Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your expertise in process optimisation while remaining succinct can be a daunting task for a chemical engineer. Our guide provides tailored advice on structuring your experience and skills to highlight your proficiency in this area, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
- Answer job requirements with your chemical engineer CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your chemical engineer CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Structuring your chemical engineer CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your chemical engineer CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
PRO TIP
Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a chemical engineer CV
- Education and qualifications highlight the core knowledge base necessary for complex chemical processes.
- Relevant work experience demonstrates applied skills and industry familiarity.
- Technical skills section showcases specialised expertise in software and equipment used in chemical engineering.
- Projects and publications exhibit hands-on experience and contributions to the field.
- Professional affiliations and certifications indicate recognised standards of proficiency and commitment to professional development.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your understanding of process design and simulation by detailing the software tools you are proficient in, such as Aspen HYSYS, and any significant projects where you applied these skills to optimise chemical processes.
- Emphasise your knowledge of safety and regulatory standards, such as REACH and COSHH, by illustrating how you've implemented these in past roles to ensure compliance in chemical manufacturing environments.
- Document your experience in scaling up chemical reactions from the laboratory to pilot plant or full production scale, mentioning specific techniques and equipment you have used, like reactors or distillation columns.
- Include any experience with sustainable and green chemical engineering practices, for instance, by showcasing projects where you've reduced waste or energy usage in chemical processes.
- Detail your hands-on experience with instrumentation and process control by mentioning specific systems you're familiar with, such as SCADA or DCS, and how you have utilised them to improve process efficiency and product quality.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your chemical engineer CV header
Right at the very top of your chemical engineer CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for chemical engineer:
- Chemical Process Engineer | MSc Chemistry | Continuous Improvement | Lean Six Sigma- Green Belt | 5+ Years
- Senior Chemical Engineer | PhD in Chemical Engineering | Petrochemical Expertise | Project Management Professional | 10+ Years
- Graduate Chemical Engineer | BEng Honours | Specialisation in Polymer Science | Industry Placement Achiever | 1 Year Experience
- Principal Chemical Engineer | Chartered Engineer | Reactor Design & Optimisation | Environmental Compliance | 15+ Years
- Chemical Engineering Manager | Process Safety Specialist | Cost Reduction Strategies | MEng, CEng | 12 Years Expertise
- Lead Process Development Engineer | PhD | Biotechnological Processes | Patent Holder | 8 Years in R&D
What's the difference between a chemical engineer CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your chemical engineer CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a chemical engineer job:
- Seasoned Chemical Engineer with over 12 years of experience in petrochemical processes, adept at process optimisation and plant design. Successfully developed and commercialised a novel catalyst, boosting production efficiency by 40%. Holder of a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London.
- Diligent Chemical Engineering professional with a decade's worth of expertise in the pharmaceutical industry. Renowned for excellence in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics, leading to a 20% increase in production yield at GlaxoSmithKline. Spearheaded the integration of a new quality control protocol, setting industry benchmarks.
- Formerly a Senior Software Developer with a passion for sustainable energy solutions, now transitioning into Chemical Engineering. Adept in complex algorithms and data analysis, seeking to leverage a rich 15-year tech background to innovate green chemical processes and contribute to reducing industrial carbon footprint.
- A Mechanical Engineer with a strong foundation in thermodynamics and 8 years of experience in automotive design pivoting to Chemical Engineering. Looking to apply analytical and project management skills to tackle chemical process challenges and drive efficiency in new realms of energy and material development.
- Dynamic recent graduate with a First-Class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Manchester. Eager to apply theoretical knowledge and hands-on laboratory experience to assist in the development and optimisation of chemical processes that align with sustainable industry practices.
- Aspiring Chemical Engineer with strong analytical skills, currently completing a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Desires to apply cutting-edge research knowledge to practical, real-world applications that contribute to advancements in biofuels and renewable energy sectors.
Narrating the details of your chemical engineer CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your chemical engineer CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Devised and optimised chemical processes at a large-scale manufacturing plant, enhancing efficiency by 15% over two years and significantly reducing environmental impact.
