What a Chemical Technician Should Consider Before Accepting an Industrial Position

Before you accept, have you thought about…

• Functions of A Chemical Technician
• Compensation
• Classification
• Benefits
• Career Growth
• A Typical Day
• Location
• The Company’s Future
• Career Management
• References

Functions of a Chemical Technician

Laboratory

• Laboratory technicians conduct physical and chemical tests to assist scientists in the analysis of various materials.
• Work may include research and development, quality control, environmental analysis, and others.
• Record and report experimental results, write technical reports.

Process

• Process technicians team up with engineers to operate and maintain equipment used to conduct chemical processes.
• Work may include running a process, taking samples, analyzing plant materials, and ensuring quality control.

Field

• Work may include performing sample collection or analysis in the field.

In any case technicians are critical members of teams of chemists and engineers that are at the heart of operations in the chemical industry.

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Compensation

Starting salaries for chemical technicians range from around $11/hour to $28/hour and higher, depending on many variables, such as the type of industry, the location, educational background and previous work experience and skills.

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Classification

Your job classification may affect both your salary and your benefits. You should know the whether the job is exempt, nonexempt or contract.

Nonexempt employees are eligible for overtime pay. Most chemical technicians fall into this category.

Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay. They may often work more than a standard 40-hour work-week without additional compensation.

Contract employees may be either full-time or part-time and may be either short-term or long-term. Benefit packages will vary.

Before you accept a starting position in industry, be sure that you understand the nature and responsibilities of the job, for whom you actually work, to whom you report, what your salary will be, and what the benefits are for which you are eligible. As with any job, there are often many more factors to consider than just the quoted starting salary.

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Benefits

The package of benefits provided with any job should be carefully considered.

• Are adequate health, pension, vacation and disability programs available?
• Does the company have a savings/and or stock ownership plan? Are there other savings plans, e.g. 401(k) available and are you eligible to participate? What are the limits on your contributions and those that the company will match?
• Are there educational programs available, e.g. tuition reimbursement or leadership training?

In many companies, the benefits packages are negotiable. Contract employees will find that their benefits packages vary. The Human Resource Officers in each company can help you explore the options available to you.

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Career Growth

When considering employment in industry, the potential for career growth could be more important than the starting salary and the benefits package. Career growth is very difficult to evaluate, but the following questions may help you:

• What training and professional development does the company offer?
• Does the position allow for advancement? Have others before you successfully advanced and how often?
• Will your supervisor be an effective mentor for your career development? Will your supervisor encourage you to excel?

Are there job opportunities within the company at other domestic or international sites?

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A Typical Day

When considering a job offer, determine how you will be spending your time.

• Will you job be varied or repetitive? Will it offer continual challenges?
• Will most of your time be in the lab, outside or in an office?
• Will your work hours be Monday-Friday or rotating shift?
• Will you spend time with other technicians, scientists, vendors, customers, administrators or government officials?

Since many companies are global, will you be spending time with international colleagues, customers and vendors? Are you fluent in their language(s)?

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The Location

• Is the company located in an urban area or rural area? Will you have a opportunity to explore the area before making a decision?
• Will you remain at the facility at which you have a job offer?
• Does the company tend to relocate its employees? Will this create problems with your spouse? Does the company offer help in locating a job for your spouse?

Will relocation take you outside of the country? International experiences can offer faster and more varied career development opportunities.

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The Company’s Future

This is hard to evaluate, but the future of the company will affect your career growth.

• Is this a financially stable firm? What is the growth potential of the specific company and the industry as a whole?
• Why was the position open? Was it due to growth or was this a replacement?

Sources like the Wall Street Journal can help you make a secure choice. See the company’s quarterly/annual report for detailed information. Also, consult the local Chamber of Commerce.

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Career Management

The ACS offers a unique collection of hands-on programs, services and publications designed to specially assist professionals in the chemistry-related fields.

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References

• ACS Careers has information on resume writing, interviewing, job searching, etc.
• ACS National Meetings for resume reviews, mock interviews, and technical programing.
• ACS Insurance
• Company’s quarterly or annual report in Wall Street Journal
• Company’s financial situation in Dun and Bradstreet
• Cost of Living Index
• See your local library or bookstore for some excellent books on establishing a consultancy.

CEN-CHEMJOBS.org

CEN-CHEMJOBS.org is your online career and employment connection from the American Chemical Society. CEN-CHEMJOBS.org is dedicated to serving the entire chemical science community by connecting job seekers and employers in a way that makes everyone a winner.

Additional publications, information and assistance are available. Visit ACS Careers.

Please call or write for more information:

Dept of Career Management and Development
American Chemical Society
1155 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-227-5558

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