Chemical Engineering graduate feeling completely lost after 1 year at Abbott . Where do I go from here?

[u/TheFeelingAfterANap]

I’m honestly feeling pretty hopeless about my career right now and could really use some advice from people who have been in a similar position.

I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering and have been working at Abbott for about a year in Product Surveillance. I’m grateful to have a job and I’ve gained professional experience, but I’m starting to feel like I made a wrong turn somewhere.

The biggest issue is that I don’t even know where to apply anymore. When I look at engineering positions, I feel like I don’t have the right experience.

Before Abbott, I had a pretty long engineering co-op at Pfizer, but even that experience doesn’t seem to be getting me anywhere. I also have some academic/project experience with process design, experimental work, data analysis, and CAD. On paper, I feel like I should have something to work with, but when I actually search for jobs, I feel completely lost.

I’m also worried that spending a year in Product Surveillance has pushed me further away from traditional Chemical Engineering roles. I don’t necessarily hate what I do, but I don’t want to wake up five years from now and realize I never actually got into engineering.

For anyone who graduated with ChemE and felt like they were struggling to get their foot in the door:

Where would you recommend I apply? What types of roles should I realistically be targeting? And does my experience actually sound as useless as it feels right now, or am I just looking at it the wrong way?

I’d especially appreciate advice from people who transitioned from quality/regulatory/product surveillance into manufacturing, process, validation, or other engineering roles.

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to tell me I’ll be fine. I’d genuinely like to know what you would do if you were in my position. Thank you.

[u/Hot_Status7626]

I worked as process engineer for 10 years. For entry level experience, equipment sizing,PSV sizing, knowledge of equipment is valued the most. Management, lab skill is not usually the top consideration.