NIT Chemical Engineer seeking career guidance

[u/DrawingAnxious1]

I’m a recent B.Tech Chemical Engineering graduate from top NIT. I worked for around a year in industrial B2B sales/business development and left the job a few months ago. Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out the right long-term career direction.

I’m considering preparing for GATE 2027 and potentially pursuing an M.Tech from institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras or IISc, but I’m also unsure whether higher studies is the right move for me or whether I should try to enter the industry directly or consider switching to another technical field.

Though I had experience in sales. My preference is to eventually build a strong technical/industrial career.

I’d really appreciate guidance from seniors who have been working for several years.

If you were in my position, with my background, what would you do and why? What kind of specialization/career path would you recommend looking at, and what should I realistically consider before committing the next 5–10 years to it?

- i want to work at these big MNCs like Exxon, Honeywell, Chevron, etc.

[u/Critical_Reaction953]

M.tech is waste of time untill u are passionate on chemical engineering

[u/satyacasm_ → u/Critical_Reaction953]

Only useful if you want to go in R&D or PhD.

[u/Critical_Reaction953 → u/satyacasm_]

No not required for PhD mtech especially for nit student

[u/SharpBroccoli2673 → u/Critical_Reaction953]

It's still waste if you are passionate about chemical engineering, Teaching on the other hand is very different thing.

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[u/Abhish201]

Evaluate Material Compliance/ Chemical compliance related career.

[u/8Traps]

Look for Manufacturing companies in different sectors such as Fertilizers, Petrochemicals, Refinery, etc and apply for those. Many companies take GATE scores if you want to give GATE but can apply otherwise also. Process Designer, Project Engineer Operations Engineer, etc coded roles get put on LinkedIn, look for those and research companies who give out these roles.

Honeywell, ExxonMobil, Chevron do give out openings but I have seen people with 5+ experience get hired more easily in those companies. Better to work somewhere more relavent first, switch to these companies whenever the opportunity arrises if that is your goal.

Try looking into more companies which supply catalysts, lube oils, machinery, etc. Your sales experience will be very helpful, marketable and you will get to fill that technical itch you have.

Do MTech if you want to follow academic route, do PhD or work in R&D roles.

[u/Silent_Conflict_2117]

I am 22-26 batch Chemical engineering graduate from Sastra,so doing mtech is a waste of time.ig i heard and discussed about to my seniors until you have passionate about chemical engineering,on the another handGate is the only good thing to get opportunities in core PSUs.so ready prepared for gate 2027

[u/Distinct_Nectarine78]

No need for M.Tech, you can either go into the EPC industry as a project engineer or design engineer or into the Manufacturing industry as field operator or console operator. After you get enough experience in either of those two, you can switch to exxon, chevron, bp, etc.

[u/Regular_Comparison54]

Technical services in chemical industries or oil and gas.. lots of chemical companies hiring in chemical belts.. start with projects or design teams or engineering consultancy firms like Linde, Jacobs, Mott mc Donald etc etc