Young Professionals Advisory Board: Q & A

(Posted Feb. 15, 2005)

The YPAB participated in a variety of sessions at the November 2004 National Student Conference in Austin, Texas. During one forum, chemical engineering undergraduates posed questions about career transition and life outside the classroom. Here are a few of the questions asked, with responses provided by YPAB members and other young chemical engineers.
Watch this page for more questions and answers.

If you have questions for the YPAB, or would like to comment on the items discussed below, please contact us at ypab@aiche.org.

Question: Compare the benefits of working for a large company vs. a small firm where I can take on greater responsibility earlier in my career.

Answers:

"There is no right or wrong here; there are benefits to each. Also consider what sounds most appealing to you, and what will best help you in your short-term and long-term career goals. Large companies allow you to see several different types of operations and corporate-level activity from a broad perspective, while at a smaller company, you might have the opportunity to take on more responsibility early in your career. -- B.L., NY


"Depends on what you want. You have to decide which is a better fit for you." -- A., PA

"In terms of engineering, you have a lot more freedom and responsibility in a small firm. However, if there are risks being taken, you’ll take the brunt of the failure on your shoulders. Also, you’re ‘the guy’ whenever problems arise, so your plate will fill quickly. Whereas large firms offer you the chance to learn from other professionals and there is far less liability should you screw something up, since most large companies have systems in place to catch engineering mistakes. Plus you have greater control over what type of work load you have in a large company." -- B.D., TX

Question: "What should I do the summer before graduate school? If I cannot get an internship, should I work somewhere unrelated to my career, or nowhere at all? "

Answers:

"It’s always best to have some type of job experience or research on your resume. The more relevant it is to your career path, the better." -- B.L., NY


"Of course, it’s better to so some sort of work that would be somewhat related to your career, but if you can’t secure an internship, do something rather than nothing. Employers don’t like to see that you sat around for a whole summer doing nothing." -- R.M., CA


"A company will want to see that you have continuously been doing something." -- A., PA


"By the time your “pre-grad-school” summer rolls around your finances should be planned out through the length of your schooling. If you need the money, work." -- J. S., TX


"Wow – to have the OPTION to not have to work at all! Any work experience is good." -- A.R., TX

Question: "Should I feel bad interviewing for jobs while pursuing graduate school?"

Answers:

"Of course not! You need to explore all of your options so you can make the decision that is best for you." -- B.L., NY


"Absolutely not. It’s good to stay plugged in to know what options are out there." -- R.M., CA


"No, explore all of your possibilities." -- A., PA


"I frequently interview just to make sure I’m not letting a better opportunity go by." -- J. S., TX


"No – I did, and it wasn’t a problem. Companies look at multiple candidates for a job, why shouldn’t you look at multiple opportunities?" -- A.R., TX