There are plenty of factors to consider when looking at a career in chemical engineering, including job opportunities and salaries, but perhaps the most important is: what will the job really be like? The best way to get a grasp on the daily life of a chemical engineer is to visit the kinds of facilities where they work for a firsthand look at what they do.
Opportunities to see where chemical engineers work
One possibility to explore job sites is to take part in visits organized by Young Professional (YP) groups and AIChE local sections (see this article about the STS-AIChE visit to a ConocoPhillips facility in Texas.) You may also want to pursue opportunities through career and guidance counselors, or look into internships through your school or through the AIChE's internship listings for more in-depth exposure. But if those are not possibilities--or if you're simply eager to know more right away--I've also put together a virtual experience that is the next best thing. Also please note that I've included a few resources at the end of this article to help you learn more about being a chemical engineer, including information on career opportunities, starting salaries for chemical engineers, and more. How let's get started with the virtual tour. Here's a look at a young engineer involved in oil and gas exploration (video above).
Here is a video taken at Shell Chemical's cracker complex in Singapore: