Chemist CV Guide + Tips + Example
- 30% higher chance of getting a job‡
- 42% higher response rate from recruiters‡
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You’ll need an impressive chemist CV if you want to get a good job as a chemist. You’ve come to the right place! Our guide to crafting a great chemist CV will help you make the most of your excellent analytical skills and attention to detail so you can get the job.
Get started by editing this chemist CV sample template or browse our library of CV templates to find the one that fits you.
Chemist CV example (text version)
Lucy Jude
Boston, MA 02090
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Summary Statement
Professional chemist with more than a decade of experience in the field and a strong working knowledge of the industry. Offers expertise in chemical composition, equipment maintenance and testing procedures. Excellent command of the English language, including oral and written comprehension skills. Critical thinker who is reliable, responsible, organized and always goes the extra mile for the job.
Core Qualifications
- Analytical processes
- Research
- Documentation procedures
- Equipment management
- R programming language
- SAP systems
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
Education
- Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
Master of Science Chemistry - Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
Bachelor of Science Chemistry - Minor – Math
Work Experience
November 2016 – Current
Vertex Pharmaceuticals – Boston, MA
Experience Chemist
- Analyze organic and inorganic compounds using techniques such as chromatography and spectrophotometry to determine properties, structure, reactions, relationships and composition.
- Maintain laboratory and its equipment, troubleshooting issues when necessary to ensure a safe and productive lab, reducing 98% of chemical-related threats.
- Introduce heat, energy, light or chemical catalysts to substances in order to induce changes and perform analysis.
- Lead a team of 15, work with physical, qualitative and quantitative tests and perform techniques such as HPLC, GC, TOC and UV/VIS on assays and related substances.
September 2011 – October 2016
Ginkgo Bioworks – Boston, MA
Chemist
- Compiled test information and analyzed it to determine how efficiently processes and equipment were working, diagnose problems and create and implement solutions.
- Communicated with other scientists and engineers on projects to analyze research projects, develop nonstandard tests and interpret their results.
- Ensured that safety standards were maintained, especially when working with volatile chemicals, reducing safety risks by 97%.
- Maintained inventory of 2,000 solutions and purchased lab supplies when necessary, including chemicals, beakers, test tubes and equipment.
June 2010 – August 2011
Takeda Pharmaceutical – Boston, MA
Research Chemist
- Prepared compounds, reagents and test solutions in order to conduct laboratory tests.
- Evaluated safety procedures for the laboratory to ensure compliance and improved those standards where necessary.
- Wrote reports and technical papers detailing processes, products, tests and facilities used during experimentation.
- Researched 65% of new formulas to improve products that were already on the market and bring them to a larger audience.
Research Experience
- Validated incoming data to check information accuracy and integrity while independently locating and correcting concerns as research lead in “Analyzing Substances”, (2017) at Boston College
- Gathered, arranged and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentation as a research assistant in “Chemistry and Safety in Manufactory”, (2019) at Boston College
- Carried out laboratory tests and experiments to analyze, identify and isolate chemical compounds in three comparative experiments for “Chemistry Today”, (2018) at Suffolk University
Conference Attendance
- 11th Annual Advances in Chemical Sciences Symposium, Cambridge, MA – (2023)
- NESACS Meeting, Boston, MA – (2023)
- Annual Boston Symposium on Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Boston, MA – (2022)
- National Chemistry Week 2022, Boston, MA – (2022)
2021 Chemistry Summit, Boston, MA – (2021)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- American Chemical Society (ACS) – (2022)
- American Chemical Council – (2021)
- American Institute of Chemists – (2019)
Certifications and Licenses
- Toxicological Chemist, (NRCC) – (2022)
- Specialist in Chemistry Certification (SC(ASCP)) – (2021)
- Certified Professional Chemist, National Certification Commission in
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (NCCCE) – (2019)
- American Chemical Society, (ACS) Certification – (2018)
Profession Relevant Skills
- Outstanding critical thinker who can use logic and reasoning to identify weaknesses in laboratory research and modify the research plan to create a stronger proposal that yields more concise results.
- Exceptional communicator who has the ability to convey and understand complex thoughts in person or via writing.
- Patient instructor who has knowledge of teaching methods that helps new employees, interns and others to learn how to properly conduct research in a laboratory environment.
- Highly organized individual who keeps detailed notes during each step of the research process and submits full reports that help other chemists and scientists to better their own research methods.
Dedicated professional with expert-level knowledge of organic synthesis. - Qualified chemist who has the dexterity and coordination necessary to work in a laboratory with expensive equipment and dangerous chemicals.
Hobbies and Interests
I enjoy reading anything I can find on new advances in science, whether in the fields of computer, medicine or any others. When I am not working, I like to practice meditation, enjoy local history and read about paranormal experiences. I also spend plenty of quality time with my partner, our families and our pets.
5 essentials of a top chemist CV
Contact details
Without contact information, hiring managers cannot get in touch with you. At the top of your CV, place your full name, city, state and ZIP code, followed by your phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add those as well.
Personal statement
A personal statement, also called a professional summary, is your chance to introduce yourself and highlight your top qualifications to the hiring manager. Your professional statement should make an immediate impact by including one or two of your most notable professional accomplishments. Make sure to use our example chemist CV for guidance.
