Whether we like chemistry or not, it is all around us. It is an inevitable part of our lives and incorporates every aspect of what we consume and do.

Sometimes we are aware, and at other times we are not, but we use our knowledge of chemistry, be it vast or not, to make daily decisions.

Here are some examples of how this scientific field influences our lives, that we are often not conscious of.

When we are thirsty or crave a certain type of food, our bodies actually need a specific chemical element to improve their current state.

When we feel an emotion, any emotion, that is the body producing certain hormones, which are actually chemical structures.

When we wash our hands or have a shower, the chemicals used for making soaps and shower gels get rid of the dirt.

We choose cosmetic products because of their influence on our skin, which is also achieved by mixing specific chemical substances in a particular ratio.

These are just some examples of how chemistry is an important part of everyone’s day-to-day life. It can improve our health or be detrimental to it.

Hence, it is very important for every person on our planet that the people who make decisions related to chemistry, in any industry from food and pharmacy to cosmetics and agriculture.

You can see that any line of work that involves the knowledge and use of chemistry is very important, let us even say vital for the wellbeing of the people who use the products.

Every employer who needs a chemical engineer for their company will choose the one who seems the most professional and knowledgeable.

Chemical engineers can work in a vast number of industries, the most common being energy, water, food, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Most of these jobs belong to one of the following two groups:

  1. the design, manufacture, and operation of machinery and plants, or
  2. the development of substances and materials.

If you have a degree and want to land a job as a chemical engineer, the first step is to write a good resume. It should stand out among a multitude of other applicants.

It should catch the hiring manager’s eye. It should be clear and concise to the end. It should be relevant to the position you are applying for.

We will walk you through the steps to achieving a perfect chemical engineer resume that will impress your desired employer.

For a great resume template, you can use our resume builder and take your mind off the tedious job of organizing the margins, sections, and other technical aspects of writing it.

You will be able to focus your attention on the important part – making your professional self attractive for employment.

In the continuation, we will present two exemplary resumes – you will be able to see what yours should look like and get the basic idea about it.

Afterward, we will guide you through each section, giving you useful and practical advice on how to make each section the best.

Chemical Process Engineer Resume Example

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Chemical Engineer Resume Example

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HERE IS WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN THE PERSONAL INFO SECTION OF YOUR RESUME

At first sight, this section seems quite simple to write.

However, if you take a deeper look, you may catch yourself analyzing a bunch of information, not being able to make out whether you should include them in your resume or not.

So, how should you decide what is suitable to be included in a chemical engineer resume, and what should be excluded from it?

The answer is quite simple actually. Put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes and think about which pieces of information would be really useful for them.

Remember that they probably have many resumes to look at and that they do not have time to waste on going through the useless details about any candidate.

Thus, exclude everything that is of no meaning for your potential employer.

Let us take a look at which personal information is significant for a person who is looking to employ a new chemical engineer:

Full name

Of course, the employer wants to know your first and last name. However, in order for you to present yourself in the best light, you should bear in mind that no nicknames are acceptable.

You should use your full name both in your resume and when you introduce yourself at an interview.

Douglas Lahr
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Douglas ‘TripleDunk’ Lahr or Dougie Lahr
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Profession

It is good to enter your current title, or the last position you worked at.

This will give the hiring manager an idea about what you may be able to do in the company.

You should definitely choose the title that suits your desired job best.

Photo

Some jobs (a model, for example) require the candidates to include a photo in their resume. But for you as a chemical engineer, it is an optional item.

In some countries, it is not a usual practice to include a photo, in other it is.

Similarly, some people have the habit of adding it to their resume, others do not.

