Chemist CV: example, sample and tips

Example CV: chemist

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

How to write a chemist CV

Professional summary

In three or four sentences, say which area of chemistry you work in (analysis, quality control, synthesis, process technology, research and development), which techniques you use and which industry you have experience in: pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, petrochemicals or environmental protection. After a few seconds the recruiter should know whether you fit their laboratory.

Chemist with 4 years of experience in organic synthesis and compound purification in a research and development department. I work with NMR, HPLC and column chromatography and keep an electronic laboratory notebook. I want to grow in scaling up processes from the laboratory to production.

Experience: duties and achievements

Instead of general duties, give the methods, instruments, type of samples and scale of work. Numbers help a lot: how many analyses, how many validated methods, how much shorter a test became. If you work in an accredited laboratory or a GMP environment, say so directly, because for many employers it is a requirement.

Skills worth listing

Keep measurement techniques separate from standards and quality systems. List only what you can talk about comfortably in an interview: laboratories often ask about the details of a specific method, for example choosing a column or preparing a sample.

Courses and training

In chemistry, the most important thing is a relevant degree: chemistry, chemical technology, biotechnology or pharmacy. Add the training you have actually completed, for example in GMP, method validation, operating specific instruments or working with hazardous substances. Give the year and the scope.

Chemist CV with no experience

If you are finishing your studies, start with your education and describe your thesis: the topic, techniques and instruments. Add placements, internships, student research groups, grants and presentations at student conferences.

A short list of the techniques you have used on your own in lab classes works well. Be honest about which ones you know from practice and which only from theory.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

Job ads for chemists vary a lot. Quality control in pharmaceuticals requires knowledge of GMP and HPLC, an environmental laboratory requires ISO standards and metal determination, and research and development requires experience in synthesis. Order your skills so that the ones from the job ad come first, and use the same method names as the employer, for example HPLC rather than just chromatography. Recruitment systems often search for exactly these words.

Chemist CV and the type of position

The same degree leads to very different jobs. Before you send your CV, check which of these areas the job ad belongs to and move what matters most there to the top.

Quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA)

Show routine analytical work, knowledge of pharmacopoeias or standards, handling out-of-specification results and documentation in line with GMP.

Research and development (R&D)

Describe your projects: what you developed, what the results were and which synthesis and characterization techniques you used. This is where your independence shows best.

Environmental and accredited laboratories

What counts are the types of samples, test methods, field sampling and working to ISO/IEC 17025.

Production and process technology

Write about supervising the process, controlling parameters, working with maintenance and improvements that brought savings.

The most common mistakes on a chemist CV

• The vague "laboratory work" without naming methods and instruments.
• Listing techniques known only from lectures as practical skills.
• No information about the industry: pharmaceuticals, food and environmental protection have different requirements.
• Leaving out quality systems (GMP, GLP, ISO/IEC 17025) even though you worked with them.
• A list of every subject from your studies instead of a description of your thesis and placements.
• A CV that is too long: one or two pages are enough for most positions.

Questions and answers

What should a chemist with no experience put on a CV?

Education, the topic of your thesis with the techniques used, placements and internships, activity in a student research group and courses. Instead of an empty experience section, describe your lab projects: what you studied, with what method and what came of it.

Should a chemist list publications on a CV?

For research and scientific positions, yes, in a separate section with a few of the most important items. In quality control or an industrial laboratory, a short mention or a link to the full list is enough.

How long should a chemist CV be?

One page early in your career, two with a few years of experience. A longer CV makes sense in academia, where grant projects and publications are added.

Should a chemist CV be in English?

If the job ad is in English or the company belongs to an international group, prepare an English version. Keep the names of methods and standards in their original form.

See also

All resume examples by job