Career Advice Please

[FayetheAspie]

So if I am studying to be qualified to work in a biology/chemistry lab and plan to focus on analytical chemistry what kind of places will I be most likely to find employment? I was thinking perhaps a multipurpose analytical laboratory or an environmental testing laboratory.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Off hand any company involved with mining or uses metal for part of production process. I worked at an appliance manufacturer years ago they had a analytical lab, previously a heavy equipment manufacturer at this location so lab not used much. I took over the lab when the chemist retired. Let me think it over I also worked for a while at a testing lab, noticed a lot of companies farmed out their analytical testing. to these type of labs. any company that does refining. Most analytical labs use instruments which they will teach you to use Mass spec, GLC units. etc. mainly run by technicians. my last position employer had a mass spec, and a hourly employee was trained in its use on the electro galvanizing line.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Lots of manufacturing facilities, require titrations to determine concentrations of whatever is important to that process, many times done by hourly personnel, I the process I was involved in the treatment section required titrations for the various stages. Even food processers do some analytical testing as part of the QC program.

 

[stevens]

From an Aspie point of view, my employment with a (local) government agency for many years was a lifesaver. I was unionized, and paid well. I never would have negotiated better terms, with poor social skills. Also when it inevitably came to pass that coworkers wanted to get rid of me, they couldn't (rules, unions, etc.). All I needed was a decent supervisor. I had several (and a few that weren't). I would have been canceled in any corporate job, because politics and social personality issues usually become way more important than actual occupational skills.

 

[Dillon]

I may be the wrong person to comment as I’m currently unemployed but depending on what you want to do have you thought about being certified through a community college gaining hands on experience to work in lab? The medical route would be a great place to start and you could be positioned as a lab tech for hospitals or clinics.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I may be the wrong person to comment as I’m currently unemployed but depending on what you want to do have you thought about being certified through a community college gaining hands on experience to work in lab? The medical route would be a great place to start and you could be positioned as a lab tech for hospitals or clinics.

I'm registered to start bioworks program at the local community college.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I worked at a lot of places over my career, every place had analytical testing, most done by the hourly workers with a bit of training. I understand you are anxious. Take your time be prepared to enjoy the course, I Did 45 years ago have many fond memories when I was doing something I liked. This is the start of a journey.