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As a kid, you performed experiments with your mom’s cosmetics in the bathroom. She wasn’t happy about you spilling out her favorite perfume, but you were thrilled. Fast-forward to today, you’re a grown-up chemical engineer dreaming of following in the footsteps of George E. Davis. But somehow, you haven’t been very lucky with finding a job in your field.
Would a glow-in-the-dark resume make you stand out from other candidates? No need for something that drastic. You just need to write a professional chemical engineer resume.
This guide will show you:
- A chemical engineer resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
- How to write a chemical engineer resume that will land you more interviews.
- Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a chemical engineer resume.
- How to describe your experience on a resume for a chemical engineer to get any job you want.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.
One of our users, Anjeanette, had this to say:
Zety suggested tips and revised my resume in a way I never could. Helped me word things in a much more intelligent fashion and got me my dream job.
Are you sure you need a chemical engineering resume? See our guides:
- Chemistry Resume Sample
- Biology Resume Sample
- Electrical Engineering Resume Sample
- Project Engineer Resume Sample
- Process Engineer Resume Sample
- Engineering Internship Resume Sample
- Manufacturing Engineer Resume Sample
- Industrial Engineer Resume Sample
- Mechanical Engineering Resume Sample
- Science Resume Sample
- Example of a Resume for Any Job
Chemical Engineering Resume Sample
Tim Kasteler, Chemical Engineer
tim.q.kasteler@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/timqkasteler
641-234-1466
Professional Summary
Perceptive chemical engineer with 2+ years of experience. Skilled in process design and project management. Seeking to deliver out-of-the-box solutions at Agaffre, inc. At Lesiliti, lowered equipment malfunctions by 20% through improved work procedures and maintenance. Raised throughput 25% by designing two new production processes.
Work Experience
Chemical Engineer
Lesiliti, Inc.
Feb 2017–May 2019
- Slashed equipment malfunctions by 20% with improved work procedures and maintenance.
- Trained 20 technicians and chemists in production best practices, cutting defects by 15%.
- Designed and implemented new changeover procedures that saved 18 labor hours per week.
- Increased throughput 25% through design of two new production processes.
Chemist
Trukgill, Inc.
Feb 2016–Jan 2017
- Developed new waste-stream treatment process that reduced waste output by 18%.
- Created a new technique to retrieve by-products that saved $20,000 a year.
Education
2011–2015 University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
- Pursued a passion for process design coursework.
- Conducted project in waste stream management that was written up in IChemE blog.
Skills
- Technical Skills: Project management, process design, testing, management
- Soft Skills: Interpersonal skills, collaboration, communication, efficiency
Activities
- Leader of weekly fishing club.
- Article, “Waste Stream Management” published in Chemical Processing Blog.
Here’s how to write a chemical engineer resume that gets jobs:
1. Pick the Best Chemical Engineer Resume Format
Chemical engineers design and develop chemical processes in the manufacturing industry. They use chemistry, physics, biology, and other sciences to solve problems through chemistry in multiple industries. A chemical engineer resume should show skills in problem solving, IT, and project management.
Attention!
Disorganized chemical engineering resumes wind up in the waste stream. Begin with a professional resume layout.
The most effective resume format is the chronological resume type.
For the right formula:
- Start with a resume header template that puts all your contact info in easy reach.
- Write your name on a resume just above your title.
- What are the main sections of a resume? Header, summary, work experience, education, and your skills.
- Use good resume fonts like Noto, Dido, and Cambria.
Pro Tip: The best resumes use PDF formats because PDFs don’t change on different machines. Does the online job announcement say “no PDFs?” Then use MS Word.
2. Write a Chemical Engineer Resume Objective or Resume Summary
Warning.
The hiring team will gloss over your chemical engineering resume
Unless you create a compelling resume summary statement.
That’s a short elevator pitch of yourself, including:
- A couple adjectives (perceptive, detail-oriented)
- Title (Chemical Engineer)
- Years of experience (2+, 5+)
- Goal (deliver out-of-the-box solutions)
- Skills accomplishments with measures (Raised throughput 25% through process design)
Writing a resume for college students with no experience?
