Addressing the Challenges of Part Time Working in Engineering Design
Finding the right balance between developing a professional career and at the same time raising a family or dedicating to other similarly demanding personal obligations, poses some very significant challenges. The chemical engineering industry is not always perceived to be at the cutting edge of creating a work environment where people can combine these two aspects. But there are success stories, individuals who have gained a lot of job satisfaction and some very impressive careers.
The basis of this article are the experiences of seven female engineers in Shedden Uhde’s Process Engineering and Technology Services division. These experiences, although in very similar work environments, are all from different personal perspectives.
Part of the development of the article are the outcomes from a series of interviews with females in other branches of the chemical engineering industry, and with individuals directly or indirectly involved: co-worker, project and department leaders, clients.
The paper is not a cookbook for success: it sheds light on what has worked well, and what didn’t work all that well. It does, however, give some interesting insights in the opportunities to better facilitate the balance between raising a family and a career.