Career Information for Chemistry Majors |
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It is important to understand that employers hire people, not degrees. The skills and knowledge you develop as a result of your education, as well as in your work and community activities, have the greatest impact on hiring decisions. Listed below are some key skills and knowledge you will acquire as a result of your university education and your focus on Chemistry.
Specific Knowledge Skills
- Knowledge of chemical properties related to environmental concerns and health/safety protocols
- Skills in testing materials and products to determine potential concerns, reactions and interactions
- Ability to make critical observations of environmental and chemical interactions
- Awareness of and sensitivity to the health and safety of products, materials and the environment
- The ability to plan, conduct, document and clearly explain and present scientific research to members of both the scientific community and/or the public
- Knowledge of laboratory techniques for studying chemical processes and reactionsAn understanding of reactions and interactions of chemicals and chemical products and the ability to use this knowledge to locate and explain potential reactions and hazards
- The ability to anticipate potential negative consequences of chemical and environmental incidents and the knowledge to plan for, minimize and manage the impact of these incidents
Valuable Transferrable Skills
Information-gathering and Communication Skills
- The skills required to identify and access a wide range of relevant information and resources
- The ability to compile and organize facts and information and to comprehend and apply new and/or unfamiliar information to different situations and settings
- Skills in preparing interesting, creative and informative presentations which target diverse audiences
- The ability to develop effective reports, presentations and materials using current technology
Thinking, Planning and Organizational Skills
- The ability to learn, understand and interpret information and apply your knowledge to new situations
- The ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and effectively plan/manage time, data and resources
- Problem-solving skills and the ability to make well-reasoned decisions, think creatively and search for, identify and consider all sides of an issue
- Skills to effectively analyze and interpret a wide range of information and data to discuss, support and/or reject ideas, opinions, reports, theories and proposals
Teamwork and Management Skills
- Skills enabling you to work effectively as part of the team by identifying your role in the team and contributing to the team through leading, teaching, motivating and/or encouraging others as required
- An understanding of how to successfully identify, plan and contribute to the goals of a team/project
- The ability to oversee, supervise and/or contribute to a project from beginning to end including determining outcomes, planning details, making decisions, assigning roles and completing tasks
Some Career Options for Chemistry Majors
(Additional education, training or experience may be required)
| Toxicologist |
Water Quality Analyst/Technician
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Food and Drug Analyst
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Analytic Chemist
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Pharmacologist
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Forensic Scientist
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Technical Science Writer
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Chemical Information Specialist
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Product Tester/Developer
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Clinical Technician
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Consumer Protection Researcher
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Chemical Safety Officer
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Laboratory Technician
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Chemical Analyst/Technologist
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Information Analyst
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Information Scientist
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Environmental Impact Assessor
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Industrial Health Engineer
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Inorganic Chemist
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Chemical/Drug Sales Representative
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Pollution Controller/Analyst
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Fragrance Developer
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Medical Laboratory Technician
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Paper Product Developer
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Agriculture Manager
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Occupational Health/Safety Officer
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Prosthetics Developer
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Quality Assurance
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Organic Mass Spectrometrist
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Pest Control Consultant
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Colour Analyst
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Paint Formulation Chemist
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Special Effects Developer
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Optometrist
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Methods Development Chemist
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Public Health Educator
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Laboratory Analyst
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Materials Production Tester
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Industrial Quality Control
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Radiologist
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Cosmetics Developer
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Food Scientist/Technician
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Soil Tester
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Police Crime Scene Investigator
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Fabric/Textile Developer
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Medical Librarian
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Technical Sales Representative
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Building/Site Inspector
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Conservator/Restorer
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Film Developer/Tester
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Health Care Professional
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| Biochemist | Naturopath | Food and Beverage Inspector |
| Teacher/Professor | Chemical Safety Engineer | Hazardous Waste Expert |
| Winemaker | Environmental Consultant | Brewmaster |
| Meteorologist | Pharmacist | Lab Analyst |
For more career options and job descriptions, visit the following sites:
Career Cruising - www.careercruising.com. Please contact the Career Centre at 519.884.0710 ext. 4495 or careercentre@wlu.ca for the username and password.
Career Insider (Vault) - Access through the library website at www.wlu.ca/library. Click ’Find Articles and More’, click ’Databases by Title (A-Z)’ and then ’C’ - Career Insider (Vault). You need to access this resource from a Laurier computer or through the library’s remote access service.
National Occupational Classification - www.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc
Potential Employers
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Health Protection Agencies
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Quality Control Labs
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Waterworks Departments
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Hospital Research Labs
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Pharmaceutical Industry
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Food and Beverage Manufacturers
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Industrial Laboratories
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Mineral/Metal Industries
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Waste Management Corporations
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Biotechnology Industry
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Entertainment Industry
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Chemical Testing Companies
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Cosmetic Companies
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Utility Companies
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Chemical Distributors
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Chemistry Consulting Firms
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Mining Companies
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Oil/Petroleum Refineries
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Research Institutes
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Textile Manufacturers
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Newspapers/Magazines
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Police/Forensics Labs
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Agricultural Companies
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Special Effects Departments
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Technical Libraries
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Aerospace Companies
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Chemical Manufacturing Plants
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Environmental Firms
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Museums/Archives
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Distilleries and Breweries
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| Government |
Websites
| Sciencejobs |
| Environmental Careers |
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