Start with an objective in your resume.
They’re similar to summaries, but—spotlight transferable work abilities in a chemical engineer resume for freshers. (Example: as a restaurant supervisor, you led a team of 6 employees.)
Pro Tip: Here’s how long a resume should be for chemical engineering jobs: a single page, unless you’re more accomplished than Marie Curie.
3. Bind Your Resume to the Chemical Engineer Job Description
Disaster.
They hired someone else for that chemical engineering job.
Why? They found a “better fit.”
The truth is, you were the best, but you didn’t show relevant work experience in your chemical engineer resume.
In your experience section:
- Use the right job titles. If they want a “Chemical Process Engineer” use that.
- Pick the right achievements to put on a resume for chemical engineering jobs. Do they want waste stream management? Tell about a time you improved that.
Pro Tip: What are the right words to use on a resume? Choose power words like slashed, trained, designed, increased, and created.
4. Catalyze Your Chemical Engineer Resume Education Section
You know your chemical engineering resume needs an education section.
But did you know most people make it wrong?
That’s great news for you. It gives you a chance to outshine the rest.
You already know to list your school’s name and your degree. You know to add years of attendance, too. But did you know to use the space to offer more proof of the skills they’re looking for?
Example: they need a chemical engineer skilled in process design, and—
You were passionate about process design coursework.
Pro Tip: Does education on a resume for chemical engineers need GPA info? If it’s 3.8 or above, or if it’s recent, list it. If not, use the space for something that’ll wow them.
5. List Chemical Engineer Skills in Your Resume
You need skills on a resume for chemical engineer jobs:
Chemical Engineer Resume Skills
Start with technical skills in your resume:
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Biology
- Mathematics
- IT
- Project management
- Process design
- Resource management
- Working with factory workers
- Testing materials
- Equipment configuration design
- Production optimization
- Management
But don’t skimp on soft skills:
- Leadership
- Interpersonal skills
- Oral and written communication
- Organizational skills
- Problem solving
- Creative thinking
- Decision making
- Critical thinking
- Time management
- Collaboration
- Computer skills
- Efficiency
- Active listening
- Self motivation
We’ve analyzed over 11 million resumes created using our builder, and we’ve discovered that:
- Chemists usually list 6 skills on their resumes.
- The most common skills for Chemists include lab equipment calibration, records management, batch record analysis, sample processing, and results interpretation.
- Resumes for Chemists are, on average, 2 pages long.
Pro Tip: There’s no hard vs soft skills debate for chemical engineering resumes. You need a list of each. Then you need to prove each with experience in your resume bullets.
Making a resume with our builder is incredibly simple. Follow our step-by-step guide, use ready-made content tailored to your job and have a resume ready in minutes.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our ATS resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
6. Add “Other” Sections to Your Chemical Engineer Resume
Don’t look inert.
Write bonus sections for your chemical engineer resume.
Suggestions:
- Activities
- Commendations
- Conferences
- Publications
- Work associations like ACS
- Appearances in the media or on podcasts
- Work projects
- School projects
- Freelance work
- List of interests
- Awards
- Sports or fitness
- Volunteer experience on a resume
Include language proficiency levels on a resume in your skills list if they’re critical to the job.
Pro Tip: Here’s how to mention certifications in a resume for chemical engineering jobs: List them in a dedicated section underneath your “Education” section.
7. Send a Cover Letter With Your Chemical Engineer Resume
Yes.
More recruiters will read your chemical engineering resume if you attach a letter.
But you need to know how to write an application letter that gets them on your side.
To format a cover letter, use these steps:
- Start strong in your chemical engineering cover letter opening paragraph. Mention your biggest achievement that showcases a skill they want.
- Next, show you understand the role they’re offering, and that you fit.
- Last, know how to end a cover letter with a bang. Ask for the interview and say what they’ll get out of it. (Example: you’ll tell how you raised throughput 25%.)
Is your cover letter too long? Stick to half a page.
Send a follow up email after sending a resume for chemical engineer positions—not just once, but each week.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:
That’s it!
That’s how to write a chemical engineer resume.
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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety’s editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don’t stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.
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