Rebecca Ball is a placement student currently working at Chemoxy International, a leading chemical manufacturing company. Here, she shares five reasons why you should consider a career in chemical engineering.
Are you struggling to decide on a career path? If you’re looking for a varied, challenging and rewarding job, and you have a knack for maths, science and solving problems, a role in chemical engineering could be the right choice for you.
A chemical engineer is someone who develops specialised chemicals and products used by a wide range of industries and, with the industry rapidly expanding, demand for qualified people has never been higher. Read on to learn why I decided to pursue a career in this exciting industry, and why you should consider it, too.
1.You could find varied and fulfilling work
If a humdrum job performing the same tasks each day doesn’t appeal to you, then a career in chemical engineering could be a great alternative, as it can offer varied and rewarding work. As an engineer, you could be doing hands-on work and research using cutting edge materials and equipment, as well as facing new challenges and problems every day. Plus, with new breakthroughs happening across the world all the time, the industry is constantly evolving, so you’ll continue to learn even after you qualify.
2.The employment prospects are great
According to Prospects, there are currently not enough people with chemical engineering skills to meet demand, with 20,000 fewer graduates currently entering the workforce than is needed each year. This means that choosing a career in chemical engineering can make you highly employable, and will mean you have much more freedom when looking for work.
Plus, it’s a reliably lucrative field of employment, with Why Not Chem Eng reporting that entry level chemical engineering jobs have a competitive average starter salary of £28,500, making it one of the highest paying graduate jobs across all industries. Many chemical engineers who go on to progress to higher levels can earn more than doctors and lawyers.
3.You could work in multiple industries
As a chemical engineer, you could work for major employers across countless industries, including energy production (like gas, oil, and nuclear energy), mining, pharmaceutical development, agriculture, and food and drink production, to name just a few. With so many industries looking for qualified people, you could choose a career in almost any field that captures your interest.
4.There are plenty of opportunities for progression
If you're looking to work within an industry that offers lots of opportunities for progression, chemical engineering is a great choice. With such high demand across all sectors, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to move up the career ladder. Many companies will even sponsor existing employees for further study in order to fill senior roles.
5.Chemical engineers are making the world a better place
If you want to change the world, becoming a chemical engineer is a great way to make a difference. According to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, many people are using their qualifications to fight climate change, while many others are developing pesticides and agrochemicals that won’t harm the world’s bee populations. By choosing a career in chemical engineering, you could get a chance to work on products that have the potential to revolutionise lives around the world.
I’m very excited to be pursuing a career in this dynamic and constantly expanding field. If you have an aptitude for science and maths, and you’re fascinated by the way the physical world works, a career in chemical engineering could be the right choice for you, too.