Chem Eng / Food Eng / Project management

[Luckystrike123]

Hi all,

I'm currently a second year chemical engineering student looking for some careers advice.

Basically I am half way through a 4 year intergrated masters degree, but I am at a point now that I really dislike university (I am a mature student who would prefer to be in work). The thought of staying on at university for another two years is depressing me, but at the same time the thought of spending years re-educating myself and not getting a good job at the end terrifies me.

What I dislike about university is the rubbish work/life balance (I commute), the lack of money and that I find many of the people on the course draining (group work!!).

I understand that success in the chem eng route is very heavily dependant on having a masters but tbh I need a way out, so I have thought that I may switch to the BEng (note, once on the BEng in year 3 I cannot switch back to MEng) and attempt to get a post graduate position.

If I were to fail in getting on a grad scheme I would return to university and complete a Pgdip/MSc in either Food Processing Engineering or Project Management.

So, my questions to the good people of OCuK are;

1. Are Pgdips worth the paper they are written on?
2. Is the MSc much better than a Pgdip?
3. Are food and projects good areas to move in to?
3. Should I suck it up and stick with the MEng?
4. Potato

Thanks for the time reading this and any suggestions/observation are welcome.

 

[Scrutinize]

Stick with the MEng, getting a job without it will be very challenging simply because there are enough good candidates with one.

In a professional industry which measures staff by professional and academic qualifications there is a glass ceiling without your CEng.

 

[Buffman]

Stick with the MEng, getting a job without it will be very challenging simply because there are enough good candidates with one.

In a professional industry which measures staff by professional and academic qualifications there is a glass ceiling without your CEng.

Think it depends on the industry, however I've worked in a couple water/energy engineering consultancies and I'm inclined to agree. It's getting harder as a lot of people are choosing to get a masters. (and yes it means more hoops to jump thru to get chartered)

I know some industries aren't bothered about chartership however.

Why do you want to do project management? It's probably better to do chemical engineering first (your salary will also increase quicker I reckon...)

Do you have any relevant industry experience as a mature student? If you can get your first grad job you'll be OK, just in a worse position to get chartered. Are you willing to travel/move for grad jobs? / fussy on industry?
What are your expectations in starting salary?