Overview
Process engineering roles in oil and gas, petrochemicals, and energy require graduates who understand process simulation, safety systems, and real-world plant operations. Employers in Aberdeen and across the UK energy sector want to see practical internship experience, HYSYS proficiency, and evidence that you can participate meaningfully in safety reviews.
This resume belongs to Alex Sheridan, a process engineering graduate from Robert Gordon University who completed a six-month internship at CNOOC International. He worked on platform debottlenecking studies, participated in 5 HAZOP and HAZID reviews, and ran 10 process simulations in Aspen HYSYS. His BOSIET certification shows he is already prepared for offshore work.
What Makes This Resume Work
Safety review participation demonstrates professional readiness. Scribing 5 HAZID and HAZOP sessions and documenting 80 action items shows Alex can contribute to the process safety reviews that are central to the oil and gas industry. This experience is difficult to gain outside an internship and gives him a genuine advantage.
Process simulation work is specifically described. Rather than listing HYSYS as a skill, Alex explains that he ran 10 simulations to evaluate separator performance. This tells employers he can use the tool for practical engineering analysis, not just academic exercises.
BOSIET certification removes a common barrier. Many graduate process engineering roles involve some offshore element. Having BOSIET already completed means Alex can visit platforms immediately without the employer needing to arrange training first.
Key Takeaways
Junior process engineers should highlight any HAZOP or HAZID participation, process simulations run, and technical documentation produced. Include specific software names (Aspen HYSYS, PIPESIM) and reference relevant safety standards. IChemE membership and offshore safety certifications (BOSIET, MIST) are worth listing if you have them. If your final year project relates to energy transition topics like carbon capture, hydrogen, or CCS, mention it because it shows awareness of the industry's evolving direction.
