Nature of work
As a chemical engineer your activities diverse depending on the role and sector in which you work. However, your tasks may range between working closely with process chemists and control engineers to ensure the process plant is set up to provide maximum output levels and efficient running of the production facility, designing plant and equipment configuration so that they can be readily adapted to suit the product range and the process technologies involved, taking environmental and economic aspects into account, and instituting scale-up and scale-down processes including appropriate changes to equipment design and configuration. Moreover, you will have to assess options for plant expansion or reconfiguration by developing and testing process simulation models; in addition to, assessing designing, installing and commissioning new production plants, including monitoring developments and troubleshooting. Another tasks you have to handle are optimising production by analysing processes and compiling de-bottleneck studies, applying new technologies, and ensuring that potential safety issues related to the project operator, the environment, the process and the product are considered at all stages. Environment of work
As a chemical engineer you will didicate yourself to work seven hours a day ;however, you may need to work extra hours . For example, if you take a part in processing and manufacturing job, you may be involved in shift work, including evenings and weekends. Your job’s environment ranges between lab, office or processing plant. Travel and overseas obligations depend on the sector and profile of the employing company. For instance, development work may progress from lab to plant or construction site, so travel may be required at certain stages of a project and clothing requirements may change. Don’t worry about working in chemical and nuclear -based industries because safety is a high priority and hygiene is critical in food and drink production and water treatment. As a woman you will be lucky to apply for this job for,a quarter of chemical engineers are approximately femals. Professional life
The dynamic nature of the industry means you can expect to be offered significant continuing professional development opportunities in order to develop new knowledge. The nature of your role leads to the creation of versatile, multi-skilled professionals capable of handling a wide range of technical, environmental and commercial challenges. This allows you to promot to senior management often more quickly than is possible in other sectors. If you are a fresh graduate you will gain experience of a range of projects, either within the same company or, after gaining chartership, by changing companies. After training in the early years, you have various possible career routes. You will either continue working on projects in order to become a project manager, or you will develop expertise in a new technique or process in demand within the industry and move into research and development. Also, you can move into specialist roles, such as safety and risk management or environmental management. Another choice for you is to move into commercial areas. As a graduate your monthly salary ranges between 35000 to 40000 SYP. Getting the job
If you are considering applying for a Chemical Engineer position, then you have to get a Bachelor’s Degree in chemical science which is usually a five-year course, or Master of chemical science , usually a seven-year course. You will only need appropriate work experience to satisfy the entry requirements, and undertake a period of additional study as well as appropriate work experience. Although a degree in chemical/biochemical/process engineering is the most straightforward entry requirement to this area of work required to have knowledge in some subjects such as, chemistry, applied chemistry, polymer science/technology and environmental engineering.Furthermore, advanced taught Masters courses, focusing on other relevant aspects of chemical science, are also considered. Having work experience is considered as an advantage because employers are increasingly seeking candidates with appropriate work experience and may favour recruiting candidates from their own placement schemes. Skills
As a candiate you should have many skills to fit this position. For example, you should understand engineering principles and mathematics, have an aptitude for and interest in chemistry and analytical and able to solve proplems. Also, you should have project management skills, resource management skills, and oral and written communication skills. Furthermore, you should be able to work as part of a team, motivate , and lead them. Also, you need to show evidence of strong IT skills, care and methodical approach with good attention to detail, commercial and business awareness, and creativity and innovation. Sources and references
www.arabchem.org , Union Of Arab Chemists www.syriaindustrialcity.com, Syriain industrial city
www.prospects.ac.uk, the official graduates career website
Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization