Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

What is a better degree for getting a stable job straight away? Chemical engineering

I'm stuck between these two.

Which degree is better and more respected my employers?
Which one has higher salary?
Are jobs declining in these fields?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 1

Sugarsweet123

Sorry I meant chemical engineering or optometry??

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 2

username1221160

A good knowledge of horses.

Stable job.... Horses. Get it?

I have nothing useful to contribute. I'll leave now.

Reply 3

Anonynmous

I'm a bit biased but Chemical Engineering.

Any engineering degrees opens door.

That being said I want to be a banker and they love engineer grads.

Reply 4

Sugarsweet123

Original post by Quantex

A good knowledge of horses.

Stable job.... Horses. Get it?

I have nothing useful to contribute. I'll leave now.

This is the first time I have asked a question on student room. You have made a great impression😑😏

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 5

Sugarsweet123

Original post by Quantex

A good knowledge of horses.

Stable job.... Horses. Get it?

I have nothing useful to contribute. I'll leave now.

Oh really? Would you be a qualified engineer straight after completing a 5yr Meng sandwich course. Would I be able to get a job straight off? Also does it matter what university you want to do it at? I'm thinking of university of bradford

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 6

Protagoras

I would plan to work in a supermarket for the first six months then go travel the world and chill out and think about the possibilities of working internationally too, whilst you're at it - dubai, israel, australia, china etc. always a plus. (That's your first year) Then look to get into that industry in some way possibly a ChemEng graduate scheme if not then something that will get you transferable skills for your profession. You might do this job for two years whilst you figure out the industry and get to events and meet people and network.

Companies are always looking to hire those who they had for placement years so definitely get one of those in. Invaluable experience so early in your career.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 7

Protagoras

If after three years, you've had no success in getting into the ChemEng industry then specialise by doing a masters or Ph.D. degree (getting into the target universities) and talk to companies at the careers fairs and industry events and they are likely to pick you up there.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 8

dingdongbat

Original post by Sugarsweet123

If you are intending to becoming a fully-qualified chemical engineering professional in the UK, you will aim towards getting your CEng (Chartered Engineer). For today's graduates, the >>academic<< requirements can only be met by the 4-year MEng course, the 3-year course will requiring some kind of top-up later on.Subsequently, you will need to gain sufficient work experience in specific aspects of the profession as laid out in the CEng regulations of the IChemE. It is best to do this with an employer that actively supports and mentors its engineering trainees in this process as various activities will need to be signed off by your managers. This process will take several years and you will then finally be interviewed by a panel who will take the decision. Look up www.icheme.org. Some major chem eng employers have favourite unis and will only visit those during the milk round. They tend to be older unis that they have had good experience with in the past. Others are more eclectic.

Reply 9

Protagoras

Optometry is a small industry although there is an opticians on every high street. I mean that there is a small number of students who study that subject compared to those that I read about all the time on this forum who do some subject they did at school like history or english etc.

I would say optometry is a sound profession with a lot of opportunities. I know there is a fair salary to be made in private practice especially in London like somewhere like Harley street.

You could always set up your own practice one day, have a gold plaque on the door :smile:

This is the website for this private optometrist ^ on Richmond Green in London.

Also, check out Roger Pope & Partners, the Queen's optician for some glamour.

Reply 10

dingdongbat

Original post by Sugarsweet123

Sorry I meant chemical engineering or optometry??

Posted from TSR Mobile

Chemical engineering usually has good salary prospects:-

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/chemical_engineer_salary.htm

http://www.whynotchemeng.com/

Chem eng is rather different from the other classical engineering disciplines (civil/mechanical/electrical). Chem engrs are trained as generalists rather than specialists and they are numerate enough and scientific enough to deploy into very different roles. Their value lies in their versatility. Indeed, many grads go do something else that may appear very unrelated like the guy that runs China now, the director Frank Capra, and the 3 Nobel prize winners.

Reply 11

University of Bradford

Official Rep

Original post by Sugarsweet123

Sorry I meant chemical engineering or optometry??

Posted from TSR Mobile

Hi Sugarsweet123, I’m aware you’ve posted something similar to this in the University of Bradford forum. As a result I’d thought I’d address both your threads, hope you don’t mind!

Both degrees are respected by employers in their respective fields. However, whilst Optometry is a course that leads to a very specific career, Chemical Engineering will have a wider range of career options.

After six months, Optometry graduates earn less as they will be studying their pre-registration year whereas Chemical Engineering graduates typically earn salaries in the region of £30,000. After a few years, the salaries even out once the Optometry graduates have qualified as Optometrists.

Optometry is a growing profession, with opportunities to work both in high street practices and also in hospital.

Most Chemical Engineers gain employment in industries where large-scale conversion of raw materials is involved and also in the process industries, for example; gas, nuclear, paper, textiles, food, pharmaceutical, oil and recycling industries.

There is a huge drive in the UK to get more Women in Engineering. Engineering can be a great career to work in, with many pathways it can lead to and a huge shortage in the number of graduates going in to Engineering, opportunities to work in the industry are in abundance; http://www.theguardian.com/women-in-leadership/2013/apr/26/taken-seriously-women-in-engineering

Engineering professionals can earn a high salary http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2868911/Best-paid-UK-jobs-2014-Compare-pay-national-average.html but most of all it can be a great career which you can grow and develop in.

I hope you find this information useful and if you’d like any further information or advice please do get in touch!