How much do plant operators make?
Well now I'm excited. I start classes for the Process Operator position at the local college on Tuesday 
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: La porte tx.
Well now I'm excited. I start classes for the Process Operator position at the local college on Tuesday
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
Not sure about other plants,But the plant i work for actually hirerd me while i was still in school. And just hired a friend of mine a few days ago and he is still going to PT at San Jacinto and with no expereance.
But am sure every plant is diferant and dont forget...."Its who you know,Not what you know"..
Well damn! I'm liking what I'm hearing!
Someone hook me up with a job at DOW in the Brazoria County area, I'll build you a badass 4L80E or any other GM RWD transmission you want
Someone hook me up with a job at DOW in the Brazoria County area, I'll build you a badass 4L80E or any other GM RWD transmission you want
Well now I'm excited. I start classes for the Process Operator position at the local college on Tuesday
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
I ended up landing an internship with Air Products and Chemicals my last semester and was hired full time after being there for a month. Been there two years and I just go hired on at Chevron and I start there next month.
My current plant is so laid back and everyone there are buddies. When everything is running smooth we have time to do whatever. Im leaving for the benefits and pension though.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Not sure about other plants,But the plant i work for actually hirerd me while i was still in school. And just hired a friend of mine a few days ago and he is still going to PT at San Jacinto and with no expereance.
But am sure every plant is diferant and dont forget...."Its who you know,Not what you know"..
But am sure every plant is diferant and dont forget...."Its who you know,Not what you know"..
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Port Arthur, TX
Well now I'm excited. I start classes for the Process Operator position at the local college on Tuesday
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
This actually brings me an additional question hopefully someone will see and can answer. I was told and have read that it's possible to get a position while you're still in school, potentially upon the condition that you finish out the degree which would be around next Summer for me. Is there any truth to this? Could I, in theory, apply and get hired on somewhere like DOW after I complete this first semester?
Very interesting guys. Started classes today. It's definitely going to be learning intensive, but nothing I can't handle and have a strong automotive background with a focus on engineering has really helped me understand mechanical systems better than a lot of the other people in the class, I think.
The last few days, a lot of people have told me the operators work CRAZY hours. I don't doubt that per se, but some of them almost seem far fetched, like 16-18 hour work days, day after day after day for a long stretch of time.
It's gotten me a little worried because my end goal is to become a Mechanical Engineering student after I've finished these Process Operator classes. How did a number of you (and others I've seen discuss it on websites) have the time to go to school and become an Engineer while working these hours? And some of you had families as well, I'm sure!
The last few days, a lot of people have told me the operators work CRAZY hours. I don't doubt that per se, but some of them almost seem far fetched, like 16-18 hour work days, day after day after day for a long stretch of time.
It's gotten me a little worried because my end goal is to become a Mechanical Engineering student after I've finished these Process Operator classes. How did a number of you (and others I've seen discuss it on websites) have the time to go to school and become an Engineer while working these hours? And some of you had families as well, I'm sure!
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This post isn't cool. There's enough people who think that's all we do and get a sack full of cash at the end of the day.
Snipes,
Do not listen to the bullshit that is spread in those classes. Just get through with good grades. You'll find out for yourself. Also, if you hate long hours, do not try to get into engineering for a oil/petrochemical company.
Snipes,
Do not listen to the bullshit that is spread in those classes. Just get through with good grades. You'll find out for yourself. Also, if you hate long hours, do not try to get into engineering for a oil/petrochemical company.
This post isn't cool. There's enough people who think that's all we do and get a sack full of cash at the end of the day.
Snipes,
Do not listen to the bullshit that is spread in those classes. Just get through with good grades. You'll find out for yourself. Also, if you hate long hours, do not try to get into engineering for a oil/petrochemical company.
Snipes,
Do not listen to the bullshit that is spread in those classes. Just get through with good grades. You'll find out for yourself. Also, if you hate long hours, do not try to get into engineering for a oil/petrochemical company.
However, I've always kind of taken all of that with a grain of salt, especially considering I'll be all but guaranteed to be an outside operator for some time to come, being new and all.
Long hours don't bother me, those are how you make the good money
My only concern with them for this in particular is it interfering with school to the point I can't even squeeze a class or two in to resume my engineering major. I would like Process Technology to be a stepping stone into Engineering in the O&G industry, and then landing an engineering job in that industry to be a stepping stone from there onward. Thanks man! My teacher also said something similar when they showed us the mock control room with all of the screens that mimic what happens in the actual plant. His words were, paraphrased, "and this is where you kick back at 2AM, pull down your baseball cap and take a nap. Or make some popcorn, surf the internet, watch a movie, read a book, whatever..."
However, I've always kind of taken all of that with a grain of salt, especially considering I'll be all but guaranteed to be an outside operator for some time to come, being new and all.
Long hours don't bother me, those are how you make the good money My only concern with them for this in particular is it interfering with school to the point I can't even squeeze a class or two in to resume my engineering major. I would like Process Technology to be a stepping stone into Engineering in the O&G industry, and then landing an engineering job in that industry to be a stepping stone from there onward.
However, I've always kind of taken all of that with a grain of salt, especially considering I'll be all but guaranteed to be an outside operator for some time to come, being new and all.
