Can Chemical Engineers Work Remote? | How to Get a Work From Home Job As A Chemical Engineer

Eggs the Engineer
6 Mar 202408:09
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video discusses the shift towards remote work for chemical engineers, highlighting the challenges and benefits of this transition. It emphasizes the importance of starting with on-site experience to build a strong foundation before moving into remote roles, which can offer better work-life balance but may limit growth and networking opportunities. The speaker advises a strategic approach to career development, suggesting that remote work should be pursued from a position of strength and experience.

Takeaways
  • 🔍 Before 2022, remote work for chemical engineers was considered unlikely due to the hands-on nature of the job and the corporate structure.
  • 🏢 The pandemic forced a shift to remote work, leading to initial challenges in communication and project management.
  • 🌐 Companies adapted over time, developing remote-friendly systems and recognizing the value of remote work for employee satisfaction and retention.
  • 💼 Remote work has become a competitive benefit, with employees often prioritizing it alongside health care and retirement savings.
  • 🎓 For new chemical engineers, starting with an on-site job is recommended to gain experience and build a strong foundation for future remote opportunities.
  • 📈 On-site roles offer more experience and better opportunities for growth, leadership, and networking compared to remote roles.
  • 🔥 There is more competition for remote jobs, especially at the entry level, as many people are seeking such positions.
  • 🌟 Engineers with experience in process engineering and related fields are better positioned to transition into remote work with a competitive advantage.
  • 🛣️ Starting with an intensive on-site role and then moving to remote work later in one's career can lead to greater success and stability.
  • 🤝 Building relationships and networking in-person can lead to more opportunities and career advancement in the engineering field.
  • 📊 Remote work roles for chemical engineers often involve heavy paperwork and computer work, with well-defined projects suitable for remote management.
Q & A

  • What were the main reasons chemical engineering jobs were not considered suitable for remote work before 2022?

    -Before 2022, chemical engineering jobs were not considered suitable for remote work mainly because they were either research-based or required working on a plant, dealing with finicky chemical systems that needed hands-on efforts. Additionally, engineering jobs had strict corporate structures with managers preferring to have their teams in the office for better oversight and collaboration.

  • How did the lockdown in 2020 affect the remote work capabilities of companies?

    -The lockdown in 2020 forced companies, including those in the chemical engineering field, to adapt to remote work systems for safety reasons. Initially, this transition was quite challenging, with many companies facing communication issues, project management problems, and a lack of systems in place to maintain productivity remotely.

  • What changes have companies had to make in order to become remote-friendly?

    -To become remote-friendly, companies had to adapt, learn, and grow. They had to develop and implement new systems and tools that allowed for effective communication, project management, and collaboration among remote employees. This was a significant shift from their traditional office-based work environments.

  • What are some lifestyle benefits that remote work offers employees?

    -Remote work offers a significant lifestyle change for employees, including increased flexibility, the ability to balance work and personal life more effectively, reduced commute times, and the option to work in a variety of settings, which can enhance work-life balance and overall job satisfaction.

  • Why is it not recommended for new chemical engineers to jump straight into remote work?

    -For new chemical engineers, starting with a remote job is not recommended because it can lead to higher competition, lower growth opportunities, and less chance to build a strong foundation of experience. On-site roles offer more hands-on experience, leadership opportunities, and networking possibilities that are crucial for career growth.

  • What type of chemical engineering roles are more suited for remote work?

    -Roles that are more paperwork or computer work-based, with well-defined projects and input-output focus, are better suited for remote work in the chemical engineering field. These roles often involve less direct interaction with chemical systems and more work with documentation, modeling, and project management.

  • How has the corporate world responded to the demand for remote work?

    -The corporate world has responded by trying to meet employees halfway, offering remote work opportunities to attract and retain talent. However, they are also mindful of the trade-offs, ensuring that remote work doesn't compromise the company's productivity, management, and leadership development.

  • What are the networking challenges faced by remote workers?

    -Remote workers face challenges in building connections and taking on new challenging projects due to their physical absence from the office or plant. Networking and relationship-building are more difficult, and there is increased competition with in-person workers who have more opportunities for face-to-face interactions and relationship development.

  • What is the recommended career path for chemical engineers interested in remote work?

    -The recommended career path is to start with on-site roles such as process engineering to gain hands-on experience, develop leadership skills, and build a strong professional network. As engineers gain experience and relationships, they can then transition into remote roles, which may offer more stability, higher salaries, and better opportunities overall.

  • How can engineers find a balance between work and life with remote work?

    -Remote work allows engineers to find a better balance between work and life by providing flexibility in work hours and location, reducing commute times, and enabling them to manage their personal and professional responsibilities more effectively. However, it's important to be strategic about when to transition into remote work to ensure it doesn't hinder career growth and opportunities.

  • What is the speaker's perspective on the long-term benefits of starting with an on-site job versus a remote job?

    -The speaker believes that starting with an on-site job, especially in roles like process engineering, provides a stronger foundation for a successful career. It allows for more experience, better networking, and a higher likelihood of securing remote opportunities with greater stability and higher salaries in the long run. In contrast, starting with a remote job might limit career growth and make it harder to transition to more complex roles later.

Outlines
00:00
🏢 The Evolution of Remote Work in Chemical Engineering

This paragraph discusses the shift in the possibility of remote work for chemical engineers. Initially, remote work was considered unfeasible due to the hands-on nature of chemical engineering jobs and the corporate structure of engineering firms. However, the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 forced companies to adapt to remote work systems. Despite initial challenges, companies have since evolved to create remote-friendly systems. The lifestyle change and benefits of remote work have become a significant part of the hiring package, with employees valuing it as much as health care and retirement savings. Nonetheless, the speaker advises new engineers against immediately seeking remote work due to increased competition, limited growth opportunities, and the potential for less impactful roles.

