrote: »

...Long hours of driving in the UK and extended international trips away from home seem very interesting indeed.

International travel usually will only come if you have a specialism that certification bodies need. UK travel is more likely and one needs to be realistic about the career & it's drawbacks- it isn't all jetting off to exotic places, more likely to be a week of travelling to an industrial estate in Doncaster, a big factory in Liverpool and a small manufacturer in Kent before you come home!

bhz-2

floss2 wrote: »

International travel usually will only come if you have a specialism that certification bodies need. UK travel is more likely and one needs to be realistic about the career & it's drawbacks- it isn't all jetting off to exotic places, more likely to be a week of travelling to an industrial estate in Doncaster, a big factory in Liverpool and a small manufacturer in Kent before you come home!

I know what you mean. I'm very realistic about my career change (ie I'll start from square one and will probably earn next to nothing) and work conditions I can expect.

I've done a bit of UK and overseas business travel and I'm very much aware that it involves very long hours, stress and hard work, with no time at all to get to know the places I visited. But it was far better than being stuck in my usual office 5 days a week. I also know that, if I ever get to travel overseas in my new profession (whatever it might be), it will only come after many years of experience and hard work (if I'm lucky). I don't hold my breath at all.

floss2

bhz-2 wrote: »

I know what you mean. I'm very realistic about my career change (ie I'll start from square one and will probably earn next to nothing) and work conditions I can expect.

Can I ask what your current profession is?

jackquality

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el_gringo_3

I am trained as an internal quality auditor, which seems to be the first step - I personally am not interested in taking it much further, but was trained as i'm part time and it gets me a few days extra work each year when I audit. It's only a couple of days course and would probably provide a good starter for someone like yourself.