Personal Qualities
While a technical discipline and good academic background are necessary, suitable personal qualities are also essential.
Able to assess critically both written and verbal information:
As well as gathering physical evidence from site work and tests we also obtain information in both written and verbal form. This needs to be assimilated and assessed both carefully and rapidly in order to determine its relevance and significance. Not all the information we receive is correct and this needs to be identified too.
Enjoy a variety of work:
While common principles can be applied to all investigations, each investigation relates to different locations and circumstances and involves different people, items, materials or equipment. Thus a flexible approach to a wide variety of work is required.
Enjoy regular travel, often at short notice:
Many investigations require an immediate presence on site which can be disruptive to previously made plans.
Meticulous and systematic:
You need to be able to find and record the smallest relevant detail and be capable of finding the 'needle in a haystack'. However, diligence and tenacity needs to be balanced by the ability to determine when to stop so as to save expending unnecessary time and effort.
Practically orientated:
Our site work is very much hands on, sometimes requiring physical effort such as digging or climbing ladders. There is also a need to be able to think logically and laterally when approaching unfamiliar mechanisms or equipment so that the workings can be established rapidly and effectively.
Health and safety:
The safety of our experts is of paramount importance. Risk assessments are always carried out and PPE is provided and always worn. You will need to take into account other considerations, however, such as working at height, in confined spaces, working in remote areas or buildings with difficult access.
Organisational skills:
Each investigation is its own project, be it large or small, which you will need to manage. This can involve running new cases at the same time as existing investigations, and managing time effectively, so as to meet the client's expectations. Other investigations require working with other parties such as Fire Brigade, Police, HSE, other investigators etc. which can involve motivating, negotiating, supervision and organising.
Objectivity and integrity:
While our clients seek an objective conclusion reached on firm and secure foundations, there are times when their interests are in a particular slant. It is imperative that we remain objective so any Court, and our clients in general, will regard us as maintaining our integrity. While we can assist clients to identify the strengths of their position, we also must ensure that they understand their weaknesses too.
Able to deal with many projects at once:
Investigations are in all shapes and sizes. It is possible to work on one that is all-consuming, but it is more normal to be conducting twenty or thirty at a time in various stages. This is often very different from other industries where fewer projects co-exist. This juggling of projects is often one of the most difficult adjustments new colleagues have to make.
Ability to think on one's feet:
While conducting a site examination it is necessary to assess the evidence gained as this not only shapes the immediate work on site, but also leads to identification of the necessary future work. A similar need occurs during test work where the results obtained may require the test programme to be modified. In addition new information or a contrary view can be presented at anytime, including when in the witness box, and this needs to be dealt with there and then.
Hawkins is an equal opportunities employer