What I Wish I Knew Before Studying Chemical Engineering

AlsworthTV
18 Sept 202005:52
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the creator shares five insights he wishes he had known before embarking on his chemical engineering studies. He emphasizes the minimal focus on chemistry, the common employment in plants and refineries, the limited job market for chemical engineers compared to other engineering fields, the potential benefits of learning coding and data science, and the diverse roles chemical engineers can undertake across different industries. He suggests that internships are crucial for understanding the field better and regrets not knowing what chemical engineering truly entailed before starting his education.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Chemical engineering involves significantly less chemistry than expected, being more focused on engineering aspects.
  • 🏭 Many chemical engineers work in plants and refineries, which may not offer the lab-based or experimental settings some might expect.
  • 🌿 Job settings for chemical engineers can often be remote or in less urban areas, impacting work-life balance and personal lifestyle preferences.
  • 🔬 The job market for chemical engineers is narrower compared to fields like software engineering or electrical engineering.
  • 💡 Studying chemical engineering doesn't restrict one to a career in that field; opportunities exist to transition into business, finance, or law.
  • 🌐 As the world becomes more digitized, disciplines like software engineering and data science are poised to benefit from technological trends.
  • 👨‍💻 Learning coding and data science skills can significantly enhance a chemical engineer's employability and adaptability in the job market.
  • 🚀 Chemical engineers work in diverse roles across industries, and internships are crucial for understanding the practical applications and potential career paths.
  • 🎯 It's important to have a clear understanding of what chemical engineering entails before committing to the study and career path.
  • 📈 The future job landscape may favor remote work and automation, which could influence the desirability and relevance of chemical engineering careers.
Q & A

  • What is the main theme of the video?

    -The main theme of the video is sharing five things the creator wishes they knew before studying chemical engineering, based on experiences and insights gathered from various sources.

  • Why did the creator choose to study chemical engineering?

    -The creator chose to study chemical engineering because they were good at and enjoyed chemistry in high school, and they thought it would translate well to enjoying the college curriculum.

  • What was the creator's misconception about the chemistry content in the chemical engineering curriculum?

    -The creator mistakenly believed that there would be a significant amount of chemistry in the curriculum, similar to their high school experience, but they found out that it's mostly engineering with a small portion of chemistry.

  • What are the typical workplaces for chemical engineers according to the video?

    -Most chemical engineers work in plants and refineries, which was a surprise to the creator as they initially thought chemical engineers would mostly work in labs and conduct experiments.

  • What work-life balance issues might chemical engineers face when working in plants?

    -Chemical engineers in plants often face on-call duties, which means they have to be available to fix any issues that arise at the plant, leading to a poor work-life balance.

  • How does the creator feel about the location of most plants and refineries?

    -The creator is not fond of the fact that most plants and refineries are located in remote areas, as it limits social and recreational opportunities outside of work.

  • What does the creator suggest about the job market for chemical engineers compared to other engineering disciplines?

    -The creator suggests that the job market for chemical engineers is smaller compared to other disciplines like software engineering and electrical engineering, making it potentially harder to find job opportunities.

  • What alternative career paths have people with a chemical engineering background pursued?

    -People with a chemical engineering background have pursued careers in business, finance, law, and other fields, showing that it's possible to transition into different industries.

  • Why does the creator recommend learning coding and data science for chemical engineers?

    -The creator recommends learning coding and data science because these skills can expand the job marketability of chemical engineers and align with the growing trends in technology and digitization.

  • What advice does the creator give to current chemical engineering students?

    -The creator advises current chemical engineering students to do internships to gain experience and understand the different roles chemical engineers can have in various industries, which will help them determine their interests and career paths.

  • What does the creator wish they had known about chemical engineering before studying it?

    -The creator wishes they had known the true nature of the chemical engineering field, including the limited chemistry content, the typical workplaces, the job market size, and the diverse roles chemical engineers can take on.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Chemical Engineering Insights

The speaker, Al, shares his reflections on studying chemical engineering. Initially, he reveals his surprise at the minimal focus on chemistry within the curriculum, contrary to his high school experience. He then discusses the common misconception about chemical engineers working in labs, highlighting that most work in plants and refineries, which often leads to poor work-life balance and isolation due to their remote locations. Al also mentions the limited job market for chemical engineers compared to other engineering fields and suggests considering the future trends in digitization and automation when choosing a field of study.

