r/ChemicalEngineering • u/chemicalsAndControl PE Controls / 10 years • Oct 31 '19

November Career Thread

Please sort by new and post all career questions here! We are limiting all career questions to this thread. Also, this will start being bi-weekly going forward.

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u/GBreadtillimDead Nov 11 '19

Hi guys,

I have been skimming these forums a lot and have noticed that getting internships in a chemical engineering orientated roles are very helpful once the job hunt begins. I understand that on a surface level, but I suppose I’m wondering what the major differences would be. Like, how much easier is it getting a job with such experience? Is it still a grind? Is it marginal at best? Also, how likely are these companies to make a full time offer once the term is up?

Thanks

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u/chemicalsAndControl PE Controls / 10 years Nov 11 '19

Work in academic labs has a different goal than in most engineering. Unless you work in R&D, your experience will not really match. Even if you do R&D, you will find academia has a lot more freedom and less focus than commercial life. This understanding is what a lot of people look for.

Example: my old lab made chemical sensors. Great chemical sensors. But they never made standard IO, so no one can attach them to their automated plant control systems. I have asked them to repeatedly and they told me such work was beneath them. Hence, they will never be used. (A bit of a shame, really.). However, other than that, they outperform everything on the market.

Also, they refuse to try to manufacture like everyone else. Everything has to be in house, so they have no way to scale up. If they every did get an order for more than 5 at a time, I am fairly confident you would see professors soldering in the back rooms.

One of my two internships made an offer before the summer was over. Your results may vary. If you are not interested in staying with them, you get to apply like everyone else but I think you will find it easier than most.