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Started By
Message
Is getting a Process Technology degree at Sowela worth it?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:02 am
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:02 am
Obviously, having a P-Tech degree helps in becoming an operator, but does Sowela partner with any of the plants to help get your foot in the door or are you basically on your own? Because I heard you got to basically know someone that works in the plants.
Any Sowela alumni want to chime in?
What percentage of your graduating class received job offers from plants?
Any Sowela alumni want to chime in?
What percentage of your graduating class received job offers from plants?
9
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:15 am to Chastains
quote:
What percentage of your graduating class received job offers from plants?
About 3.50%
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:24 am to Chastains
Son degreed there with I&E, Sowela does zero to place grads. Thats actually their huge weak spot since curriculum is pretty good.
Plants have a huge old boy network in all areas. Grace had 16 apps for three spots in October, two were nepo hires.
Plants have a huge old boy network in all areas. Grace had 16 apps for three spots in October, two were nepo hires.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:24 am to Chastains
Don’t know much but I used to work in Process Automation and we hired a kid straight out of there about a year into COVID. I think he started out making ~$65k doing very little actually programming (and zero field work)… basically just doing a whole lot of HMI displays. He left 1-2 years later to take a gig at Weslake making >$100k.
This post was edited on 12/28/25 at 11:26 am
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:45 am to KemoSabe65
quote:
Plants have a huge old boy network in all areas. Grace had 16 apps for three spots in October, two were nepo hires.
Welcome to Lake Charles. Where It’s not about your skills or knowledge.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:02 pm to Chastains
Unless Texas, it's pointless to try and be an operator without family etc pulling strings for you.
The nepotism in Louisiana is staggering in refining and pet chem.
Down vote away. But, anybody in the industry knows this. Especially if you've worked in other states.
The nepotism in Louisiana is staggering in refining and pet chem.
Down vote away. But, anybody in the industry knows this. Especially if you've worked in other states.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:14 pm to Chastains
None of the Ptech schools are going to go out and get you a job, but the degree will definitely help. A lot of the kids in Ptech school assume the school is going to fill out their resume, take their hand, and walk them into an interview.
You basically need atleast one of the following to get hired as an operator:
Black
Female
Veteran
Several years plant experience (any type of contractor job helps)
Ptech degree
a GOOD connection (not your neighbor is an operator, but more like your uncle is plant manager)
You basically need atleast one of the following to get hired as an operator:
Black
Female
Veteran
Several years plant experience (any type of contractor job helps)
Ptech degree
a GOOD connection (not your neighbor is an operator, but more like your uncle is plant manager)
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:19 pm to indytiger
The degree will help. Tell him try to get a job as a contractor in a plant to make connections, understand how the culture is and how it operates. That’s the route I went, I’ve been working for an oil company in their refinery for 25 years.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:44 pm to CliffTheHead
Our facility makes it a point to hire 10-15 Sowela P-Tech grads every year. That’s the same route I went 15 years ago.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:49 pm to Buga_Scores
quote:
Our facility makes it a point to hire 10-15 Sowela P-Tech grads every year. That’s the same route I went 15 years ago.
Citgo?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:50 pm to Chastains
No, not Citgo.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:00 pm to Chastains
IMO a ptech degree does nothing but give young guys false confidence. You’re trying to learn general board operator terms and knowledge with no real world experience.
Any unit you go through will have different flows, operating pressures, feed stock, and waste.
OJT and experience is the only way to learn a unit. Internships are the only way to get into a unit. Find out how to get into an internship program and you’re golden.
Any unit you go through will have different flows, operating pressures, feed stock, and waste.
OJT and experience is the only way to learn a unit. Internships are the only way to get into a unit. Find out how to get into an internship program and you’re golden.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:14 pm to Chastains
quote:
Because I heard you got to basically know someone that works in the plants
You heard that from someone who was salty because they didn’t get a job.
Getting a PTech degree will definitely help.
This post was edited on 12/28/25 at 1:16 pm
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:35 pm to Chastains
(no message)
This post was edited on 12/28/25 at 9:02 pm
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:39 pm to Chastains
Shift work as an operator sounds terrible. Get an instrument degree.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:52 pm to SulphursFinest
quote:
Get an instrument degree.
What’s this?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:53 pm to Porter Osborne Jr
You repair/install the instruments that operators use to operate the plant
Posted on 12/28/25 at 1:57 pm to SulphursFinest
Interesting. Thanks.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 2:01 pm to jizzle6609
Ftr that’s such bullshite. In 99% of the plants in the LC area, all someone can do is refer your name and get you an interview if you past the test. Pretty much how it is in every big plant. Nobody can get you a job anymore. It’s not 1985 anymore
As far as Sowela goes, it’s prolly best program in the state but for every operator position there will be dozens applying and with the Westlake layoffs, many have experience
As far as Sowela goes, it’s prolly best program in the state but for every operator position there will be dozens applying and with the Westlake layoffs, many have experience
Posted on 12/28/25 at 2:01 pm to Porter Osborne Jr
Instrumation. We fix shite when you frick it up. Pays good too
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