There are so many different ways to get involved in campus life that it may become overwhelming to many. With so many different options and opportunities, it often becomes difficult for students to decide which organization will be the best fit for them, especially for engineering students. But, there are not many better organizations that are better suited for developing students into mature young adults ready for the workforce such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The great thing about AIChE is that it is also a social organization that offers relaxing evenings with other chemical engineers while also offering a plethora of opportunities such as a career forum, mentorship programs, social events, professional development workshops, resume building, and much more.
AIChE’s mentorship programs are how many of the members get their start in the organization. AIChE offers two mentorship programs: student mentorship and alumni mentorship. The alumni mentorship program matches undergraduate students with recent graduates who are working in the student’s desired career field. These alumni are able to give priceless advice by telling their mentees exactly what they are experiencing in their daily lives at work. This can have such a positive impact on the career trajectory of any chemical engineering undergraduate student who chooses to get involved in the alumni mentorship program. Engineering jobs have a wide range of applications that students may not know about. This can be career altering advice as students can experience a job while not actually having to work it and gain the experience for themselves.
Additionally, AIChE also offers student mentorship in which younger students are paired with older students who have more professional experience in internships, co-ops, or research. These mentorship groups meet approximately twice a month and various topics are discussed at every meeting, helping to develop skills needed to be successful in college, whether that be inside or outside the classroom. These connections are not limited to just the semester that the students are paired up with each other: many of the pairings result in lasting connections that continue to grow as time goes on.
Mentorship can also get students involved in chemical engineering’s design teams: Chem E Car and Chem E Cube. In these design teams, students can expect to get hands-on experience to design chemical reactions and simulations that have to fit a certain criteria. A final aspect that students can have access to through mentorship is connections to professors that are doing research. Older students that are in the labs of these professors often recommend that the professor in which they are working for to take the younger student into their lab to give them some experience in their labs. This is a huge resume builder and a way for students to learn what they like in chemical engineering!
Another great aspect of AIChE is its resume building and the professional development workshops. Before this year’s Career Forum and the Engineering Expo, AIChE held a resume review workshop where many members came to get their resumes reviewed by their peers and more experienced students. This is so crucial in the job search process: having a good resume is essential to building a good career. AIChE also has a professional development chair on their board, who writes articles each month giving career advice to all who read the newsletter. This advice is tailored to each time of the year, for example, the professional development chair may write an article on how to prepare for interviews right before a career fair. The key is to seek out these opportunities as they can boost your job search and you can make some friendships while you’re at it!
AIChE also offers many social events. For example, this semester, AIChE is hosting a Fall Semester Kickoff on September 18th where anyone can come and hang out, play some yard games, and eat some good food. It is important to relax amidst the stress of career fairs, work, and classes, and AIChE certainly recognizes that. These kinds of events bring everyone closer together and really define the chemical engineering department. It is a smaller department, yet it is a very tight knit group that will always be there for those who are struggling. It’s so refreshing to be able to connect with those around you through an organization like this.
These opportunities and possibilities are not just limited to chemical engineering students! There are other engineering societies that other students can take advantage of. For example, the mechanical engineering society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), has a chapter at Virginia Tech that students can join and be a part of. Other chapters for other majors include the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and many more. These all offer similar things to AIChE: resume workshops, educational seminars, and social events. There is no reason to not show up! There is so much to gain from engineering organizations. It is time to bolster your career, forge some connections, and some friendships that will last a lifetime.
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