To become a metallurgist in the United States, you need to have a bachelor's degree in an engineering or materials science discipline. Many employers tend to look for candidates who have metallurgical engineering degrees. In some cases, they might also accept candidates who have a metallurgy specialization that was earned along with a relevant engineering or science degree. For the most part, employers do not expect job applicants to have advanced degrees.
In some employment situations, you are likely to find that you need to have a manufacturing background of some type. Therefore, if you want to become a metallurgist, it may be beneficial for you to try to gain some practical experience working in a manufacturing plant or steel mill. You might also be able to use work that you do as a college intern as a good substitute for actual work experience. As an engineering or materials science major, you should be able to find a position working as an intern while you are in school. In addition to providing you with some valuable experience, this type of activity could also help you find a permanent position after graduation.
You might need to be familiar with a variety of laboratory safety and manufacturing procedures, if you want to become a metallurgist. Different companies will likely request applicants to have some experience with the management systems and accreditation practices that are specifically relevant to the type of business they operate. Even if you are not already familiar with some of these practices and policies, employers may be willing to provide you with the necessary training.
People who work as metallurgists tend to be responsible for a number of different areas of expertise. For example, you might be in charge of acting as a subject matter expert, provide training to certain employees, or act as a technical support liaison. In addition, you may also be responsible for some customer service or employee relations activities.
Employers generally expect quite a bit from people who hold these positions. If you are a person who does not mind being flexible about day-to-day work responsibilities, you might do well in this career. If you want to become a metallurgist, you should also have excellent communication skills simply because you may need to deal with a variety of different people throughout each day. You should be able to write clearly and concisely, and be able to actively speak and listen to others.