Long hours don't bother me, those are how you make the good money
My only concern with them for this in particular is it interfering with school to the point I can't even squeeze a class or two in to resume my engineering major. I would like Process Technology to be a stepping stone into Engineering in the O&G industry, and then landing an engineering job in that industry to be a stepping stone from there onward.All I know about engineering is from what I see at work. They have a huge workload, and don't make my base pay. You'll see once you get on the inside. Also, don't forget about mechanical side...I&E, analyzer tech, machinist.
im an operator and actually at work now.... so that might tell you something lol... but like zero said you dont get paid for the hard labor you get paid to know your stuff and what to do when everything goes wrong.
Thanks man! My teacher also said something similar when they showed us the mock control room with all of the screens that mimic what happens in the actual plant. His words were, paraphrased, "and this is where you kick back at 2AM, pull down your baseball cap and take a nap. Or make some popcorn, surf the internet, watch a movie, read a book, whatever..."
However, I've always kind of taken all of that with a grain of salt, especially considering I'll be all but guaranteed to be an outside operator for some time to come, being new and all.
Long hours don't bother me, those are how you make the good money My only concern with them for this in particular is it interfering with school to the point I can't even squeeze a class or two in to resume my engineering major. I would like Process Technology to be a stepping stone into Engineering in the O&G industry, and then landing an engineering job in that industry to be a stepping stone from there onward.
However, I've always kind of taken all of that with a grain of salt, especially considering I'll be all but guaranteed to be an outside operator for some time to come, being new and all.
Long hours don't bother me, those are how you make the good money
My only concern with them for this in particular is it interfering with school to the point I can't even squeeze a class or two in to resume my engineering major. I would like Process Technology to be a stepping stone into Engineering in the O&G industry, and then landing an engineering job in that industry to be a stepping stone from there onward. Depends where you get your engineering degree from. University of Houston? Good luck trying to get one, petroleum/chemical is the hardest one to get. My girlfriend is a biomedical engineer, brother is a mechanical engineer, couple friends are mechanical, it's a lot of hard work. If you have no life and can understand concepts easily, more power to you, because all of your chemistry and stuff will test you, on top of fluids classes and what not. I just know for full time students it takes a while and most of your time, I can't even imagine trying to work 50 hours a week and take organic chemistry 2.
From what I saw, it would be about 4 semesters, or two years. I was thinking if I enrolled in the Fall of next year, I can finish in two years after that if I go full time, but that's two years of non stop school and work and although I'm a pretty focused individual, I'm still human and prone to burn out
For MechE they only require up to Fundamentals of Chemistry II. I'm taking an intro to Chem class right now for this Associates, but I know that's child's play in comparison. Introductions to Partial Differential Equations is the course I've pegged down as the one that will be my arch nemesis, **** the Calculus in comparison.
You may want to just focus on engineering instead of driving yourself into the ground juggling an ops job and school.
At my current place when things are running ok there is plenty of free time but when **** hits the fan or something shutsdown you can work several weeks straight without a day off. Ive done almost 60 days straight before. Eventually you'll get tired and your grades will suffer and you'll just be exhausted everyday.
If engineering is ultimately what you want to do just focus on that.
At my current place when things are running ok there is plenty of free time but when **** hits the fan or something shutsdown you can work several weeks straight without a day off. Ive done almost 60 days straight before. Eventually you'll get tired and your grades will suffer and you'll just be exhausted everyday.
If engineering is ultimately what you want to do just focus on that.
you may want to just focus on engineering instead of driving yourself into the ground juggling an ops job and school.
At my current place when things are running ok there is plenty of free time but when **** hits the fan or something shutsdown you can work several weeks straight without a day off. Ive done almost 60 days straight before. Eventually you'll get tired and your grades will suffer and you'll just be exhausted everyday.
If engineering is ultimately what you want to do just focus on that.
At my current place when things are running ok there is plenty of free time but when **** hits the fan or something shutsdown you can work several weeks straight without a day off. Ive done almost 60 days straight before. Eventually you'll get tired and your grades will suffer and you'll just be exhausted everyday.
If engineering is ultimately what you want to do just focus on that.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Have yall heard anything about Kaneka, GB Bioscience or Bayer? I'm thinking of applying there and in all likelihood if I apply I will get hired, and I don't want to end up at another batch dump where I'm shoveling, rodding or loading 12 hours a day/night while being treated like a juvenile delinquent.
See, that's exactly what worries me. U of H was what I had planned, but what makes it different from other Universities? Wouldn't the MechE curriculum be about the same anywhere? I have had a life but not so much the last week with 14 credit hours and work 6 days a week. I'm (at the moment) willing to sacrifice in the short term to prepare for the long term, but I'm just worried that even with that in mind, it won't be feasible or possible at all.
From what I saw, it would be about 4 semesters, or two years. I was thinking if I enrolled in the Fall of next year, I can finish in two years after that if I go full time, but that's two years of non stop school and work and although I'm a pretty focused individual, I'm still human and prone to burn out
For MechE they only require up to Fundamentals of Chemistry II. I'm taking an intro to Chem class right now for this Associates, but I know that's child's play in comparison. Introductions to Partial Differential Equations is the course I've pegged down as the one that will be my arch nemesis, **** the Calculus in comparison.
From what I saw, it would be about 4 semesters, or two years. I was thinking if I enrolled in the Fall of next year, I can finish in two years after that if I go full time, but that's two years of non stop school and work and although I'm a pretty focused individual, I'm still human and prone to burn out
For MechE they only require up to Fundamentals of Chemistry II. I'm taking an intro to Chem class right now for this Associates, but I know that's child's play in comparison. Introductions to Partial Differential Equations is the course I've pegged down as the one that will be my arch nemesis, **** the Calculus in comparison.