Chemical engineering combines the science of chemistry with business administration principles. However, the primary responsibility of the chemical engineer is to ensure that a proposed product will be cost-effective for the company to manufacture without compromising productivity or level of quality. Although this objective remains key for most, the majority of chemical engineers choose to specialize in different areas of the chemical engineering process, such as product testing or research and development. This means that the typical chemical engineer may fill many different roles, and he or she must demonstrate the ability to do so proficiently when deciding what to include in their resume.
An effective chemical engineer resume should include a statement of objective. This is where one would express an interest in further developing skill and experience in the area of chemical engineering the candidate has chosen to specialize in. However, unless you intend to tailor your chemical engineer resume toward a specific job with a description that completely matches your current career objective, try not to be too narrow in terms of immediate goals.
The next item to include is a bulleted list of educational credentials. Start each line by naming the degree or certification received, followed by the name of the college or university and the year graduated. It’s neither necessary nor advisable to embellish this section with additional information about any scholarships you may have earned — this comes later — or to point out the fact that you attended an Ivy League school. However, if you are a recent graduate lacking significant work experience, you may include your GPA, or grade point average.
The next part of the resume should include a complete list of positions held, presented in chronological order. This is the very meat of a chemical engineer resume and should contain a sprinkling of savory key phrases to wet the appetite of the reader. In other words, avoid laying out a boring description of daily duties and focus instead on precise contributions and achievements —not only those made for yourself, but for your past employers as well. Consider this marketing spin because that’s exactly what it is. After all, you are selling yourself as a final destination in terms of the prospective employer or recruiter looking no further to fill the job, and your chemical engineer resume is the travel brochure.
Next, include any honors or awards you have received. This is where you may mention scholarships, as well as any internships held. If appropriate, you can also create a subsection to include any professional organizations you belong to that are related to chemical engineering. It’s also a good idea to note any second languages you speak, if any. Finally, the resume should finish with a single separate line in italics, which reads, “References available upon request.”