If you decide to include it, you should remember that it needs to be a serious business photo. You should avoid informal photos. Here are some tips to follow when you choose it:

Photo instructions

  • Single-color background
  • Business attire, serious or slightly smiling face
  • Well-groomed beard and/or mustache (for men)
  • Enough make-up to look elegant (for women)
  • Tidy hair
  • Straight pose

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Photo instructions

  • Colorful background
  • Informal clothes, wigs, masks, grimace
  • Messy beard and/or mustache
  • Too much make-up (or no make-up if you look tired or sleepy)
  • Messy hair
  • Bent or twisted pose

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Address

Though you may think that this is not a really important item for you as a chemical engineer, we want to assure you that it is quite significant.

For example, if you are applying to work in a factory that is far from the residential area where you live, the employer may pay for your commute or have organized transport.

Also, if they have a branch that is closer to your residence, you may have the chance to get a job closer to your home. So, do not omit this information from your resume.

Phone number

Telephone calls are a usual way of communication in any industry and level of the business hierarchy.

So logically, you should not only include your phone number but check it thoroughly to be sure that you have written it correctly.

You do not want to lose a good opportunity because of a small mistake such as a wrongly written phone number!

Email address

In the same way as phone numbers, emails are a common manner of business communication. So, write your email address carefully and double-check it, especially if you have dots, underlines, or hyphens.

One more thing to have in mind in relation to this item is the address itself.

In the same way as your name, your email address should present you as a serious job-seeking engineer.

You should not use the funny address you use for contacting your friends. It should include your first and last name ideally.

douglas.lahr@yahoo.com
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dougie.3pledunk@yahoo.com
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Social media profile(s)

Social media has become very popular nowadays.

However, a hiring manager seeking a good chemical engineer does not want to look at your Facebook or Instagram profiles where they can see funny posts or your pictures from the previous vacation or your cousin’s wedding.

For some professions, these are important to be included.

For a chemical engineer, though, they are not. Still, if you choose to include them, make sure that only the appropriate content is displayed.

Let us repeat once again, your private life should not be a part of your resume.

One social media profile that is acceptable and appropriate for you to include is LinkedIn.

This is a social media website aimed at professional people seeking or offering jobs.

This can also be scanned as a part of your resume, so make sure that the same pieces of information are found on your LinkedIn profile and your resume.

HOW TO WRITE A PERFECT RESUME SUMMARY THAT WILL IMPRESS THE HIRING MANAGERS

A summary is the part of a resume that the hiring manager is most likely to read first.

This is why you should perfect it before submitting your resume.

Here are some of the most important features of a good summary:

  • It is not long, but not too short either. It should have four to five sentences.
  • It highlights the strongest skills and achievements of the candidate. The information is aimed at showing the experience and skills that match the job requirements.
  • It is simple to read and does not have many repeated words.
Summary

Chemical engineer with 6 years of experience in the field. Has proficient knowledge of the chemical aspect of constructing printed circuit boards and a strong working knowledge of maintaining the health of rivers in relation to waste and toxic waste often poured in. Capable of safety and efficiently organizing industrial processes and retaining compliance with the national environmental standards. Excellent communication skills, calm and perceptive in stressful situations.

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Summary

An experienced chemical engineer who worked for more than 6 years.

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It is an excellent practice to include the achievements and skills that are closely related to your professional field, i.e. chemical engineering. Phrases like ‘chemical aspect’, ‘toxic waste’, ‘industrial processes’ are a great way for you to show your expertise in the field.

The information that you put into the summary can (and should) be repeated in the rest of the resume.

We advise you to write the rest of the resume first, then to take a good look at it comparing it with the description of the job you are applying for.

Then write a summary that connects the two and emphasizes how your skills from the resume connect with what is required of the candidate for the position.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SHOWCASE YOUR PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE?

Previous work experience is very important for employers.

The essential reason behind this is the presentation of skills and achievements that you have gained in your previous post.

If you have worked somewhere unrelated to chemical engineering, you may mention this job, but try to connect your responsibilities or knowledge with your desired job.

Now, the way you present your past jobs is vital for your future employer. Writing just the basic information – time, company, your position, is not enough.

The hiring manager cannot make out anything about you besides the sole fact that you worked somewhere.

