Chemical Technician/Technologist

Taina Reidl

"It’s a funny story,” says Taina Redl. She was working at a pharmacy in Saskatoon when she got a call about a job opening with the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). The chemical technology graduate had let a former teacher know she was looking for work in the field. "This former instructor called the SRC and said ‘I’ve got somebody who’s got a lot of education’…and they hired me within a day.” Since then, Taina has been enjoying the challenges of her job as a Chemical Technologist in the inorganic chemistry department. "I like doing technical work…and my job is very much hands-on.”

As a "floater” in the lab, Taina is not assigned to a specific "bench” or job duty. Instead, she must be fluent in all the tests the lab conducts. She is also able to operate any of the lab’s sophisticated equipment. Adding to her responsibilities are the test deadlines, which are usually two weeks but in some cases 48 hours. "I like the fast-paced environment…because your day just flies by…you come into work and next thing you know, your day is done.”

Despite all the positive aspects of her job, Taina says that one drawback within the industry is the professional glass ceiling. "If you want to make the leap from technologist to manager in this industry, you really need to get more education. You need a degree.” She believes this is the result of a gross misconception within the industry—that technologists with a diploma have less experience and knowledge than their counterparts with a degree. "Chemical technologists [with a diploma] leave school with a good combination of education and hands-on training.” Taina believes this combination is overlooked by many within the chemical technology industry when it comes to hiring and promoting employees. She credits her own professional success in the chemical technology industry to this combination of learning.