Discover The Variety Of Careers
From Chemical Engineers, to Welders and much more...
Construction Careers
There is growing demand in the construction sector as urbanization increases, this field is currently employing roughly 1.2 million men and women and roughly 7% of the Canadian workforce. Currently, there is a 50% increase in jobs from the prior decade.
Reinforcing Rodworker/Ironworkers
Description Of Career
A Reinforcing Rodworker is responsible for fabricating, hoisting, installing, and repairing structural ironwork, concrete structures, curtain walls, and other metals used in constructing buildings, bridges, highways, dams and other structures and equipment. They install, stresses and grouts for post tensioning systems. They work under construction ironwork contractors and help to reinforce concrete constructions by cutting and bending reinforcing materials from design drawings and specifications such as landscape features, parking garages, caissons, wind turbines, stadiums, and towers using steel, composite materials, welded wire, etc. They often use various different construction tools including aerial work platforms, forklifts, telehandlers, rigs and hoist materials and equipment. They splice reinforcing steel through welding and installing mechanical splices. Overall, their main responsibilities is when reinforcing concrete, they have to weld, bend, cut, rig and fabricate materials such as steel and then they install these pieces in the structures such as sewers, highways, buildings, etc.
Job duties
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They must read blueprints and designs to analyze specifications to lay out work for construction.
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They must unload and position the reinforcing steel pieces and units for hoisting.
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They must erect and install scaffolding, hoisting equipment and rigging
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They must signal crane operators for positioning the steel units to carry out the construction.
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They must align, weld or bolt steel units
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They must construct the structural precast concrete components for buildings, bridges, towers, etc.
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They must assemble and erect the prefabricated metal structures
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They must position and secure the steel balls and metals to reinforce concrete structures.
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They must install structural metalwork including railings, metal stairways, curtain walls and power doors.
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They also must examine built structures and equipment in case of deterioration, defects or does not meet the specifications.
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They may have to dismantle or deconstruct structures and equipment.
Wages
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The lowest wage is approximately $28 per hour, the average wage is approximately $41.77 per hour, and the highest wage is approximately $46 per hour
Prospects
There are approximately 150 people in Canada who work as reinforcing rod workers and about 69% work in construction, about 14% work in primary metal manufacturing, about 16% work in fabricated metal product manufacturing and educational services. Currently there are low employment levels for reinforcing rod workers because there is more demand for ironwork contractors.
Employment and Education Requirements
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Usually completion of secondary school is necessary, however grade 10 is mandatory and courses including math, science and english are recommended.
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Completion of 2-3 year apprenticeship programs or more than 3 years of work experience in trade and additional high school, college/university, or industry courses in ironworking usually is necessary to obtain trade certification.
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The apprenticeship program consists of 3640 hours of on the job training and 360 hours of in-school training which takes relatively 4000- 4400 hours(relatively two and a half years)
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The in school training provides two levels of theoretical training which teaches applied trade practices and calculations, understanding consecrate reinforcing drawings, pre-fabrication, fabrication, installation and inspection of concrete reinforcing members, rigging and hoisting, post tensioning drawings,installation, assembly, inspection, layout and modifications
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In-school training may consist of full time for a few weeks, or one day per week from september to June, part time or night school, or online studies.
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Trade certification for ironworker is mandatory in Alberta and Quebec, however it is voluntary in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
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Reinforcing rod workers may obtain a Red Seal endorsement after completion of their interprovincial Red Seal examination.
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Reinforcing rod workers has an apprenticeship program administered by the Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development, which provides a certificate of apprenticeship.
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There is also a certifying exam which after passing, Skilled Trades Ontario will provide a certificate of qualification in this trade.
Skills
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They must have building skills and hands on skills including constructing, finishing interior/exterior, restoring and repairing structures.
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They must have analytical skills for analyzing information, inspecting and testing structures.
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They must have skills for loading and unloading goods and materials.
