<p>D is a ChemE and interviewed for a 5 session coop position with 5 different companies. She has offers from 3 of them. They are all very different opportunities with an emphasis on different products. One is a single location operation focusing on pharmaceutical industry, another is located in a large city and focuses on plant and animal based products. A third is a very, very large company with an emphasis in the plastics industry with an overseas headquarters. I am a bit out of my bailiwick when it comes to giving advice in this matter. It seems the salaries will be similar for each of them. I suppose the first question would be to determine which field of study would most interest her. I am curious as to the advantage of working with a smaller privately hld company vs a mid sized and huge conglomerate. Do any of you in the industry have opinions as to how you might guide a student?</p>
<p>She’s very lucky to have received 3 offers out of 5 interviews. That doesn’t happen all the time, and fortunately she has the ability to make a choice. Does she have any idea what industry she wants to go into with ChemE? Since I assume she’s still a freshmen/sophomore and maybe uncertain, it would be the best course of action to try taking the opportunity which will offer the most general all around experience that will apply to the most opportunities post graduation. The pharmaceutical industry is highly specific and I’m not sure is the best course unless she’s really certain that’s the industry she wants to go with, especially since it’s such a small operation that other employers haven’t heard of. I think the large company in plastics would be the best, for two reasons. One, it’s most likely to offer a lot of pure process engineering experience, which is probably the most fundamental type of experience a ChemE can, it will be the most versatile and will open the most doors post-graduation. Second, big companies mean brand recognition, and yes that counts for something. If she decides the big corporate culture isnt for her, it would be easy for her to simply pursue a job at a smaller company later. The reverse is not true. </p>
<p>Thank you for your response. We spoke with her this morning. She will eliminate one of the companies tomorrow. I guess intuitively I felt the same as you. We did discover this morning that there seems to be other advantages to the large company such as a very organized coop program and the opportunity to be around many other students experiencing the same thing she is. You are correct that she is just finishing up her freshman year. I am giving her information rather than attempting to lead her in this decision. The whole process has been an opportunity for her to expand herself. She has expressed a desire to seek a coop position since 10th grade but has never interviewed for any position. She has sought the advise of student mentors at her school and I think they helped prepare her for the interviews. Heads are bowed and fingers are crossed. I think she’ll do fine in whatever decision she makes.</p>
<p>I’m out of my element when it comes to STEM education and STEM careers but I agree with Nate09; having experience with a large company will provide additional opportunities later should she decide to change course.</p>
<p>Lake Jr.'s strategy has been to apply to various large companies that that conduct internships for Chemical Engineering students because hopefully it will ultimately give him more options as to job location when he graduates. No knock against non-urban areas (in fact he loves the great outdoors) but he doesn’t want to end up working at chemical facility or other manufacturer in the rural south or remote midwest. </p>
<p>“I am a bit out of my bailiwick when it comes to giving advice in this matter” - Just be a good sounding board, as you have been doing. Also make sure she is taking advantage of campus resources, like advisors (some school have separate academic and co-op advisors) and the placement center. Try not to fret - any job experience this early in the game is a plus! </p>