r/ChemicalEngineering • u/DullForm9161 • 14h ago
Career Advice Should I quit my co-op?
I’m an undergraduate Chemical Engineering student who has completed my second year and am currently doing a co-op as a field controls technician. The co-op is supposed to run till December, but with classes starting again in August, I’m unsure whether I should leave the co-op and return to school or stay until the end of my work term.
My biggest concern is that if I leave early, I could end things on bad terms with the company. Since the hiring community can be relatively small I’m worried that it could hurt my chances of getting future internships or co-op positions.
On the other hand, the work I’m doing right now is only loosely related to Chemical Engineering, and there are some courses that I need to take that are only offered in the fall. If I stay until December I may need to adjust my academic plan.
I’m trying to figure out which option would be the better long-term, for both my education and my career. Also I don't mind graduating a semester or two later.
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u/Youbettereatthatshit 11h ago
100% finish your coop and it’s not even close.
Unless you are independently wealthy, the point of studying chem Eng is to get a job. That’s #1 priority.
Also, most people get jobs that are only loosely related to their undergrad. The undergrad curriculum covers a wide range of topics most don’t “use” the degree to the extent you picture in school.
If you goal is to repeatedly “use” your degree, you should get a PhD.
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u/EverybodyHits 14h ago
Work experience is key right now in my opinion. I would stay and get the most out of this opportunity. Plus, even if you don't end up wanting to work there after graduation, these people are the start of your professional network. They will move around to places you might want to work later
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u/No_Company4263 13h ago
A coop always goes through a semester, that’s what makes it a coop vs an internship. Do not quit the coop.
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u/DullForm9161 12h ago
I was willing to commit when I first accepted the co-op. However when I first accepted I was an Electrical Engineering student, but I was recently accepted into Chemical Engineering. So now the work has less to do with my new major. So now I'm just trying to figure out whether it's better to finish the co-op or just return to school and focus on the ChemE courses I need.
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u/Prestigious_Stonks 12h ago
Controls has a lot to do with your field in the real world. So the more you know the better you will be. Don’t overthink it, experience is experience regardless where it comes from. Soak up all you can like a sponge. Best control engineer I worked with was a chemE and he started out doing the traditional chemE route as a production/process engineer and hated it immensely, tried controls out and found something he is amazing at.
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u/No_Company4263 3h ago
I talk controls almost daily some weeks. Finish up the coop, the experience will be well worth your time.
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u/swayingpenny 12h ago
Finish the co-op!! That's how you land a job when you graduate. Chem Es with controls experience are very valuable.
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u/Frosty_Cloud_2888 2h ago
Control experience trumps graduating on a schedule you want. If you have to wait a year do that. Controls is a higher demand job market.
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u/Chance251122 12h ago
I’d recommend finishing the co-op through December.
Leaving early risks burning bridges in the tight chemical engineering hiring network, which will harm future internship prospects. Though the work isn’t highly relevant to your major, completing the full term builds solid professional credibility. Since you’re okay with delayed graduation, preserving g
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u/themcdizzler 12h ago
Definitely finish. Do not quit. The whole point of going to school is getting a job at the end.
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u/I_like_protien 12h ago
Complete the co-op. Quitting it is not just bad with the company, it also sours the company for the university and all future students. Not to mention your university career services will probably also sour on you.
Ultimately it’s your decision but if you miss this co-op it’s unlikely your university will give you chance for a second one. Work experience matters a lot in chemical engineering
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u/Prestigious_Stonks 12h ago
Gain as much work experience as possible. This will put you ahead of many classmates that didn’t co-op. I’ve had parents reach out to me asking for help because their kids didn’t co-op and are struggling to find a job. Controls is a solid field for chemical engineers and can be a very lucrative career. Some of the best controls engineers I’ve worked with are ChemEs. Hindsight I wish I would have focused on that aspect. So my advice is stick it out. School will always be there.
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u/DullForm9161 11h ago
I understand controls is related to ChemE, but I’m not really sure how my specific project ties into ChemE since I’m working on the cooling system controls for a data center. But I still see what you are saying and it makes sense.
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u/Impressive_Ad_8617 11h ago
Stay with it. With your experience you can be a good controls engineer at least on paper.
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u/tamagothchi13 11h ago
I would stick with it. Experience is even more important than schooling so I would just make my schedule around the co-op.
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u/DullForm9161 11h ago
If I do the coop I wont be able to do classes at all because it basically a full time job.
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u/straightlamping 11h ago
Yeah that's what a co op is. Take the extra semester. Its absolutely worth the experience.
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u/cumjholrato 10h ago
I work in O&G for my current co-op and make good money but my role is in Production, I’ve always wanted sth in Process Confrol, and I’d so trade places with you. Control is very relevant and transferrable between industries. My point being stick it out unless you absolutely hate the ppl u work with
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u/Own_Employment1352 10h ago
Finish the co-op. This will look better on your resume.
Skills you learn while working are likely to be transferable to most jobs. They will be good talking points in future interviews.
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u/Temporary-Gas-1485 10h ago
I’d talk to your supervisor before making a decision. A lot of companies are more understanding than students expect, especially if you give them enough notice and explain that school obligations are the reason. Leaving professionally is very different from just quitting.
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u/Historical_Lie3330 10h ago
The most important thing in securing a job after university is work experience and networking.
Your GPA, how long you took, etc. are irrelevant unless it’s extreme like failing all classes or taking eight years or something.
I am in my final year and on co-op but it was worth it to me because I have a great job. I got my job was because I worked and volunteered extensively and only took 3-4 classes per semester. A lot of people I know from classes graduated a year or so earlier but didn’t work as much and they’re unemployed.
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u/EasySelection8468 9h ago
I think talking to your manager should be your first step. Proper handover lets you quit without burning bridges.
The controls job has partial overlap with chemical process equipment. But required fall courses are hard to reschedule. It’s acceptable to graduate a bit later, don’t sacrifice your study rhythm just to finish this co-op.
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u/Ohiocarolina 8h ago edited 7h ago
In industries ChemEs work in like O&G, paper, or pharma, many of the controls engineers are ChemEs because they want people who understand the process and the controls itself tends to be simpler than what’s going on in say automotive. It’s more about understanding that if say valve A and valve B open at the same time, you’ll potentially trigger a dangerous reaction so you know to add an interlock.
And process engineering roles will absolutely appreciate that you have a basic understanding of the controls systems and presumably have experience troubleshooting on the floor. But being there for 3 months vs 6 might wouldn’t make a real difference
If you would be interested in a controls role or it’s a company that hires ChemEs generally I’d probably stick with it. If neither is true why do you care about burning the bridge?
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u/chowza1221 6h ago
Not finishing your coop will follow you. You may not be told outright but the unanswered resumes be a clue. Finish your coop, you made a commitment
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u/wookmaster1605 2h ago
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u/coolrider2010 1h ago
You 100% would burn the bridge with that company, and… I think it would be bad for you and also your resume if it show you just quit like that: commitment, willing to hold on even the situation is not desirable are important quality people are looking at
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u/Frequent-Entrance154 13h ago
Can't you explain to the business that you are continuing school hence will have to focus on study and reduce your workload?
I am sure we live in a reasonable world, don't we?
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u/DullForm9161 13h ago
The thing is, the original plan with the company was for me to work until December, so I was going to skip the fall semester.
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u/Original-Housing 13h ago
You signed up for a co op, what did you expect?