Chemistry

Career prospects

Organizations and companies in the chemical sector are always on the lookout for talent. There are many different career opportunities, depending on your choice of profile and specialization track.

A job as a researcher
Research positions are available with institutes like TNO or Solvay. Industrial giants like AKZO Nobel and DSM are eager to hire chemists. 

A job as a manager or consultant
Are you more interested in a job in public administration or business? You can find work in industry or in government institutions. These are often posts in the chemicals industry, with inspection services or consultancy firms, where there is an emphasis on management and/or policy aspects and where communication with professionals from different backgrounds is an important skill. Government posts might include jobs with ministries or enforcement agencies.  

A job in education or communication
Students who opt for the education profile often find work as teachers. If you choose to follow the communication profile, then you could find work as a public relations officer, a science journalist or an education officer at a publishing house or museum.
                         
Chemists are employed in the following sectors (2006):



Continuing your studies
Graduates with excellent grades can apply for one of our PhD student positions. This is normally awarded for four years, during which the student is expected to complete a research project. The main task of a PhD student is to conduct research resulting in a thesis.

Many PhDs end up in research positions, or in managerial posts at universities, large companies, government institutions, or banks. 

Career consulting
If you are a KNCV member, you can request a free career consultation  
 

Examples of careers

Technical editor for scientific journals 'I work for the publishing wing of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the British KNCV, as a technical editor for several scientific journals. My university studies gave me a solid foundation for my work. Knowledge of chemistry is essential to understand the articles I edit. But there are also lots of skills I learned as a chemist that I use here every day. Precision, problem-solving, that kind of thing.'Read more...

Consultant at Ernst & Young 'The jump from theoretical chemistry to Finance is easy to explain. I enjoy performing analysis and working with mathematical models. Plus I get the opportunity to develop professionally and personally. I missed the personal factor when I worked doing pure research. Did you know that some methods used to evaluate financial tools are based on Brownian motion, something Einstein described?' Read more...