Assignment 15: Interview
For this assignment, I choose Chemical Engineer as the career for my research project. While I don't know anyone currently in said field, I asked a few questions to a friend I know who is studying to become a Chemical Engineer.
Q. What exactly does a Chemical Engineer do?
A. A Chemical Engineer do anything from maintaining a balanced reaction to create a product, to inspecting machinery that house chemicals. Chemical Engineers work in a variety of industries, such as: Fuel, Drugs, Food, Consumer Goods, etc.
Reflection:
Chemical Engineers work in a variety of areas, performing an even larger variety of tasks. Based on this information alone, Chemical Engineers must be in high demand which means there is a lot of room for the field to grow both in population and in salary.
Q. What compounds at water-waste plants are responsible for the foul odor?
A. Compounds such as Hydrogen Sulfide and Dimethyl Disulfide are responsible for the odor that is produced at the water-waste plants. Sulfur, in and of itself, is a very stinky element and is best known for it's smell, not unlike that of rotten eggs.
Reflection:
Chemical Engineers require a deep background in Chemistry. Not many people would know this off the top of their head, but luckily my friend had just covered this topic in his Organic Chemistry Class.
Q. How should you extract hydrogen from water?
A. Electrolysis would be the easiest way to separate Hydrogen from Water. By running a high enough electric current through water, the Hydrogen and Oxygen can separate from each other.
Reflection: An easier Chemistry question, but good to know either way! Can't learn the advanced things without the basics.
Q. What is most enticing about Chemical Engineering to you?
A. The prospective learning experiences one can have whilst working as a Chemical Engineer. As a Chemical Engineering Student, I have not gone one class without learning something new about my area of study.
Reflection: Chemical Engineering requires a mind captivated by Science. An investigative, cautious and eager mindset is a good thing to have in this field.
Q. Is teamwork necessary in the field of Chemical Engineering?
A. Teamwork is required in almost every field, but most important in Chemical Engineering. If you are not willing to work with people on projects, you can kiss your job goodbye.
Reflection: Teamwork is just as important on a team as it is in any other job. Even if you don't like the people you work with, you have to move past that to get the job done.
Q. What are some of the classes required to become a Chemical Engineer?
A. Any and all Chemistry Classes, Physics and Calculus. If a course has heavy math in it, it's pretty much required for a Chemical Engineer.
Reflection:
Chemical Engineers have a wealth of knowledge in Chemistry and other math heavy sciences.
Q. As a Chemical Engineering student, what do you find to be most challenging?
A. The work load. Once you get past the entry level classes, the work is easy to grasp but there is a lot of it. If I had to choose a 'hardest topic', I'd probably go with Electrochemistry. Reduction and Oxidation were always the hardest to remember.
Reflection:
Work load for a Chemical Engineer is above and beyond what one would expect. You have to be a really dedicated student to enter this field.
Q. Are you working in your field currently?
A. Not currently, however I have been a Teacher's Assistant for a lab at the college I attend.
Reflection:
Extra experience is always helpful when landing a job.
Q. Is most of your free time spent studying?
A. No, it is not. Despite what you may think, my classes don't take up too much of my time and I have plenty of time to hang out with friends and work at the restaurant I work at.
Reflection:
Chemical Engineers and Chemical Engineering Students, despite the work required of them, still have time to enjoy life.
Q. Any words of advice for people looking into this academic tract?
A. Make sure you study everyday, because you won't succeed in these courses without a regiment of study.
Reflection:
Study is an integral part of success in the field of Chemical Engineering, and one cannot happen without the other.