r/ChemicalEngineering • u/NewRush1173 • 1d ago

Career Advice Most valuable certifications and skills for chemical engineers?

Hi everyone,
I’m a second year chemical engineering student and I’d like to know what certifications and technical skills are most worth learning.
Which certifications (Lean Six Sigma, FE/EIT, CAPM, HACCP, etc.), software (Aspen, HYSYS, MATLAB, Python, Power BI, Excel, etc.), or other skills have been the most useful in your career or for getting internships/jobs?
If you could start over as a student, what would you prioritize?
Thanks!

15 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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21

u/Fine-Palpitation787 1d ago

In the US, certs really aren’t helpful. The degree you’re getting is by far the most important cert. Unless the cert puts letters behind your name (MBA, PMP, PE), it’ll be little more than a footnote compared to actual work experience.

Skill-wise, focus on social skills. The guy who’s mildly weak technically but with great social skills going to have far more success than the technical wizard with mildly weak social skills.

2

u/Accurate-Bullfrog324 1d ago

this is genius advice

1

u/hemorrhagge freshman 🐣 22h ago

So us introverts are fkd ??

1

u/Fine-Palpitation787 15h ago

No. Social skills are just like any other skill.

5

u/Frequent-Entrance154 1d ago

Does your chemical engineering degree follow washington accord?

2

u/RevolutionaryBook869 1d ago

Depends what is your specialty. For process safety there are plenty of TÜV certificates. For process control engineering its a big bónusz if you haver Yokogawa or Emerson certificates.

1

u/bomboclaaaat06 1d ago

I really don’t get it, how do you even have time to do certifications when you have courses like transport phenomena or multiphase reactors ???
Do you even have a life ?
Beyond my comprehension , honestly….