05:01
🤝 Balancing Work and Life in the Engineering Field

The second paragraph emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and how the new generation of engineers is demanding more remote positions. It highlights the challenges of remote work, such as reduced opportunities for in-person networking and the competitive nature of being physically present in the office. The speaker suggests that starting with on-site roles can lead to more fulfilling remote work opportunities later in one's career, as it allows for the development of a strong professional foundation and connections within the industry. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's personal view that on-site jobs can accelerate career growth, likening three years of on-site experience to ten years of remote work in terms of opportunities and learnings.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Remote work
Remote work refers to a flexible working arrangement where employees perform their job duties from a location outside the traditional office environment, often from home. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a growing trend in the corporate world, particularly for chemical engineers, due to the shift in expectations and lifestyle changes brought about by the global pandemic. The speaker discusses the benefits and challenges of remote work, and how it has become a serious benefit that companies offer to retain and recruit talent.
💡Chemical engineer
A chemical engineer is a professional who applies the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, materials, and energy. In the video, the speaker is specifically addressing chemical engineers and discussing the feasibility of remote work in their field, including the types of remote jobs available and the career growth associated with them.
💡Adaptation
Adaptation in this context refers to the process of adjusting or modifying systems, behaviors, or practices to better suit new conditions or requirements. The video emphasizes how the pandemic forced companies to adapt to remote work, leading to the development of new tools and practices that made remote productivity possible. It also highlights the need for individuals, particularly new engineers, to be strategic and adaptive in their career choices to navigate the changing job landscape.
💡Work-life balance
Work-life balance refers to the equilibrium between an individual's professional responsibilities and their personal life. The video script discusses how the new generation of engineers is seeking more work-life balance, which is one of the benefits of remote work. It suggests that remote positions allow employees to better integrate their professional duties with their personal life, thus improving overall well-being and satisfaction.
💡Competition
Competition in the context of the video refers to the rivalry among job seekers for available positions, particularly remote jobs, which have become highly desirable due to the shift in work culture. The speaker warns new engineers about the increased competition for remote positions and suggests that starting with on-site roles might offer less competition and better opportunities for career growth.
💡Leadership
Leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, and influence a group of people towards achieving a common goal. In the video, the speaker advises that starting with on-site roles, such as process engineering, can help develop leadership skills which are crucial for future remote work opportunities. Leadership experience is seen as a competitive advantage when transitioning to remote roles.
💡Experience
Experience in a professional context refers to the knowledge, skills, and practical understanding an individual gains through involvement in work activities. The video emphasizes that on-site jobs provide a richer and more diverse experience compared to remote work roles, which can be more paperwork or computer work-based. The speaker suggests that starting a career with hands-on, on-site experience can lead to a stronger foundation for future remote work opportunities.
💡Career growth
Career growth refers to the progression and development in one's professional career, often involving promotions, increased responsibilities, and skill enhancement. In the video, the speaker discusses how remote work, especially for new engineers, might not offer the same level of career growth and management opportunities as on-site roles. The speaker encourages a strategic approach to career development, suggesting that starting with on-site roles can lead to better career growth and more remote opportunities in the future.
💡Networking
Networking refers to the process of building and maintaining professional relationships, which can lead to career opportunities, collaborations, or knowledge exchange. The video highlights the importance of networking in the corporate world and how being physically present in the office or plant can provide more opportunities to build connections and work on interesting projects. The speaker warns that remote work can limit these networking opportunities, which can impact career growth and access to challenging projects.
💡Trade-offs
Trade-offs involve making a decision to give up or sacrifice one thing in order to get another. In the context of the video, trade-offs refer to the compromises that both employees and employers make in adopting remote work. For employees, this might mean sacrificing certain aspects of career growth or salary for the benefits of remote work. For employers, it involves changing corporate structures and management practices to accommodate remote employees.
Highlights

Remote work for chemical engineers was not common before 2022 due to the hands-on nature of the job and corporate management structures.

The COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 forced companies to adapt to remote work systems for safety reasons.

Initially, remote work led to communication issues and project management problems in many companies.

After 2 to 3 years, companies had to grow and make their systems remote-friendly to continue operating.

Remote work has become a significant benefit for employees, similar to health care and retirement savings accounts.

New engineers are advised against immediately jumping into remote work due to increased competition and limited growth opportunities.

Entry-level remote jobs are often not high growth or high-paying positions.

Starting with on-site roles like process engineering can provide a stronger footing for future remote work opportunities.

On-site jobs offer more experience and better chances for leadership and management opportunities.

Remote work roles often involve more paperwork and computer work, with well-defined projects suitable for remote management.

This generation of engineers seeks more work-life balance, leading to a demand for more remote positions.

Companies are adapting to offer remote work opportunities to meet employees' expectations and provide a better work-life balance.

Remote work can limit opportunities for building connections and taking on challenging projects compared to on-site work.

Starting with on-site jobs can lead to less competition and more opportunities for growth and remote work later in one's career.

Software-based modeling roles in engineering may offer more remote work opportunities right from the start.

Despite the rise in remote work, it's important to be mindful of the trade-offs and focus on building a strong career foundation before transitioning to remote roles.

The speaker emphasizes the value of starting in more intense roles and transitioning to easier roles later in one's career for greater success.

The video concludes with a call for viewers to share their thoughts, suggest video ideas, and subscribe for more content.

Transcripts

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Remote WorkChemical EngineeringCareer GrowthWork-Life BalanceCOVID-19 ImpactCorporate AdaptationEntry-Level JobsLeadership SkillsOn-Site ExperienceIndustry Trends