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They must have reading skills for brief memos and notes like descriptions of equipment, safety hazards on site, placement instructions on drawings and specifications for cutting. It also is necessary for comments on safety inspection reports to know about unsafe conditions and to learn about safety policies, to read trade publications, etc.
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They must have documenting skills to locate data for signs and labels, materials, hazard and safety information in Material Safety Data Sheets, data in tables and lists, to complete forms and checklists, to review and locate dimensions on assembly drawings for columns, beams, and reinforced structures.
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They must have writing skills to write notes and comments to create records, and they may have to write descriptions and explanations on forms.
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They must have numerical skills to take measurements, angles, calculating distances and angles for structural steel, to compare measurements to specified dimensions for steel columns beams, wiring and fabricated or reinforced structures, to estimate supply quantities like bolts, to estimate the weight of materials and the times required to complete the tasks such as cutting and welding columns and beams.
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They must have oral communication skills to participate in meetings, chat to other trade workers and instruct trade workers to organize the workspace and to coordinate in hazardous activities, to guide apprentices and junior ironworkers to discuss installation techniques and selection of tools and supplies, etc.
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They must have thinking skills such as problem solving skills incase of delays or when encountering discrepancies with dimensions, faults in materials, etc. They also must have critical thinking skills to identify the safety of job sites and equipment, to evaluate the quality of materials including steel beams, rods, columns, and assess the efficiency and suitability of installation techniques.
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They must have decision making skills to select tools and supplies, to know limits on hazardous areas, to choose methods and tools for fabrication jobs, etc.
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They also must have organizing skills to distribute priorities and be able to assign assignments toward apprentice ironworkers, in integration tasks with other construction workers including crane operators to hoist, move and install steel beams and other ironwork.
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They also must have good memory to remember instructions and job details including bolt sizes, weld depths and angles, and sequences of operations or specifications such as the order of tasks when hoisting structural ironwork.
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They must be able to use power tools safely
Knowledge
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They must have general knowledge of engineering and technology including building and construction, as well as knowing public safety and security.
Welder
Description
Welders use welding equipment to weld ferrous and nonferrous metal components including pipes, vessels, etc. They may also add layers of metals to worn up parts and have to assemble pieces of metal or repair damage using heavy machinery that produces high amounts of heat to weld the metals into shape. Many welders use various metals like steel and aluminum, they also must inspect materials or structures which need welding and be careful of overheating or potential hazards. They may be self-employed, construction companies, welding contractors, that manufactures structural steel and platework, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships, etc.
Job duties
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They must use manual or semi automatic welding equipment to weld and join metal parts in various positions including vertical, horizontal, etc. They have to fuse these metal parts using processes like gus tungsten arc welding, flux-cored arc welding, plasma arc welding, etc.
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They must shape metal parts and determine the welding equipment or method from requirements given
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They must set up components for welding based on specifications like corresponding measurements to powered saws.
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They must test and inspect welded surfaces and structures in case of flaws or defects
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They must repair metal products that are worn by welding extra metallic layers
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They must repair machinery and components by filling in gaps and welding pieces
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They must operate angle grinders to prepare parts for welding
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They must align components including calipers, clamp pieces, rulers, etc.
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They also must read and interpret blueprints and drawings for plan layout and procedures.
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They must set up components for welding based on specifications
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They must work with electricians and general laborers during construction projects involving architecture.
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They have to operate manual or semi-automatic flame cutting equipment. They also have to operate brazing and soldering equipment.
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They also have to operate metal shaping machines for straightening and bending including brakes, shears, etc.
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They must operate welding machines like spots, butts, seam resistance, etc, to fabricate or repair metal parts. They also must operate brazing and soldering machines.
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They also are responsible for monitoring robotic welding production lines.
Work Conditions
They often have to work for 40 hours per week, equivalent to 8 hours per day 5 days a week, and they may have to work overtime based on the construction sector and specific job. Often they must work outdoors and on construction sites, they may also work indoors in welding repair shops and production shops. Welders often have to stand for long periods and may have to work in uncomfortable positions. They often work independently but may have to work with other construction professionals to meet specifications. They also may have to travel to remote job sites like oil fields. Welders must wear protective clothing like face shields, gloves, etc.
