Career Development Hub

I have obtained the certification for ISO 13485:2016 and have completed training for MDSAP certification.  I have been able to conduct several internal and external audits but, because I work for a small company, auditing in a team is not always possible.  Are there any tips for finding more opportunities for auditing in a team?

Hello Nanda

Congratulations on completing your training! You raise a common challenge for auditors working in smaller organizations, I'm sure there will be others in the community who have solved this.

I wondered if it might be possible to invite technical experts or process owners from within your organization to take part in audits under your guidance? They could contribute by providing or seeking information in their specialist areas while you coordinate activities and lead the process. Perhaps this is one way to gain experience in assigning roles, managing interactions, and developing team leadership skills.

I look forward to learning how others in the community have addressed this situation.

I have obtained the certification for ISO 13485:2016 and have completed training for MDSAP certification.  I have been able to conduct several internal and external audits but, because I work for a small company, auditing in a team is not always possible.  Are there any tips for finding more opportunities for auditing in a team?

Hi Nada,

I completely agree with Wendy's suggestion to lead a local audit team within your organization-it's one of the best ways to build hands‑on experience with core lead auditor responsibilities.

In the meantime, depending on your career goals and what opportunities are available in your area, here are a few practical ways to gain more team‑based auditing experience:

• Engage with professional groups such as ASQ, RAPS, or local quality councils. They often host mock audits or team‑based audit workshops.
• Volunteer for internal audits at nonprofits or startups. They typically welcome external support and allow you to join or bring a small audit team.
• Join a certification body as a contract auditor. Organizations like BSI, TÜV, SGS, and Intertek frequently place new auditors on multi‑auditor teams for witness or co‑audits.
• Collaborate with other consultants to share scope, exchange audit days, or meet MDSAP competency requirements.
• Support supplier audits for other companies. Many mid‑sized manufacturers run audits in pairs or small teams and often need additional qualified auditors.

Congratulations again on earning your certifications. Let me know if any of these options seem like a good fit for you-I'm happy to help you think through next steps.

Regards,
Adnan Kadiri
Integrated Quality & Compliance Solutions

Hello Nanda

Congratulations on completing your training! You raise a common challenge for auditors working in smaller organizations, I'm sure there will be others in the community who have solved this.

I wondered if it might be possible to invite technical experts or process owners from within your organization to take part in audits under your guidance? They could contribute by providing or seeking information in their specialist areas while you coordinate activities and lead the process. Perhaps this is one way to gain experience in assigning roles, managing interactions, and developing team leadership skills.

I look forward to learning how others in the community have addressed this situation.

I have obtained the certification for ISO 13485:2016 and have completed training for MDSAP certification.  I have been able to conduct several internal and external audits but, because I work for a small company, auditing in a team is not always possible.  Are there any tips for finding more opportunities for auditing in a team?