Petrochemistry is a fairly new industry, having only grown substantially over the last 70 years since the onset of World War II. However, petroleum products now form a major part of our daily lives, even more so than you may think.
Without petrochemicals, we wouldn't have fuel for transportation, asphalt on our roads, cosmetics, fertilisers, detergents, household appliances, synthetic rubbers or plastics to name but a few of the many products made from petroleum that are used on a daily basis.
The different types of petrochemical jobs
The entire petrochemical process can be separated into three specific sectors: upstream, midstream and downstream. Each sector has its own range of experts and specific functions and all sectors play an important role in the production of petrochemicals and petroleum products.
The upstream sector of petrochemistry focuses on the exploration and exploitation of oils using the latest drilling technology. Experts who form part of the upstream sector include the geoscientists who locate petroleum deposits in the earth to the land agents who secure the rights to extract the oils, to the safety managers and medical professionals who ensure a healthy and safe working environment for the employees.
Once the raw materials are extracted, the midstream sector professionals such as pipeline design engineers and pipeline control centre operators take charge of gathering, storing and transporting the oil and gas to refineries via closely monitored pipeline systems.
At the refineries, the downstream, or retail sector professionals take over. This sector is responsible for refining, marketing, distributing and selling petroleum products. Experts such as chemical and process engineers, scientists and technicians develop intricate formulas to break down the complex molecules in oil, allowing them to derive simpler components that form the basis of many consumer products.
The average industry incomes
The industry usually offers attractive career prospects, international growth opportunities and competitive salaries for qualified individuals.
In the South African petrochemical and petroleum product manufacturing industry, salaries range from R132 000 per annum for control centre operators, right the way up to R850 000 per annum for senior engineers.
The average annual income for most engineers is in the region of R400 000 while geoscientists earn upwards of R290 000 per annum. There are a number of other petrochemical positions available within the industry, all earning highly competitive salaries when compared to other major industries in the country.
The necessary qualifications and skills
Depending on the sector of petrochemistry and specific job functions, a tertiary degree may or may not be needed to work and succeed in the industry.
The most common degrees held by individuals working in petrochemicals include bachelors, honours or masters degrees in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer science, physics, biology, geology and mathematics. Certain tertiary institutions in South Africa even offer specialised courses in petrochemistry.
Individuals best suited for positions in the industry have good people skills, are logical and analytical thinkers, communicate effectively, work well in a team and have an aptitude for chemistry, physics and mathematics. They are efficient, well organised and are comfortable with the amount of travelling that the job will require.
If you've got the necessary skills and expertise, have a look at the PNet job portal for available positions.
7 Questions to ask when applying for a chemistry job
Now that you have done due diligence and are in the scarce skills job set providing much needed services and skills to the people of South Africa, it is important to plan for your next move, namely how to take your career to the next level. This can be done in many ways, but one way is preparing for your job interviews.
Many make the mistake of only preparing for the questions that they can be asked and don’t make use of the privilege of being afforded an opportunity to ask the interview panel some questions. In no particular order, here are 7 questions that you can ask your prospective job employer next time you are sitting in the interview room and they afford you this opportunity to ask them anything.
Q1: Do you foresee any possible merger or retrenchments in the near future that you are at liberty to share?
This question makes it look like you are thinking long term. If you are asked to qualify it, you can say that you are looking for something long-term and stable where you can grow in that position and offer your services for a long time. So whether it is as a chemist, laboratory assistant, or something analytical in engineering that you are looking for, this question can help you plan a little bit better for your future.
Q2: Is the salary negotiable?
So often job candidates make the mistake of thinking that recruitment and company management do not want to hear or discuss the salary topic. This is not so. You are well within your rights to ask if the salary is negotiable and also express to your prospective employer that you would be willing to negotiate this.
Q3: How much time will I be spending in the office, lab and/or out in the field?
This is a fair and important question to help you manage your own expectations. It will also help you plan ahead and be able to know what you are about to get yourself into.
Q4: What are the travelling requirements
How often will you be required to travel and for how long. Knowing this will also help you have realistic expectations when it comes to planning your family structure and the logistics thereof.
Q5: Is the employer willing to pay for my relevant future studies, and if so by how much?
A lot of chemistry job requirements are strict about your qualifications and training. They may specify that they require a diploma, degree and/or registration with a relevant council and/or society. You may also be required to improve your qualification in order to carry on doing your job effectively and to put yourself in line for a promotion. So it may be worth your while to find out if there are any study benefits as well as study leave.
Q6: What are the benefits?
You have every right to know what the benefits of your job will be and if there will be employer contributions. This can be medical aid, pension fund, telephone allowance, travelling allowances and so forth. This information is necessary to help you decide if the job is worth it.
Q7: When can I expect feedback on the outcomes of the interview?
Rather than sit it out for a day, week, month and months, unaware when you will be told if you got the job, you can ask them to give you an idea. In this case, it will help you to manage expectations. This will also help to lessen your anxiety and give you an idea when you can call to ask them (after the forecasted time).
Sign up for free job alerts to have chemistry jobs – in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalnga or pretty much anywhere in South Africa – sent to you via email each day. You can also stay on the lookout for PNet’s list of job opportunities.