Employment Requirements
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They must complete an apprenticeship which includes both in class studies and on the job training by a certified welder/related machine operator. They also get paid about 60 percent of a certified welder’s hourly rate and increase until full rate.
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The apprenticeship generally takes 3 years to complete which includes 4680 hours of on the job training, 8 weeks of technical training and a final certification exam, which gives a certification of a journeyperson
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In most provinces and territories, a Grade 9 education or equivalent is mandatory to become a welder. Although completion of secondary school is usually required.
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Trade Certification is mandatory in Alberta but it is voluntary in most of the provinces and territories in Canada.
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Completion of 3 years of job experience and some high school, college or industry courses in welding/ related machine operation may be eligible for certification.
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After getting the certification of a welder, you may complete the Interprovincial exam to obtain Interprovincial Standards Red Seal certification to operate anywhere in Canada.
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A professional certification like AWS Welding Certification will be a bonus for employment
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Experience as a machine operator or with robotics may be required.
Skills
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They must have a steady hand and have attention to detail
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They must have patience to ensure that the welding process is completed precisely and must be adaptable
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They must be focused and look ahead incase of unforeseen circumstances
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They must have skills in operating and repairing machinery and equipment, including mechanical installing, operating industrial equipment, etc.
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They must have building skills for repairing and constructing metal pieces
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They must have analytical skills for inspecting, testing and analyzing information.
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They must have reading skills to read written instructions, regulations, welding procedures, occupational health and safety hazards, a variety of memos and short text intros, etc.
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They must have documenting skills to complete invoices and forms, observe signs for safety hazards, to understand symbols, legends and abbreviations on technical drawings, to find the grade of metals and alloys, to locate devices such as switches and relays, to obtain information like the position of parts, and other data like temperatures, times, locations, etc.
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They must have writing skills to write short notes, reminders, comments, descriptions, text entries like injuries and events, etc.
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They must have numeracy skills including measuring distances, temperatures and angles using specialized measuring tools, converting measurements, calculating the volume diameter, and circumference of tanks when fabricating pieces, estimating the quantity of welding rods and wires, estimating the weight of loads, calculating materials requirements to lessen wastage, performing geometric construction methods, and estimating costs.
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They must have oral communication skills to discuss specifications, procedures, communicate with other workers and exchange information, explain the use of equipment and welding procedures, etc.
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They must have thinking skills for comprehending technical drawings, to encounter delays, deciding on appropriate locations for transportation and rigging equipment, making adjustments with working conditions, rescheduling activities, gathering information and determining the most efficient use of materials, evaluating safety, organizing the work areas, etc.
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They must have digital technology skills such as using spreadsheets to track inventory, input data and computer controlled equipment such as plasma cutting machines, using personal digital assistants and calculators, use word processing softwares, use computer assisted design software for technical drawings, and use specialized databases.
Knowledge
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A welder must know how to handle dangerous equipment and follow safety precautions.
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Knowing different types of metals and their properties
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Welders must have experience with welding equipment, electrical and manual tools like saws, calipers, squares and their procedures like TIG, MMA, etc.
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They must be able to read and interpret blueprints, technical documents and drawings. They should also interpret welding process specifications.
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They must be able to perform minor repairs on welding, brazing and soldering equipment.
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They must be able to adjust and monitor robotic welding production lines
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They must be able to use welding equipment to fabricate or repair metal parts.
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Must be proficient in English
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Welders may have to specialize in certain types of welding like custom fabrication, aerospace precision welding, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, etc.
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They must know how to operate hoisting and lifting equipment
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They must know how to operate oxygen cutting equipment, metal shaping machines like brakes and shears, manual or semi automatic flame cutting equipment and manual, semi automatic, or fully automated welding equipment.
