There’s no one secret to getting a job in chemical engineering or advancing your career, but one thing is clear: whether you’re just out of college or a senior chemical engineer, ongoing learning throughout your career can help you stand out to employers and keep you relevant in the workplace.
One of the most flexible ways to get potentially career-boosting continuing education in chemical engineering is through e-learning opportunities developed especially for chemical engineers. E-learning is particularly convenient because the online, on-demand format allows you to work at your own pace and on your own schedule, without fear of missing classes or work. And what’s more, some useful opportunities are even free if you’re still an undergraduate. If you’re already employed, keep in mind that your current employer may be willing to pay for e-learning that’s relevant to your job.
Stand out with employers
While any of us looking for a job want to stand out, it can be particularly challenging for recent graduates to differentiate themselves right out of school. One way is to gain specialized expertise uncommon among your peers. Many recent graduates, for example, lack sufficient process safety knowledge for the workplace, so recent chemical engineering graduates — as well as others — can gain the attention of potential employers through e-learning opportunities such as the SAChE Certificate Program, which is free to undergraduate AIChE members.
Whether you’re a recent grad or simply entering a new field, you can also gain employers’ attention by building knowledge in a specialized area relevant to the position you’re seeking. AIChE Academy offers many e-learning courses on a wide variety of topics, such as process safety training, professional development, sustainability & environment, and chemical engineering practice, so you’re very likely to find a course that can build your expertise and make you a better fit for a new position.
Explore new areas and career directions
If you’re looking to change direction in your career or make a move to a more specialized area, there are multiple e-learning courses that could help you reach your goals. For example, as hydrogen becomes a more important area in energy production, the need for specialized safety practices continues to grow. One of the multiple courses on hydrogen safety could be a really important building block if hydrogen plays a role in your next career move. If you’re interested in biotechology, you could benefit from a course developed specifically for chemical engineers, such as Biotechnology for Chemical Engineers.
Stay relevant in the workplace
Even for the most experienced chemical engineer, there is always something new to learn that can improve standing in the workplace. One way to build new value is to become certified as a professional engineer (PE), and the PE Exam Review Course can help you prepare.
Another way for more experienced engineers to maintain and improve their standing in the workplace is to keep up with new technology. Sustainability and environmental issues, for example, are more important today than ever. If you want to stay current, there are multiple e-learning courses on sustainability and the environment that could benefit your career.
Likewise, you can boost your value to your current employer, or potential employers, by exploring technology and practices that will bring new efficiency to current manufacturing processes. An introduction to modular chemical process intensification could be a great way to get started, and you may even want to become certified in this area. For those seeking more advanced knowledge of process intensification, there are courses such as Process Design for Process Intensification and Modeling and Simulation for Process Intensification that will allow you to continue to expand your knowledge and enhance your value as an employee.
Take a moment to look at the diverse courses and webinars available through e-learning at AIChE Academy. And also consider whether some of the in-person or virtual instructor-led courses might also benefit you. Learning is a chemical engineer’s life-long task, and the knowledge you accumulate is one of your most valuable assets in the workplace.