Employment Opportunities for CEng. in United Kingdom

Kiran,

 

Your question needs to be more clearly focussed.

 

There are hundreds if not thousands of different types of roles carried out by professional Engineers and Technicians in the UK. Chartered Engineer members of the IET are most numerous in electrical, electronic , computing and related areas, reflecting our IEE heritage and pre-eminence in those fields. However specialists in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, marine ,the built environment and many more areas can be found. Are you personally considering relocating, or just wanting to explore the issue as a discussion point?       

Dear Sir,

Thanks for your reply. Yes. I am strongly looking for a relocation to UK and finding suitable opportunities in Oil and Gas refinery, petrochemical and chemical operating companies or engineering companies. I have following questions:

1) Is there considerable weightage given to CEng Candidate as compared to other applicants while employer is looking for candidate?

2) Is it mandatory for Oil and Gas refinery, petrochemical and chemical operating companies or engineering companies to recruit CEng.? 

3) Is there any advantage in terms of salary offered to CEng candidate Vs. general candidate ?

4) Is there any list of members available who are IET members and working in Oil and Gas refinery, petrochemical and chemical operating companies or engineering companies so that I can refer them?


I appreciate the feedback.



Regards,

Kiran Pawar

Global Projects-Lyondellbasell Chemical Co

Mumbai, INDIA

Kiran


I can only make some very general observations and hope that someone with current involvement in Petrochemicals is reading the forums. There are of course many recruitment websites (including  https://engineering-jobs.theiet.org/)

 

For certain roles with senior technical responsibility having CEng is often a significant advantage or expected. There is no mandatory requirement to my knowledge (unless anyone knows differently?) but employers and regulators may regard it as good evidence of a person being “competent” for the purposes of legal (e.g. COMAH) and licensing compliance.  


Where CEng is being asked for, salaries would normally be above average, but there are many other factors that influence salary rates.


The IET does not publish lists of names which would compromise member’s privacy, but some are active and readily visible. If you find names by means of other research (such as the internet, trade directories, specialist press etc.) then your IET Membership and perhaps even CEng registration in addition, might persuade them to engage helpfully with you.  Some other engineering professional bodies are also active in the sector.

Kiran,

I am not in the petrochemical industry but have some knowledge of it through contacts.

The first problem at the current time is that it is very much an employers market as there are far more candidates than positions available. Many employers will give a preference to candidates who have a proven track record of first hand experience in the industry rather than just on the basis of CEng or no CEng. Some employers will value a CEng but others may consider it irrelevant (or even a handicap as they may think the CEng candidate will expect a higher salary and therefore give preference to a "cheaper" non-CEng candidate).

The best way to deal with this is to look at the positions advertised and look to see what the job requirements and the expectations of what successful candidates are likely to have. If an employer does not mention CEng or Chartered or Registered then perhaps they do not consider it important.

There is also the problem that if you do not already have the right to work in the UK, either through nationality or a valid visa, then employers are required to give preference to any other suitable candidates who already do have the right to work rather than sponsor a foreign national for a Visa. Please note I do not know your nationality but I guess from the timing of your posts that you are currently based in Asia.

A good place to start is probably looking through the vacancies advertised through the IET as these are likely to give more value to professional registration but beyond that I don't have much to suggest.

Best wishes for succesful job hunting,

Alasdair Anderson