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They must have business, finance and management knowledge
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They must have engineering and technology knowledge like building and construction
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They must have public safety and security knowledge, as well as manufacturing, production and processing knowledge.
Wages
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The lowest wage is approximately $18 per hour, the average wage is approximately $25.50 per hour, and the highest wage is approximately $41.10 per hour
Prospects
Over the period 2019-2028, there will be approximately 23,200 job openings for elders and related machine operators with 25,100 new job seeks available to fill. Welders are expected to have a labor shortage from 2019-2028 as a lot of welders tend to retire at a later age, with the manufacturing industry increasing, there will be a greater demand for welders in the future.
Engineering Careers
There is a growing demand for engineers to assist in industrial advancements and to revoluntize technology. For Electrical engineers, there will be an estimated 7% increase in demand from 2020-2030. With about 22,700 employment openings yearly, there will be a growing need for youth to join the engineering field.
Electrical Engineer
Description
Electrical engineers must design, evaluate, plan, research and test electrical equipment and systems. They are usually employed by electrical utilities, communication companies, manufacturers of electrical equipment, consulting firms, etc. Electrical engineers are needed in various manufacturing, processing, transportation industries as well as government facilities.
Job duties
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They are responsible for researching feasibility, design, operation and performance of electrical generation, distribution networks, electrical machines and components, electrical communications and control systems, equipment and components, etc.
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They must find out material costs and estimate time durations,
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They must report and design specifications for electrical systems and equipment
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They are responsible for designing electronic circuits, components, systems and equipment.
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They must manage micro device simulations, characterization, process modeling and integration of new electronic devices.
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They must inspect and oversee installation, modifications, testing and operating of electronic systems and equipment.
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They must create maintenance and operating standards for the systems and equipment
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They must correct and investigate electronic and electrical failures.
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They must create contract documents for construction and maintenance.
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They oversee the tasks of technicians, technologists, programmers, analysts and other engineers.
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Electrical engineers may specialize in different areas such as electrical design for residential, commercial or industrial installations, electrical power generation and transmission, etc.
Wages
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The lowest wage is approximately $28.70 per hour, the average wage is approximately $45 per hour, and the highest wage is approximately $68 per hour.
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The average yearly salary is $100,830 in May 2020.
Prospects
From the period 2018-2028, there will be approximately 13,300 job openings with about 16600 job seekers.
Employment Requirements
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Electrical engineers require a bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronics engineers or in a related engineering field.
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A master's or doctoral degree in electrical engineering or in a related engineering field may be required.
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A license by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers to become a Professional engineer is required to approve engineering drawings and reports
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Electrical engineers can register after graduation from their undergraduate at an accredited educational program, and after 3-4 years of work experience under supervision and completing the professional practice examination.
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Electrical engineers in Canada may be required to obtain their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the Canada Green Building Council
Skills
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Electrical engineers must have management skills to coordinate, organize and supervise the other workers with the electrical systems
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They must have analytical skills for inspecting, researching, testing, planning, and projecting outcomes.
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They must have communication skills for advising, consulting, etc.
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They must have creativity for designing the electrical systems.
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They must have reading skills to read emails, review notes for work orders, review installation instructions and warnings on the labels, short letters and memos, publications about issues and problems, legislation and codes for bylaws, technical reports, legal contracts, operating, maintenance and repair information for electrical components and how to repair equipment like lasers, transformer, programmable logic controllers, security systems, etc.
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They must have documenting skills to ensure that monogram certification is labeled for all electrical equipment, to scan lists and tables for specific information, to consult flowcharts and schematics for industrial and manufacturing processes, to review and approve scale drawings for electrical and manufacturing systems, to verify accuracy of material schedules for construction, to use information from technical reports and specification documents for planning and improving the electrical systems, etc.
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They must have writing skills to write emails, routine letters, reports to provide analysis and recommendations for electrical systems, requests for contractors and supplies, to write persuasive proposals with technical information, articles for publications, etc.
