Chemical Engineering Resume Example

Get expert advice on how to write an optimal chemical engineering resume that grabs attention and wins more job interviews

author-img
Written by Marc Cenedella
Leading expert on resumes
marc-photo

Marc Cenedella

Marc Cenedella is a nationally recognized thought leader on careers, resume writing, job search, career management and recruiting, Marc is frequently sought out by national media organizations for his expert commentary on employment, resumes, the job search and the job market.

Bg Example image
Last updated on May 2, 2021
Please Write My Resume

Leet Resumes Writes Great Professional Resumes For Free

Border Resume Example

Tips Appreciated

Please Write My Resume

How to write a great Chemical Engineering Resume

Just as chemistry describes the building blocks of matter that create our world, chemical engineers form the foundation of the modern industries that power our society. Your skills in math and science, in synthesizing materials in a way that’s both economical and safe, and in developing innovative solutions to difficult problems, give you leverage in today’s competitive job market.

And we know just how hard you worked to acquire these in-demand skills like research, design, and technical ones such as computer programming. Engineering school is hard, and so is the job itself. That’s why you deserve a salary that reflects your value.

To get that job, you need an awesome resume. But writing that perfect resume isn’t exactly reaction engineering or process control.

We all know that you’ve got what it takes to write that resume, but, just like with chemistry itself, taking some time to study will put you ahead in the race to land your dream job.

We’ve made it a little bit easier to get started by providing you with a perfect chemical engineering resume template. Ready to discover how the composition of these elements creates a sum greater than its parts?

Want to learn how to craft an exceptional resume that lands you great job interviews?

What are you waiting for? Let’s dive in!

How to write a chemical engineer resume that wins tons of job interviews

Chemical engineers are the backbone of sectors like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, and more. You’ve put in the hard work, and now you’re a coveted talent for Fortune 500 companies, startups, and everyone in between.

Chemical engineers are crucial to the success of these businesses, and you’ve earned that recognition. You should have a position where your worth is recognized, where you get to solve important problems, and, it should go without saying, where you’re paid what you’re worth.

But nobody is going to serve you this job on a silver platter. You have to chase it.

And the first step is sending out that optimized chemical engineering resume.

With the stakes so high, it could be worth it to hire a pro to write it for you.

You may think that it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg.

But that’s actually the furthest from the truth. Leet Resumes provides a free resume writing service, tips appreciated!

How to format a chemical engineer resume

Decided to write your own? Let’s get to it.

To write a rock-solid resume, follow this simple format. It’s that easy.

  • Name + Contact
  • Professional Headline
  • Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Keywords

That’s all there is to it. Just use this format, then interviews and job offers will begin piling in.

You’re a chemical engineer, so we know that you’re all about exactitude, structure, and consistency. When you solve similar problems, you follow the exact same steps every time.

Apply this same thinking to your resume. Follow the structure and stay consistent.

The reason being application tracking systems (ATS). These software products aren’t always the smartest, and they’re usually the first barrier between you and a human hiring manager.

The ATS is easily confused. They don’t respond well to creativity. So don’t get fancy and insert images, multiple columns, or anything else.

If the ATS can’t parse your resume, it acts beyond the bounds of reason. Do you want it to put your phone number as your college degree?

Play to the least common denominator by making it as easy as possible for the ATS. Stay organized and consistent, and you will make it past that first round of review.

Name + Contact

It may seem like a no-brainer, but, as a chemical engineer, we know that you’re used to following each and every step to the tee, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

This is one such step.

Put your name at the top of your resume. Beneath it, put your phone number and a professional email address.

Next you have to decide whether to include your LinkedIn profile. Although some may tell you it’s a must-have, we recommend only including it if you check it every single day. You don’t want to miss a recruiter’s message, so consider only including your phone and email for contact info.

Professional Headline

Imagine the person who’s going to hire you. They’ve got a full plate, and they know that they need a qualified chemical engineer to keep their projects on track.

They sit down to look at some potential candidates, and they pick up your resume.

Right there beneath the name, they read the following: “Results-oriented Chemical Engineer”

Now you have their attention!

This is the magic of the Professional Headline. Only 3-5 words, this description clues the recruiter or hiring manager in on why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.

Professional Summary

When you want to quickly get up to speed on something, you probably don’t jump right into the details. You start with an overview.

The Professional Summary is the resume’s version of an overview.

In this section, you’ll take 2-4 lines to outline the job you’re after, your relevant experience, and your achievements.

It should include these talking points:

  • Job title you want
  • Chemical engineering skills you possess
  • Chemical engineering achievements and accomplishments (optional)
  • Promotions and awards (optional)

Although the latter half is optional, depending on where you’re at in your career, the first half is non-negotiable. You need to let the recruiter know why YOU are the best match for them.