- Conducted detailed process simulations using Aspen HYSYS for the design and analysis of new chemical plant sections, achieving a 5% cost reduction in project capital expenditure.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot production issues, resulting in a 20% reduction in downtime and a measurable improvement in product quality.
- Led a process safety management initiative to ensure full compliance with HSE guidelines, which successfully prevented any reportable incidents for three consecutive years.
- Developed and executed process validation protocols for a novel polymer synthesis route, which led to a patented technology and its commercialisation.
- Managed pilot-scale trials for a new catalyst system, contributing to a 10% increase in product yield and significant enhancements in catalyst life span.
- Implemented advanced control strategies for distillation columns that resulted in a 5% increase in separation efficiency and energy savings of £50,000 per year.
- Authored technical reports and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that streamlined processes and were adopted as part of the company’s Best Practice Documentation.
- Represented the company at international conferences, presenting research on green chemistry initiatives that positioned the company as a leader in sustainable chemical engineering.
- Spearheaded the optimisation of distillation processes that led to a 20% increase in efficiency for petrochemical production at BP.
- Managed cross-functional teams in developing a new catalyst system, enhancing product purity by 15% while cutting production costs by £200k annually.
- Implemented advanced process control strategies that reduced energy consumption by 10% per annum, significantly lowering the carbon footprint.
- Oversaw the project management of a £5m plant expansion at BASF, delivering the project 3 months ahead of schedule.
- Developed and enforced stringent safety protocols that decreased the incident rate by 40% over two years.
- Initiated and conducted comprehensive process simulations improving the yield of high-performance polymers by 25%.
- Pioneered a proprietary pharmaceutical compound scale-up, reducing time-to-market by 6 months for AstraZeneca.
- Enhanced the upstream processing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, augmenting throughput by 20%, resulting in a £1.2m revenue increase.
- Authored and secured 3 patents in novel drug delivery methods, positioning the company advantageously in a competitive market.
- Executed a company-wide waste reduction initiative at Shell that eliminated 500 tonnes of hazardous waste per year.
- Collaborated with supply chain partners to streamline raw material delivery, slashing inventory costs by £500k whilst maintaining production timelines.
- Engineered an award-winning water treatment solution that reused 75% of process water, significantly reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
- Directed the design and execution of a £10m reactor upgrade at INEOS, achieving a 30% uplift in production capacity.
- Integrating AI-driven predictive maintenance systems to reduce downtime by 25%, directly impacting the bottom line.
- Authored a widely acclaimed research paper on the use of nano-technology in catalysis, significantly influencing industry practices.
- Functioned as the project lead on a multimillion-pound installation of bio-reactor systems at GlaxoSmithKline, culminating in a 40% boost in biopharmaceutical production.
- Optimised antibody drug conjugate manufacturing processes, leading to a 50% reduction in production time and a 30% cost saving.
- Liaised with regulatory agencies to ensure full compliance with MHRA and FDA guidelines, with zero citations over the tenure.
- Delivered bespoke consultancy on lean manufacturing to AkzoNobel, enabling the client to streamline operations and enhance productivity by 22%.
- Conceived and led a workforce training program that improved technical competency scores across the board by 35%.
- Facilitated the transition to a more sustainable solvent system, reducing VOC emissions by 1800 tonnes per year.
- Innovated a water-soluble film for agrochemical delivery at Syngenta that boosted target delivery efficacy by 50% while minimising environmental leaching.
- Led a tech-transfer project that was pivotal in establishing a manufacturing site in India, expanding the company's global footprint.
- Piloted a continuous flow chemistry initiative that slashed reaction times from hours to minutes, markedly increasing plant throughput.
What to add in your chemical engineer CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your chemical engineer CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your chemical engineer CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your chemical engineer CV:
Chemical process design
Process simulation and modelling
Chemical reaction engineering
Material science
Thermodynamics
Process optimization
Safety management and HAZOP studies
Project management
Quality control and assurance
Regulatory compliance
Analytical thinking
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Communication
Teamwork
Leadership
Time management
Adaptability
Project planning
Continuous learning
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your chemical engineer CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your chemical engineer CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional chemical engineer CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