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They must have numerical skills to calculate expense claims, to verify and approve electrical contractors invoices, to monitor expenditures against budgets for different projects and make requests for budgets for equipment costs, materials, etc. They must calculate dimensions from scale drawings for components, equipment, etc. They must know advanced math like trigonometry and calculus to understand waveforms and the circuit design processes, they must also know various formulas and advanced mathematical methods like modeling to understand advanced electronic systems. It is also necessary to analyze the effects of the system and to analyze data to monitor industrial processes. It is also important for numerical estimate like maintenance periods, reliability of equipment, the demand for computer networks, power grids, etc.
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They must have oral communication skills to interact with coworkers to brainstorm solutions, get expertise from other fields and gather information, to discuss with other workers, ato interact with clients, to make presentations for managers and colleagues, and to participate in national and international committees for changes in standards like the National Fire Protection Association.
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They must have problem solving skills when encountering capacity problems with power, communications, and information technology systems. Also, making decisions when facing complications or construction delays, being able to meet deadlines despite unforeseen circumstances, solving errors, convincing clients who don’t follow their advice, malfunctioning equipment, etc.
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They must have decision making skills to determine unsafe conditions and when to temporarily stop projects, to make decisions about equipment repairs, adjustments, and replacements, to determine which standards or electrical codes must be followed in certain projects, and to determine which equipment to purchase for certain projects and installations.
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They must have critical thinking skills to review validity and accuracy of payment, look at suitability of equipments and systems, to review the efficiency and ergonomics of the manufacturing process, to review the reasonableness of their clients demands and to base the feasibility of the project, to evaluate the completeness of the electrical designs.
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They must have organizational skills and time management skills to set priorities and plan activities based on deadlines and to manage their time effectively to meet delays, equipment malfunctions, last minute client changes, etc. They must be able to make adjustments as needed and organize their human resources, tasks, budgets as appropriate.
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They must have good memory to remember conversion factors, key parts of the policies and Electrical code, circuit designs, mathematical formulas, names of clients and the details of the projects, the characteristics and specifications of products and systems, etc.
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They must have good digital technology skills to utilize communications software, word processing software, spreadsheet softwares, accounting software, graphics software like Powerpoint, be able to use the internet, use databases such as to collect information on electrical power grids, use computer aided design software to create 2d schematic diagrams, programming languages such as HTML to maintain websites and C++ to create programs that control the operation, and use programs like Visual Basic to create network simulations.
Knowledge
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Electrical engineers must have engineering and technology knowledge including electricity and electronic, engineering and applied technologies, design, etc.
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They also must have knowledge of public safety, security and safety laws
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They must have knowledge of manufacturing, production and processing
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They must be able to interpret the International Standards Organization’s Standards for Electrical Engineering to understand electrical power stations, electrical wires and cables, electrical equipment like control gears, etc.
Science Careers
There is a growing demand in the science and engineering field as there is a steady increase in the production and use of chemicals. Employment for chemical engineers are expected to grow 9% from 2020-2030. With various different industries, Chemical engineers have various opportunities to build skills depending on their interests from manufacturing, consulting, testing pharmaceuticals, and more.
Chemical Engineer
Description
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They help develop raw materials into products we consume on a daily basis
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Chemical engineers are responsible for research, design, and are involved in the development of chemical processes and equipment.
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Chemical engineers use the principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and math to solve problems related to fuel, drugs, food, and other products.
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They manage and supervise the operations and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp and paper, and food processing plants
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They are responsible for chemical quality control, environmental protection, etc
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Chemical engineers are often involved in various duties including manufacturing and processing, working with the government and consulting firms, research and educational institutions, etc. .
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They often work with computer and intelligent technologies such as modeling, numerical analysis and simulation, product synthesis design, monitoring and control, cyberinfrastructure, etc.
Job duties
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Ensuring that the economic and technical areas are capable of being carried out in areas related with chemicals, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries.
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Researching into the development and improvements for chemical processes, reactions, and use of materials.
