Universidad Nacional de San Agustn

DISEO Y EVALUACIN DE PROCESOS

DIEZ HABILIDADES QUE DEBEN POSEER LOS INGENIEROS QUMICOS

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Creatividad
Resolucin de problemas
Trabajo en equipo
Autoestudio por siempre
Organizacin
Inquisidores analticos
Solvencia computacional
Lderes
Orientados a los detalles
Trabajo bajo presin

Adicionalmente: capacidad de comunicacin

Ten skills chemical engineers should be talking about

Posted on 18/09/2014 by Geoff Maitland

Within our profession, it is easy to find lists of the

skills chemical engineers should have: we are
solution focused; we are good with numbers; we are
practical.
However, none of these skills sound very exciting.
Interestingly, it is the skills which we arent so good
at and stereotypical engineering memes which,
arguably, we are more famous for.
I think we need to set the record straight and create an image of our skills which
better reflects what we do in the twenty-first century.
Even our employers have a role they are the ones with the power to present a
picture of the modern engineer through their job specifications and approach to
recruitment advertising.
So, here it is a list of ten skills and values I know
chemical engineers (and other scientists and engineers)
have that we should be shouting about.
1. Creative
It is easy to present engineers and scientists as a bit
dull and geeky. This is perhaps the biggest

misconception of them all. However, if engineers and scientists were not creative there
would be no new inventions, products or discoveries, in fact tce have compiled a list of
chemical engineers who changed the world. Creativity is in everything that chemical
engineers do.
2. Problem solvers
Being able to solve problems should be the most highly sought skill in the world and it
is something that chemical engineers have to do every day. The ability to identify
problems itself is an important skill, but chemical engineers have been trained to have
the know-how to evaluate the possible options and then implement the best solution.
3. Team players
No one works alone. In the past scientific breakthroughs were often delivered by one
researcher, however I challenge you to find a recently published journal article (that is
not a review piece) with only one author. They are extremely rare. This is the case in
all lines of work; we must work with others to achieve our outcomes. Chemical
engineers are specialists at doing so; we often work with large teams of people both
within and outside of our field.
4. Life-long learners
Being a chemical engineer (or scientist) involves a life-long quest of learning. In this
profession we constantly learn new ideas and try to better ourselves by completing
new courses and further education. As a measure of this ability to learn IChemE offers
chartership to those chemical engineers who strive to better themselves, chemical
engineers never stop learning.
5. Organised
Many people think being organised is dull, but without this skill nothing gets done. The
ability to organise work (for example by using a list like this one!) helps chemical
engineers to work more efficiently and prioritise what needs to be done. Being
organised makes everything run more economically.
6. Inquisitive
Being able to ask questions is important. But
being able to ask the right questions is a
huge asset. Engineers and scientists are
analysts at heart; we work by constantly
reviewing and analysing our work allowing us
to highlight the gaps and identify what needs
to change.
Being an expert isnt about knowing all the
answers, but instead being able to ask the
right questions and then using your skills to
work out the answers.
7. Computer savvy
Our increasing reliance on the digital world means that to succeed we all need to be
aware of the latest technology. Computing is an important part of chemical engineering
and all chemical engineers are trained to be numerate, IT literate and develop new
technologies. For example I wrote a previously blog about chemical engineers
creating digital brain implants for data storage, an example of chemical engineers
taking their digital skills to the extreme!

8. Leaders
Chemical engineers are trained to make important decisions; this makes us ideally
placed to become good leaders. Many chemical engineers go on to have successful
careers in the boardroom (find a list of them here). Being a good leader isnt about
being the loudest or about knowing all the answers, but is reliant on your ability to
work with others, being confident of your own abilities and having a sense of humour
and positive attitude (when things go right or wrong!).
9. Detail orientated
Paying attention to the details is crucial to be a successful chemical engineer. A good
example of this is process safety, as chemical engineers we are responsible to ensure
that accidents do not happen, failure is not acceptable as discussed in my blog when
99.9 per cent just isnt good enough. Being detail orientated means that chemical
engineers are able to focus on the smaller issues without losing sight of the bigger
picture.
10. Calm under pressure
Sadly most of the news coverage of chemical engineers in
the mainstream media comes from when we are called in to
fix something that has gone wrong (e.g. deep water
horizon). But this just demonstrates perhaps the most
important skill of a chemical engineer, we are calm under
pressure.
When someone needs to fix the worlds problems they should
be calling up the chemical engineers!
I have been asked if the large number of chemical
engineering graduates who are not working in chemical
engineering worries me (see my earlier blog Ask the
President). In the UK an estimated 32.6 per cent of chemical
engineering graduates go on to work in a different
profession. However, when you look at a list of skills like this it points out what a
valuable commodity chemical engineers are and that chemical engineering attracts
such high calibre students that they are actively recruited by other professions.
And lets not forget communication
Its an area we need to get much better at. Chemical engineers can be great
communicators, but we often focus on the other areas which we considered more
important. But it is a waste of all our good work if we dont communicate it.
As we strive to achieve excellence in chemical engineering, we should be telling
everyone about our progress and achievements.