The Truth About Chemical Engineering

Timestamps//
(0:00) Career vs. School
(2:13) Mistake #1
(3:04) Core Subjects
(6:26) Memorizing Equations
(8:13) Mistake #2
(9:18) Mistake #3
(11:51) Money

Chem E Videos //
What do chemical engineers do? https://youtu.be/pt3BJ1xVKBU
Chem E Career Q/A https://youtu.be/Pz8TDp6cowk

- So I recently received this message from a subscriber wondering about what Chemical Engineering is - from a career feasibility perspective. I figured that most of you are probably in the same boat, which is how you found my channel. So I figured it would be good to make this video to teach you guys a little more about what Chemical Engineer is as a whole - school + careerwise.
- I'm going to answer this list of questions from Arian and I'll also drop the timestamps in the description. It's split up in terms of School, Work, and Fun Questions. If you guys enjoy this type of content, please do consider dropping this a Like so that I can know if I should keep making content like this, as well as subscribe so you don't miss another video.

- Mistake #1 — The Lack of Chemistry, **SCHOOL**: Do you use your degree at work?
- The main courses you learn in Chemical Engineering are related to running a plant efficiently. This means you have to have a wide understanding of physical and chemical phenomena related to how gases and fluids work (Fluid Mechanics), how heat can be quantified, generated and recovered (Thermodynamics), how to optimize chemical reactors (Reactor Design), how to quantify and manage the inputs and outputs of a plant (Material and Energy Balances).
- Most people go into Chemical Engineering because they have a love of Chemistry, which is totally fine. But I think that the Chemistry we learn in high school and even first year university is very limited compared to what you actually have to know to be an effective chemical engineer. In first year general engineering, I took one chemistry course. In second year, I took 3 chemistry course (organic, inorganic and physical). In third year and fourth year, you don't take any chemistry specific courses, but there is some chemistry involved in Reactor Design and Material and Energy Balances.
- I've asked most chemical engineers I've met who have had anywhere from 5 to 20 years of experience, and the most common response is that they only use about 0 - 25% of what they learned in school. I definitely suggest taking at least 1 or 2 4-month work terms, I took 4, where you learn about what sorts of industries interest you. It's kind of like at a buffet when you take a little taste of everything, which I highly recommend. Because when you start working full time, it will not be as easy to work at a company for less than a year. It's also common in Chemical Engineering that when you get experience in one sector, say Pulp and Paper, then its easier to get pulp and paper jobs and you might only stay in pulp and paper if that's what you're experienced in.
- So while it's totally OK to switch from industry to industry, you should know that Professional Engineer roles in certain industry may require you to have years of SPECIFIC industry experience in that sector.

- Mistake #2 – Not Totally Understanding Job Specifics **WORK**: Skills For The Job
- In my own words, the main thing that a Chemical Engineer does is use math, science (chemistry, physics, biology and math), and logic to invent and improve processes.
- I made another video related to this topic, "What Do Chemical Engineers Do?" where I go in depth into the roles, responsibilities and skills required for a chemical engineer, as well describe two of the main roles for a chemical engineer.

- Mistake #3 – Not Knowing Where The Jobs Are
- It's important to understand that although Chemical Engineers do make a lot of money, you may not be working in the most fun areas. As I've mentioned in other videos, people don't want to have factories spewing out weird smells and stuff all the time. Also, chemical engineers working in natural resources like oil and gas and mining, you can't really choose where those natural resources will be. Therefore, if you want to work in the natural resources sector, which does pay very well, you should consider where those work locations might be.
- For example, oil and gas is probably the highest paying chemical engineering industry, but the work locations for sites may not be the most ideal. In Canada, the oil sands are one of the most abundant natural resources in the world, but they are located in Fort MacMurray, which is a town of around 66,000 people. I've had numerous friends who have worked in the middle of nowhere, which is not uncommon in Chemical Engineering.

Видео The Truth About Chemical Engineering канала Shawn • Chemical Engineer