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Evaluating equipment and technology used in chemical processes and determining production specifications.
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Designing and testing chemical processes including plants and equipment
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Overseeing construction, operation, modifications, and maintenance of processing units and plants.
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Establishing consistency and meeting of standards for raw materials, products, waste products, emissions through quality control programs, operating procedures, etc.
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Creating documents for chemical processes and evaluating industrial constructions
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Supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers
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Developing guidelines and specifications for handling hazardous chemicals, environmental protection, and adhering to standards for food, consumer goods and materials.
Wages
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The lowest wage is approximately $25 per hour, the average wage is approximately $43.27 per hour, and the highest wage is approximately $76.44 per hour.
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The average annual wage for chemical engineers was $108,540 in May 2020.
High School Course Requirements
High school students must take English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. They should also participate in extracurricular science or engineering programs such as Odyssey of the Mind, STEM programs, and Science Olympiad.
Prospects
From the period 2018-2028, there will be approximately 3600 job openings with about 5500 job seekers.
Requirements
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A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering field.
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A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering field may be required.
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Some of the course requirements include mathematics, physical and life sciences, and many hands-on laboratory courses. Also they should focus on corrosion engineering, pollution prevention, air pollution, and environmental compliance.
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Gaining advanced computer skills is very important in chemical engineering.
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Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practice as a Professional Engineer. .
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Requires at least two years of experience in chemical engineering
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Eligible after graduating from an accredited educational program, after 3-4 years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
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Chemical engineers must pass the engineer-in-training examination which requires 3 years of coursework from a university accredited from the board for engineering and technology or 3 years of engineering experience.
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They must pass a professional examination which requires a bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited institution and two years of experience.
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If the engineer does not have a bachelor's degree, they must have 6 years of experience.
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Certifications can help get employment such as Chemical Treatment or Protective Coatings Specialist certification.
Essential Skills
Reading Skills
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Must read emails for meeting arrangements and be able to respond to questions and follow up on the status of projects.
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To refer to guidelines by Health Canada and US department of health and human services for manufacturing procedures and standards
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To read federal and provincial environmental regulations in terms of the disposal of residual materials, soil contamination, liquid and gas disposal,
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To read equipment installation and commissioning and operation manuals to determine specifications and to assess the equipment.
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To review reports on manufacturing processes for future actions, to document test results, and to look over validation failure reports to determine potential problems, analyze data, and to improve product quality.
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Must read various academic journals and publications by Chemical Engineering, Water Environment Research or Tablets and Capsules to be updated with chemical equipment, processes, etc.
Document Use
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Must be able to scan container labels, handle instructions, document hazards, etc.
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Must be able to navigate through manufacturing company, professional association, university, governmental and research institute websites
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May have to review labor and material performance tables to identify trends in quality, efficiency, defects, etc.
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Analyze graphical representations of chemical test results to identify inconsistencies in data and l correlations between variables during trials.
Writing Skills
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Must write emails with files and links and short memos to provide instructions for operation and maintenance of chemical equipment
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Must write letters to the federal government such as for pollution ratings.
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Must update procedures for manufacturing processes as well as implement new mixing formulas..
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Must draft documents for equipment, cost analysis, environmental, health and safety assessments, etc.
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Must write detailed reports and summaries for testing procedures, discussion of test results, etc.
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Must write articles for scientific journals, conference proceedings or research publications which explain protocols, issues, analysis of data, etc.
Numeracy Skills
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Must prepare expense reports, be able to establish and maintain budgets for short and long term projects for chemical processes and products.
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Calculate and measure liquid volumes for chemical mixtures and solutions.
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Placing equipment using scale diagrams and using specialized measuring instruments to monitor values during lab experiments and trials.
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Using advanced mathematical methods and algorithms to model chemical reactions.
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Estimating potential costs for industrial processes
Oral Communication Skills
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Speak to technicians, technologists, chemists, maintenance and laboratory workers and process operators for routine instructions and to exchange information for the operations and maintenance of the chemical processes.
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Chemical engineers must be able to clarify test results, and participate in meetings about topics such as environment, health, safety, production and quality, etc. They also must present their findings and discuss quality control results, production incidents, etc.
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They must lead problem solving sessions and process improvement sessions with groups of employees and analyze problems and provide solutions. The chemical engineer must facilitate the session and provide improvement recommendations.
Thinking Skills
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They must have problem solving skills for human resource problems, to meet government regulations in terms of health and safety regulations, outline issues in terms of quality and maintenance, etc.
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They must have decision making skills to predict potential problems and look into individual’s strengths and weaknesses, experiences and abilities to meet a deadline, to select software for chemical reactions and processing conditions, choose types of graphs to display information, decide on which chemical product to use for different projects,
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They must have critical thinking skills to evaluate the chemical product, to assess the installation and configuration of new equipment, figure out the security codes of several computers, etc.
Digital Technology
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They have to use Internet exploration software like Netscape, communications software, word processing software, database management software like Foxpro for data entries, spreadsheet softwares, graphics software, statistical analysis software, modeling software, etc.
Overall Skills
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They must have management skills in terms of coordinating, evaluating and supervising members
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They must have analytical skills to analyze information, to inspect and test equipment and facilities, for planning, for researching and investigating
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They must have communication skills for consulting and advising chemical plants
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They must be creative to design facilities.
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Requires a lot of thinking and practical hands-on problem solving.
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They must be able to work independently or as part of a team
Knowledge
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They must have design, engineering and applied technologies knowledge
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They must have knowledge on public safety and security
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They must have knowledge of processing and production
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They must have a firm knowledge of chemistry
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It is a great career path for those who are interested in dealing with plants, animals, materials including chemicals, metals and pharmaceuticals.
Work Environment
Chemical engineers tend to work in offices and laboratories. They may also work in government entities, small firms or in corporations. They also are frequently at industrial plants, refineries, and other locations to monitor operations and help solve onsite problems.They may have to work outdoors and face adverse weather conditions. This is because 3/4 chemical engineers work in manufacturing industries. They usually have to work full-time for standard 40 hours per week or longer depending on projects and must wear protective equipment including goggles, repository masks, helmets, especially when dealing with manufacturing equipment. There are many different work environments depending on their task from designing projects on a computer to testing in a lab to manufacturing.
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Many chemical engineers work in the oil and gas industry, but there is a growing demand for them in environmental engineering to help prevent oil spills and for safe disposal of toxic waste.
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Many chemical engineers work in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to create and manufacture drugs, medical and surgical supplies including artificial kidneys, prosthetics, etc.
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Chemical engineers often work in different fields including computer engineering were they help design and manufacture computer parts and other electronics.
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Many chemical engineers are currently working with nanotechnology and using nanoparticles to purify contaminated groundwater and for DNA gene therapies.
Personality: They tend to be curious and investigative individuals who are inquisitive, intellectual and introspective. They tend to be rational, analytical and logical thinkers. They are persistent, thrifty, and independent.
Tools And Technology
Chemical Engineers use various tools including centrifuges, computers, distillation systems, heat exchangers, mass spectrometers, and wet scrubbers. In terms of technology, they use different types of software, computer aided design, database query, object-oriented development, office suite, project management, and thermal analysis systems.
Career Progression
University teaches potential chemical engineers skills including project management and process flow.
As a first job for a graduate, they usually get careers in energy, water, food and pharmaceutical sectors. They tend to start their career as a graduate process engineer, where they help with product development, plant design, risk analysis, etc. By gaining experience, they will progress in project management, risk assessment, or become specialists such as environmental regulation. Many work to obtain chartered status as many senior positions require it as a prerequisite and it increases their earning potential.
Job Outlook
With the green economy and environmentally sustainable businesses being a major focus in modern society, there is an increase in opportunities for chemical engineers. Many of the areas will be responsible for research and development which includes biofuel technology, biotechnology, energy efficiency, nanotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.