Chemical Engineering

A degree course in chemical engineering develops many skills that are valued not only by engineering employers but also by those in financial services, management and numerous other sectors.

Over the course of your degree you develop a wide mix of subject-specific and technical skills, you should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Prospects

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, just over half of chemical engineering graduates had entered employment either in the UK or overseas. Of these, almost 63% were engineering professionals.

Approximately 8% became commercial, industrial and public sector managers, which may have been in areas such as manufacturing, mining or energy. Close to 5% became business and finance associate professionals, including estimators and valuers, underwriters, claims assessors, brokers, and investment analysts. Smaller numbers became marketing, sales and advertising professionals, or entered careers in information technology or other professional and technical occupations.

Where are the jobs?

Employers are as diverse as the products they produce and cover a broad range of industrial sectors. Any company involved in large-scale conversion of raw materials into a product will require chemical development engineers.

Major employers are those in gas and oil extraction, oil refining, nuclear and other power generation and other process industries, including pharmaceuticals, fine and heavy chemicals and agrochemicals. Other manufacturing industries that need chemical engineers include those supplying food and drink, toiletries, pulp and paper, plastic and metals, and fibres and polymers.

More broadly based engineering companies design and manufacture chemical process plant and equipment.  Many chemical development engineers work for engineering consultancy and contracting firms. They are likely to be taken on either to design and commission new plant or to modify existing plant. Engineers are also well equipped for business roles and go into careers in financial services, management or law.

For an insight into employment areas investigate:

• Energy and utilities - about 20% of chemical engineers work in the oil industry, whilst gas, coal and nuclear industries account for about 6%.
• Manufacturing - the chemical and allied products industries employ around 17% of chemical engineers, and about 12% work in pharmaceuticals and toiletries. Process plant and equipment manufacturers employ around 4%

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Product/process development scientist
• Biochemical engineer
• Brewing engineer
• Control and instrumentation engineer
• Research scientist (physical sciences)
• Building project manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Manufacturing systems engineer
• Materials engineer
• Petroleum engineer
• Process engineer
• Production manager
• Quality manager

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk