Graduate Careers in Chemical Engineering

Chemical, Biochemical and Process Engineers play a crucial role in everyday life: from the manufacture of your mobile phone to conserving water and reducing pollution; from making chocolate bars to harnessing nuclear energy. A graduate career in chemical engineering is never dull and is not confined to one area of the industry. Chemical Engineering Professionals are vital to our everyday lives across the globe and can adapt their skills to many different industry areas. If you are interested in a graduate career in chemical engineering then read on to discover the ways in which you can diversify your career options and find out the next steps to take.

What is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical or Process Engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products you use everyday in a safe and cost effective way. For example petrol, plastics and synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon, all come from oil. Chemical or Process Engineers understand how to alter the chemical, biochemical or physical state of a substance, to create everything from face creams to fuels. Biochemical Engineering uses the very latest technology to produce pharmaceuticals and foods.

Where do Chemical Engineers work?

They are employed across a variety of sectors including:

pharmacist

Pharmaceuticals
Energy
Water
Food & Drink
Oil and Gas
Process Plants & Equipment
Biotechnology
Materials
Chemicals
Consultancy
Business & Management
Education

To name just a few!

Chemical Engineers must make decisions concerning:

Which reaction pathway should be used to make the product?
How to purify the desired product?
How to control the process and ensure it is safe?
How to make the process cost effective?
What should be done with any by-products formed?
How to reduce the amounts of unwanted by-products formed?
What to do with unreacted raw materials?
How to recycle energy within the process?

What skills do I need?

Chemical Engineers need to be problem solvers, who enjoy science and maths. They must be looking for a challenge and be excited by a degree choice that will help them develop a wide range of skills including:

Specialist scientific knowledge
Project management
Resource management
Health & Safety
Communication skills
Leadership skills
IT
Business & legal knowledge

This broad range of skills puts Chemical Engineers in great demand throughout the world. There are a huge range of career opportunities from conducting ground-breaking research, to holding a senior management position. Chemical, Biochemical or Process Engineering is well respected in industry and commerce. A Chemical Engineering degree will equip you with skills that are easily transferable and graduates invariably take on considerable responsibility within a few years of graduation.

Is the pay good?

Yes! A degree in Chemical Engineering is well-respected and opens many career paths across industry, commerce and finance – employers appreciate that Chemical Engineering graduates have analytic and problem-solving skills that are second to none. Chemical Engineers earn, on average, £49,500: the average salary for recent graduates is £24,000, rising to an average of £60,000 for Chartered Chemical Engineers who are regarded as professional ‘high-fliers’. (Figures presented as mean averages, source: IChemE Salary Survey 2006).

Do Chemical Engineers have professional status?

Definitely! By completing an IChemE accredited Chemical Engineering degree course at Masters level, you will meet the academic requirements for becoming a Chartered Chemical Engineer, after you have gained the relevant employment experience which takes about 4 years. Chartered Chemical Engineers are in demand around the world commanding premium salaries in highly responsible positions across industry and commerce.

There is a wealth of choice within the industry for a graduate career in chemical engineering. Whether your interests lie with brewing and distilling technology, environment engineering, bio-technology or pharmaceutical chemistry, there will be a graduate career in chemical engineering to suit you. Why not use the skills and knowledge you have acquired in your degree to pursue a rewarding and challenging career.

Graduate Careers in Chemical Engineering

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