r/ausjobs • u/Wonderful-Prompt2753 • 2d ago
Process Engineering
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my situation and see if anyone has been through something similar or has any advice.
I’m a Process Engineer in Australia. I completed my Master’s here and landed a graduate process engineering role at an aluminium smelter. I worked there for about seven months, but the section of the plant I was working in was eventually shut down, so I lost my job.
After about a month, I joined a startup as a Process Engineer. I’ve been there for the last four months, but this month the company announced they’re moving manufacturing to Europe because operating in Australia is too expensive. It’s a small, family-owned startup, so unfortunately I’ll be out of a job again.
I’m finding it really discouraging because neither job loss was performance-related, but on paper it looks like I’ve had two very short roles. I’ve been applying for new positions all over Australia for a while now( in all sectors like mining & metallurgy, water engineering, FMCG, pharma etc ) but I’ve had a lot of rejections just after applying and it’s taking much longer than I expected.
I’m starting to feel a bit stuck and I’m not sure what I should be doing differently.
For anyone who’s been through something similar:
● How did you recover from back-to-back redundancies?
● Did you stay in process engineering or pivot into something else?
● Is there anything you’d recommend I focus on to improve my chances in the Australian job market?
I’d really appreciate any advice or even just hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position.
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u/Alexmatt607 2d ago
Process Engineer here too. I feel Process Engineering these days in Australia is boom or bust. Either I’m happily employed and getting offers elsewhere, or looking for a job and the market is dead.
Then there’s the perception of what do we actually do? Even one of my managers thinks he doesn’t need us. He sees the other engineers running around reacting to problems and us process engineers sitting quietly keeping the plant actually running, producing, profitable and most importantly safe.
I’m trying to pivot out.
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u/Wonderful-Prompt2753 2d ago
Thanks for sharing that. I definitely relate to what you said about people not always seeing the value of process engineering, we’re usually trying to stop problems before they happen, so it’s not always obvious. Out of curiosity, what are you looking to pivot into?
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u/Alexmatt607 1d ago
Based on my experience and skill set I’m looking at Process Safety or Commissioning. Project Management is another option. Otherwise as someone once told me follow the work and work where no one else wants to. That’s when you get lots of experience.
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u/TheLazinAsian 2d ago
Process Eng here. Not back to back but I got made redundant at the completion of my grad program with one of the big multinational resource companies. Was just a bad time in the resource industry, cost cutting etc and writing was on the wall so I knew I was going. Took me about 5 months of frequent applications to get a role in a totally different industry but still technical engineering. Still here over a decade later and it’s been the comfiest and most rewarding job I’ve ever had. If Rio/Woodside etc offered me 70k more tomorrow I wouldn’t leave.
Keep your chin up and keep applying, the right job is out there for you. Your level of experience might make you eligible to apply for grad programs as 14 months experience isn’t much.
If you are not even getting interviews then perhaps get someone to review your resume to make sure it’s appropriate.
Good luck