05:02
🎓 The Reality of Chemical Engineering Careers

Al emphasizes the importance of internships in understanding the practical aspects of a chemical engineering career. He expresses his wish for having known the realities of the chemical engineering field before committing to it as a student. He encourages viewers to consider their career paths carefully, especially given the potential for remote work and automation in the future. Al concludes by inviting current chemical engineering students to share their experiences and thoughts on the subject.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the design, production, and operation of processes involving chemical reactions. It is a discipline that combines principles from chemistry, physics, and mathematics to solve problems related to the production or use of chemicals, materials, and energy. In the video, the speaker reflects on their experience and knowledge about the field, highlighting that it is not as focused on chemistry as they initially thought, and involves more engineering principles than they expected.
💡curriculum
Curriculum refers to the courses, subjects, and learning materials that make up an educational program. In the context of the video, the speaker expresses surprise at the amount of engineering content in the chemical engineering curriculum, as opposed to the chemistry content they were expecting based on their high school experience.
💡plants and refineries
Plants and refineries are industrial facilities where raw materials are processed into finished products. In the field of chemical engineering, many professionals work in these settings to monitor and optimize chemical processes. The speaker in the video mentions that most chemical engineers work in such environments, which was a revelation for them and something they did not anticipate before studying the subject.
💡work-life balance
Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between an individual's professional responsibilities and their personal life. It is important for overall well-being and satisfaction. In the video, the speaker expresses concern that working in a plant or refinery, particularly with being on call, can negatively impact this balance, leading to a less desirable lifestyle.
💡job market
The job market refers to the availability of jobs and the demand for labor in a particular field or industry. It is a crucial consideration for students and professionals when choosing a career path. In the video, the speaker notes that the job market for chemical engineers is smaller compared to other engineering disciplines, which could make finding job opportunities more challenging.
💡software engineering
Software engineering is a discipline of engineering that involves the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. It is a highly sought-after field due to the increasing reliance on technology and the internet. In the video, the speaker expresses a preference for software engineering over chemical engineering, considering the broader job opportunities and the alignment with current technological trends.
💡internships
Internships are temporary positions with an organization that provide practical experience and exposure to the workings of a particular industry. They are valuable for students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience and to explore career options. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of doing internships in chemical engineering to understand the roles and responsibilities in the field, and to identify personal interests and dislikes.
💡remote work
Remote work refers to a work arrangement where employees perform their job duties from a location outside the traditional office setting, often from home or another remote location. This has become more prevalent due to advancements in technology and, particularly, the COVID-19 pandemic. In the video, the speaker expresses a preference for working in an office or remotely, rather than in a plant or refinery, highlighting the benefits of a more flexible work environment.
💡data science
Data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. It involves data analysis, machine learning, and statistical analysis to inform decision-making. In the video, the speaker suggests that having skills in data science could increase a chemical engineer's marketability and open up more job opportunities.
💡career choice
Career choice refers to the decision-making process individuals go through when selecting a profession or trade. It involves considering personal interests, skills, job market trends, and potential for growth. In the video, the speaker shares their personal regrets and considerations about their choice to study chemical engineering, suggesting that they might have made different decisions with more information.
Highlights

The speaker shares personal insights on what they wish they knew before studying chemical engineering.

Chemical engineering consists of 99% engineering and 1% chemistry, which was a surprising revelation for the speaker.

High school chemistry enthusiasts may not enjoy college-level chemistry as much as anticipated.

Most chemical engineers work in plants and refineries, which was an unexpected fact for the speaker.

Working in a plant setting often involves being on call, leading to a poor work-life balance.

Many plants and refineries are located in remote areas, which can limit personal and social opportunities.

The job market for chemical engineers is smaller compared to other engineering disciplines like software or electrical engineering.

Chemical engineering graduates have pursued diverse careers in business, finance, and law.

The speaker suggests that studying software engineering or data science might be a better choice due to the future job market trends.

A chemical engineer who knows coding and data science is highly marketable.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of internships for chemical engineering students to understand the variety of roles within the field.

Chemical engineers have different roles depending on the industry, making it hard to define what a chemical engineer does.

Internships can help students identify their interests and dislikes within the field of chemical engineering.

The speaker expresses that knowing these insights might have led them to choose a different field of study.

The video encourages current chemical engineering students to share their experiences in the comments section.

The speaker concludes by hoping the video adds value to the viewers and encourages subscriptions.

Transcripts

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