Pros
Young engineers are given a great deal of responsibility and are immediately placed in the plant manufacturing setting.
Experienced engineers are immediately utilized at plant, corporate, project, and area levels as support.
Although an S&P 500 company, it still has a small company feel. Engineers at least twice a year for each plant have an opportunity to meet a VP or other business leaders.
Internal rotations are a common occurrence, especially for young engineers, though only in very rare circumstances are forced rotations used. Rotation opportunities vary from plant level to business group, technology, or organization moves. Ex. An engineer could rotate from maintenance engineering to supply chain, from production engineering to Health, Safety & Environmental, or commercial group to plant level. Rotations for young/new engineers are more common though they often occur on a fixed schedule.
Impressive safety culture and record, flex schedules, pay-for-performance bonus structure, and turnaround compensation. High degree of responsibility is given and ownership is expected for all levels of the organization.
The companies goals are clear: be the best chemical company in the world. Recognized that this is a continuous goal.
Cons
The company runs lean on people so a great deal of ownership and responsibility is required.
Not well known outside of the chemical industry. Somewhat know within the industry. Your neighbor more than likely has never heard of Lyondellbasell.
No clear-cut job grades and salaries except at 0-2 year experienced engineers. If outside of the manufacturing organization, the company organization chart is essential to understand people's positions. After two to three years, you will have very little idea how much your raise will be and when your next promotion will be without effort on the employee's part.
As with many companies that are in the process of changing their culture, Lyondellbasell has growing pains. Long tenured employees remember different days under Lyondell before the merger; Lyondellbasell has differences form the previous company.
