Building confidence and global career direction through IIRSM’s Mentoring Scheme

Toufik Gahit, HSE Team Leader at STH – Oil Terminal Operations, shares his experience of IIRSM’s Mentoring Scheme and how it helped elevate his professional profile, build confidence and shape his global career ambitions. 

Motivation for joining the IIRSM Mentoring Scheme 

Explaining what motivated him to join the programme, Toufik said:  

“After more than 16 years’ experience in health and safety within oil and gas terminal operations - including firefighting and marine oil spill response - I reached a point where I wanted to position my experience more effectively within an international context. While my operational and emergency response expertise is strong, my main challenge was not technical capability, but how to present this experience clearly and increase its visibility to support international career opportunities.” 

Impact on skills and professional development 

Reflecting on the skills and knowledge gained, he explained:  

“The most important development for me was learning how to better present my CV and professional profile. I moved from simply listing responsibilities to highlighting achievements and impact. I also improved how I present my experience on LinkedIn and communicate within the international HSE community, helping make my experience clearer and more impactful.” 

Identifying development gaps 

The mentoring experience also helped Toufik recognise key areas for development:  

“Yes, it helped me realise that the main gap was not technical experience, but visibility and professional communication. I have strong operational and emergency response experience, but I needed to improve how I present it in a way that aligns with international expectations. It also helped me understand the importance of linking training and certifications to clear career objectives.” 

Most valuable mentor support 

Toufik also highlighted the guidance he found most valuable:  

“The most valuable support was the practical guidance on improving my CV and how to approach my career from an international perspective. My mentor also encouraged me to stay motivated, take things step by step, and focus on continuous improvement. This helped me realise that I already have strong foundations and that I now need to focus more on visibility and professional positioning.” 

Impact on confidence and career direction 

Discussing the broader impact of the programme, Toufik shared: 

“It has significantly increased my confidence when presenting myself professionally. It has also helped me become more focused and structured in my career direction, particularly when identifying and pursuing suitable international opportunities.” 

Expanding networks and professional engagement 

The programme also supported greater professional engagement:  

“Yes, the programme encouraged me to become more professionally active and to engage more with the wider international HSE community beyond my local environment.” 

Career opportunities and strategic focus 

While the programme has not yet led directly to a new role, it has influenced Toufik’s approach to career opportunities: 

“While it hasn’t yet resulted in a direct new role, it has significantly transformed how I approach opportunities. I am now more focused on targeting roles that align with my experience in terminal operations and marine safety, rather than applying broadly without a clear position. It has also strengthened my sense of direction and confidence in my long-term career path.” 

Most valuable aspect of the programme 

Summing up his experience, Toufik identified a key shift in mindset:  

“The most valuable aspect was the shift in mindset - particularly understanding the importance of visibility and how small, consistent steps can significantly strengthen professional positioning over time.” 

Recommending the IIRSM Mentoring Scheme 

Toufik strongly recommends the programme to others:  

“Yes, I would highly recommend it, especially for experienced professionals who have strong operational expertise but need support in improving their visibility and professional positioning for international opportunities. Many capable professionals remain less visible globally—not due to a lack of competence, but because of limited experience in how to present and communicate their skills effectively. This programme helps bridge that gap, turning operational expertise into a professionally recognised international profile.” 

IIRSM’s mentoring scheme helps you be a mentor or mentee to develop your skills, grow your network and receive one-to-one support from a dedicated professional to enhance your career progression. Find out more here.