Chemical engineering is a field that combines chemistry and management principles. However, the chemical engineer’s primary responsibility is to ensure that a proposed product is cost-effective to manufacture for the company without compromising productivity or quality. Despite the fact that this goal remains important to most chemical engineers, the majority of them choose to specialize in different aspects of the chemical engineering process, such as product testing or research and development. This means that a typical chemical engineer may fill a variety of roles, and when deciding what to include in their resume, they must demonstrate their ability to do so proficiently.
A resume for a chemical engineer should include a statement of purpose. This is where a candidate would express an interest in furthering his or her knowledge and experience in the chemical engineering field in which they have chosen to specialize. However, unless you plan to tailor your chemical engineer resume to a specific job with a description that exactly matches your current career objective, avoid being too specific about your immediate objectives.
A bulleted list of educational credentials is the next item to include. Each line should begin with the degree or certification earned, followed by the college or university’s name and the year of graduation. It’s not necessary or advisable to include information about any scholarships you may have received in this section — that comes later — or to mention that you attended an Ivy League school. You may, however, include your GPA, or grade point average, if you are a recent graduate with little work experience.
The next section of the resume should contain a comprehensive list of all positions held, organized chronologically. This is the meat of a chemical engineer resume, and it should include a few savory key phrases to whet the reader’s appetite. In other words, instead of laying out a dull list of daily responsibilities, concentrate on specific contributions and accomplishments—not just for yourself, but also for previous employers. Take a look at this marketing gimmick, because that’s exactly what it is. After all, your chemical engineer resume is the travel brochure, and you’re selling yourself as a final destination for a prospective employer or recruiter looking for a job.
Include any honors or awards you’ve received after that. This is where you can mention any scholarships you’ve received as well as any internships you’ve done. You can also include any professional organizations you are a member of that are related to chemical engineering in a subsection if it is appropriate. It’s also a good idea to list any additional languages you know. Finally, the resume should include a single italicized line that says, “References available upon request.”