What you actually want to do is add the most important responsibilities, achievements, and skills obtained at that position.

It goes without saying that these should be connected with your desired job and show that your previous experience has prepared you for your next job post. The most convenient and visible way is to use bullets for this.

The first job on this list should be the last job you had. Following is the one before the last job, and so on. This is called the reverse-chronological order.

Take a look at a good and bad way of writing the Work Experience section of your resume.

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A COMPLETE GUIDE ON WRITING THE EDUCATION SECTION OF YOUR RESUME

As a chemical engineer, you must have a college degree. Certainly, it is very important to include this degree in your resume. And any other school or certificate that you have, and that relates to the job you are applying for.

The tips on writing the education section of your chemical engineer resume are quite similar, if not completely the same as those for writing the experience section.

You should use the reverse-chronological order and omit the items that are not very important or connected with the job in question.

For example, if you went to the musical school, there is no need to include this as it is totally irrelevant for your desired position as a chemical engineer in a company.

Also, if you have many items to list here and you also have had many jobs in the field, feel free to write just the college degree and showcase your skills through the practical work experience.

Write the highest education first, as it is the most important.

Just as for any previous job experience, it is not enough to just list the schools and times – for each of them, you should make a short list of rewards, accomplishments, or even an excellent GPA score.

You want to show how active you were in the field of chemistry even when you were studying it.

Take a look at the examples of a good and bad Education Section in the following table:

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WHAT SKILLS DO EMPLOYERS SEEK IN A PERFECT CHEMICAL ENGINEER?

The purpose of a resume is for you to showcase your experience and skills that make you a good candidate for the position of a chemical engineer in a company of your choice.

The part of the resume where you write your skills is, therefore, a very important one.

We will present here some of the skills that the hiring managers expect to see in a good resume.

However, remember that you should not incorporate all these skills or all the ones you find online, but those that you really have and that you can exemplify if you are called for an interview and show if you get the job.

In the continuation, you will see an extensive list of skills and knowledge that are related to the job of a chemical engineer and that you can add to your resume.

Do not forget to choose the ones that present you in the best way and do not write the things you cannot justify.

Skills

Here you will see a list of skills that are applicable to the role of a chemical engineer.

Skills related to science:

  • Science
  • Mathematics
  • Active Learning
  • Technology Design

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Skills related to evaluation and making decisions:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Operations Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Troubleshooting
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Quality Control Analysis

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Skills related to communication:

  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Time Management
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Instructing
  • Management of Personnel Resources
  • Negotiation
  • Service Orientation
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources

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Knowledge

Look at the list of things you as a chemical engineer should know in order to be a good candidate for the job of your dreams. Note that you do not need to know all of the below.

Some types of knowledge are specific for certain positions, others, such as chemistry, mathematics, or engineering, are general and a candidate is expected to have them.

Knowledge in Skill Section

  • Engineering and Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Production and Processing
  • Design
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Administration and Management
  • Mechanical Knowledge
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Education and Training
  • Biology
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Law and Government
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing

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Styles of Work

As various positions that a chemical engineer may occupy, you should be aware of different work-related characteristics you may need in order to be a good employee.

Based on the job description and your own preferences, you may choose some of the following for your Skills Section:

Styles of Work in Skills Section

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Cooperation
  • Innovation
  • Leadership
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self Control
  • Independence
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation

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CONCLUSION

After reading our guide, you can see that it is not so hard to write a good chemical engineer resume.

You should just follow the guidelines and you will write a resume that will impress the hiring manager of the company where you want to work.

Just have in mind what your greatest achievements and strengths are and make them stand out.

To let you focus on that aspect (the most important one) of writing a resume, we have created a resume builder.

Use it and you will not have to worry about the form of your resume – your task will be to just fill in the blanks.

After a good preparation like this, we are sure that you will land the job of your dreams and have a great career!

So dive in and chase your dreams! We wish you a wonderful journey!

Chemical Engineer Resume: Sample and Complete Guide

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