Get excited for the month to eat lots of chocolate and cupcakes, and wear pink…or maybe that’s just me? Anyways, my name is Kelly Lohmeyer and I get the pleasure of writing the “SELF Connections” this month. I grew up in the small town of Osage City Kansas, as the youngest of six children. With three older brothers, I inevitably fell in love with anything to do with qthletics. Currently, I like to follow the Royals, Astros (eeks!), Texans , and of course KU Basketball.
I graduated from Kansas in 2011 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. I interned for ExxonMobil in their Lubricants & Specialties Department as a Global Sales Intern. Soon after graduation, I moved to Houston, Texas where I accepted the position as a Process Engineer for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Now that life is no longer filled with thermo, lab reports, and finals (yes, I promise that day will come!), I am an avid crossfitter, runner, and despite how bad I may be, I love cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Traveling is another one of my favorite hobbies, and I don’t think life is ever quite right unless there is a pending plane ticket with my name on it.
As mentioned above, I started my career as a Process Engineer for Chevron Phillips. I work at a manufacturing plant that makes primarily ethylene from natural gas liquids. The ethylene is then turned into different types of plastic that can be found in places such as; the hangers in your closet, the screen on your fancy TV, even the bag your sandwich is in.
Now, one might ask their self, “What does a process engineer actually do?” which is a great question because I had no idea until I actually showed up here for my first day of work. In my first position I supported the Ethylene Units completing process studies to see if going forward with a project was safe, feasible, and economically worth it. These studies consisted of researching the flare system, raising the process safety limit of the unit, generating a plant wide condensate balance, and possibly switching to different injection chemicals.
After a year, I finally decided to pursue my career in modeling and accepted the position as an L.P. Modeling Engineer. In this role, I run a model based on current operating data and market information, and then select the most economical and feasible feedstock for the ethylene units weekly. I also do a great deal of reporting to headquarters and serve as the link between the business team at HQ and the engineers running the units.
So, enough about me, let’s talk about you, finding jobs, and how to make such a big decision. Truth is, I have no idea and I am no expert, so take this with a grain of salt. Yet hindsight is 20/20 and I will write this list as though I am talking to 21 year old Kelly.
1. Before you interview, take a moment to write down what genuinely makes you happy and what you want out of your life/career. ·
Once all the offers start coming in it is easy to get distracted and lean towards the one that has the most money or seems the most glamorous, but just make sure it fits your original list. Once you have been working awhile the glamour wears off and the difference in salary doesn’t seem as important.
2. You probably won’t get your dream job your first try (and props to you if you do!) ·
However, that doesn’t mean you aren’t where you are meant to be. Sometimes, it’s the experience in the jobs that come straight out of left field that will one day land you in your dream job
3. Interview your butt off and keep an open mind ·
Even if you got an offer from your internship, take a look at what else is out there. Recruiting trips can be fun and educational….free food!
4. Pay attention to benefits just as much as salary ·
Lots of companies offer awesome perks that are worth their weight in gold (9/80s anyone?), even if the salary is lower the benefits package might make up for it.
Now for the inevitable Lawrence question. This may be controversial topic, but where is the best pizza in Lawrence? While all pizza is delicious, I would have to go with Pyramid Pizza as the winner. Mostly because it is open until 3am and conveniently located next to Louise’s. J Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
Until next week,
Kelly Lohmeyer