As you grow in your career, you can then pile on the achievements and promotions. But if you’re not there yet, don’t worry about it. Stick with the beginning, and you’ll have more space to expand in other parts of your resume.

So, how are you feeling? Are you beginning to feel like this is a pretty big project after all? Want to outsource the work?

Leet Resumes is here to help. Our pros will gladly write an A+ chemical engineering resume for you. And it’s totally free, though we always appreciate a tip for a job well done!

Work Experience

While the Professional Summary was the overview, the Work Experience section is all the juicy details. Here, you’ll talk about the positions that you’ve worked in alongside the most important experiences that you had on the job.

Whatever you do, make sure to avoid this one common mistake: listing your daily responsibilities. Don’t talk about analyzing chemical compositions, preparing reports, or manufacturing chemicals.

Go above and beyond the basics.

You see, those daily responsibilities are probably already listed in the job requirements. The goal of a resume isn’t to just repeat those back to the hiring manager.

Your prime directive is impressing that recruiter.

In this case, it’s alright to be a little cocky.

Instead of just talking about your day-to-day chemical engineering duties, focus in on these five key talking points.

Highlight accomplishments, achievements, and success

Your resume is your chance to set yourself apart from everyone else who is applying for this job. And you only get a limited space to convey that message. Start by honing in on success stories to give your future boss a quantifiable and tangible way to see how you add value to the company.

When they pick up your resume, you want them to think, “Wow, this is an amazing opportunity that I just can’t pass up.”

Use strong verbs

Consider the following:

It was my responsibility to design procedures to isolate and reconfigure chemical elements

Designed procedures to isolate and reconfigure chemical elements

Five unnecessary words. That’s what your reader has to slog through to get to the point in the first bullet. The second one uses strong verbs to take them straight there.

With action verbs, an employer immediately sees your contribution. They now know what you do. It also makes you out as an active worker, a desirable quality in any new recruit.

Load up on numbers

As an engineer, numbers are a massive part of what you do.

The person hiring you might love them just as much as you do.

For example, by stating, “Developed manufacturing processes that minimized waste”, there’s no real takeaway.

If, on the other hand, you “minimized waste by 10%”, then we’re getting somewhere. Adding that metric lets the recruiter see the impact of your work in concrete terms.

Put more numbers in your resume. Put them anywhere you can think of.

Talk about promotions

If you grew through the ranks at a previous position, that’s something that you should definitely talk about.

After all, there’s only one reason that you would have received that promotion: you did a good job. And that’s precisely what they’re looking for.

Promotions also demonstrate a driven personality, yet another selling point.

Cite specific dates

If you have some gaps in your resume, you may be tempted to gloss over the dates. That’s a bad idea.

Don’t appear like you’re hiding something. Just be honest and include those dates. If the recruiter can’t trust you, no way are you getting an interview.

Education

You worked really hard for that engineering degree. Now it’s time to talk about it.

Besides the obvious—schools, degrees, and GPAs—you also want to include any certifications that you hold. The Safety and Chemical Engineering Education (SAChE) is certainly worth highlighting, as is the Facilities Engineering (FE) credential. If you put in the work to earn a cert, now’s the time to talk about it.

The final consideration here is that, unless you’re working towards it right now, don’t put any degrees that you didn’t finish.

Keywords

This last section of your chemical engineering resume is the grand finale. It’s where you leave a lasting impression that sticks with them.

These keywords should show that recruiter that you’re above and beyond qualified. By listing both hard and soft skills, in addition to relevant awards for your work as a chemical engineer, you’ll show just how much you bring to the table.

Some keywords you may include:

  • Analysis
  • Troubleshooting
  • Laboratory management
  • Collaboration
  • Communication

This is also where you want to talk about your technical skills. From MATLAB to MS office, from AutoCAD to simulation software, show the specific tools that you know how to use to get the job done.

After reading this, your future boss will know why you’re the right person for the job. They’ll see just how you’ll integrate into their teams and contribute to their projects.

Want the professionals to write your resume for free?

Now, if you don’t know how to get started or would prefer a professional touch for your resume, contact Leet Resumes right now.

Our experts will create a personal chemical engineering right now, totally free, tips appreciated. Now go out there and score that dream job!

technology

Similar Resumes We Can Write For You Right Now

Great professional resumes for great professionals.

Users Love Us

Leet Resumes really helped me clearly explain my skills and strengths in a marketable way. They were fa-solidt and responsive, and the entire process was very smooth. Will recommend to friends.
My Leet resume is more focused than my previous one. It highlights my accomplishments without all the fluff. I found the process easy and really helpful. Thanks again!
Wow, thank you for your time and effort on this, it looks great! I wasn’t expecting so much work to be put into the transformation, so I appreciate the wonderful surprise.

Ready To Get Started?

Leet Resumes writes great professional resumes for free.
Please Fill out all fields
or
ready-to-get-started