Skills
Hiring managers want to know if your skills match their needs. Show them you have what it takes by creating a separate section and using bullet points to display your top hard and soft skills — from lab equipment calibration to organization— as shown on our sample chemist CV. However, if you are applying for your first job, include transferable skills, which are soft skills that you can use in any job, such as communication and interpersonal skills.
Work history
Your CV must have a detailed employment history section, like our CV example for a chemist shows — even if you don’t have relevant work experience. Create a section for your employment history and list your current and previous employers in reverse-chronological order. Provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for each. Describe your experience through three bullet points of measurable expertise for every job you mention. If you don’t have work experience in the field or if this is your first job application, add extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, community service and professional and personal projects — anything that shows you have relevant work experience.
Education
Add all the educational institutions you’ve attended after high school to your chemist CV. Use bullet points for each school and display the name of the school and the year you graduated, unless it was more than 10 years ago. List your high school information and any post-high school classes taken if you did not attend college. Use the chemist CV sample on this page to see how to do it correctly.
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Action words for a stand-out chemist CV
Action words convey confidence and strengthen CVs because they mention what you did in your past roles. Combine them with numbers to really make an impact!
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a chemist CV:
- Peruse
- Determine
- Evaluate
- Formulate
- Interpret
- Measure
- Predict
- Survey
- Summarize
- Examine
- Explore
- Collect
- Research
- Compute
- Calculate
Need a professional chemist CV now? Head to our CV Maker, which has all the tools you need to create a professional CV in minutes. Start by downloading a chemist CV template for free. We’ll give you expert phrases and industry-relevant keywords. You can make edits on the fly, download your CV and save it as a PDF, .doc or plain text when you’re finished. Yes, it really is that easy!
Top skills for a chemist CV
Read the job description carefully and match the required skills to your skill set and traits.
Your skills might include:
- Lab equipment calibration
- Equipment management
- Batch record analysis
- Microsoft Excel
- ISO 9001 manufacturing standards
- Inventory auditing
- Recordkeeping requirements
- Cost model analysis
- MRP and ERP systems
- Lean manufacturing processes
- Analysis
- Attention to detail
- Precision
- Organization
Certifications for a chemist CV
A certification is not a requirement for a chemist job, but job seekers who are certified tend to get hired more than those who do not.
Certifications from a respected organization on your chemist CV convey to prospective employers that you are committed to your field. Some programs take longer than others, and most require an ongoing commitment, but staying current in your field is crucial to landing a great job as a chemist.
There are several certifications available for chemists, including:
Pair your CV with a matching cover letter
Chemist CV FAQ
How should you craft your chemist cv if you’re looking to take the next step forward in your career?
Keep the points below in mind to enhance your resume and take your career to the next level:
- Continue to gain experience and expertise in providing consultations and answers to patient inquiries.
- Continue to collaborate with health care professionals and physicians regarding drugs, their potential side effects and specified use.
- Show examples of how you’ve effectively managed pharmacy operations with a solid commitment to efficiency, accuracy and service quality.
- Obtain a doctoral degree in pharmacy and any other related training and certifications.
- Attain membership in industry networking and professional groups to improve your knowledge and experience.
- Check out chemist CV samples for guidance.
How do I include keywords in my CV for a chemist job?
Read the job description thoroughly, pinpointing important words and phrases that describe what the job demands, such as providing consultations, answering inquiries, or monitoring pharmacy medication stock orders. You can also check the company’s website for other keywords that depict its culture and approach. These keywords will be searched for by applicant tracking systems (ATS), which employers use to scan your resume.
The more keywords you can address in your resume, the higher your resume’s chances of clearing the scan. Gear your summary, work experience and skills sections to address these keywords. Ensure you add keyword phrases such as “Medication inventory management” in your skills section, or write “Experienced in all aspects of medication inventory, including stock ordering and maintenance” in your summary section.
What’s the best CV format for a chemist?
The best format for a chemist CV is the one that fits the industry, job, work experience and goals. For instance, if you’re applying for your first chemist job or are changing careers, it’s best to use a CV format that emphasizes your education or skills. However, if you have a steady career as a travel consultant and have progressed through the ranks, you might want to showcase your work experience. Professional chemist CV examples are the best way to get started on your chemist CV.
Do’s and don’ts for building a chemist CV
- Use measurable achievements to describe your chemist skills and experience.
- Use action words to make an impact on your chemist CV.
- Tailor your CV to your target chemist job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your chemist CV.
- Format your chemist CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Lie about your chemist experience and skills.
- Boast about your “incomparable” chemist abilities.
- Include irrelevant personal information, such as your ethnicity and age.
- Add skills and experience not pertaining to pharmacy.
- Forget to proofread. A chemist CV with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for acing a chemist interview
Learn about the company before your interview.
Learning about a company’s history, goals, values and people before the interview is important. It shows real interest, dedication and commitment — traits that hiring managers look for in top job candidates. Plus, having a glimpse of the company culture before you arrive will give you an idea of what to expect on arrival, which will help you feel more confident.
Practice!
A little practice now will go a long way during your interview. To practice for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
- What motivates you to do a good job?
- If there was one area you’ve always wanted to improve upon, what would it be?
Ask a friend to interview you so you can get comfortable with the questions and instill the answers in your mind. Ask them for feedback on your performance and answers, and write down their suggestions. You’ll feel more at ease, confident and ready when it’s time for the real thing.
Be proactive and ask questions.
Your interviewer will ask if you have any questions at the end of your session. You should always have at least three questions ready; job candidates who don’t ask questions are not as likely to get hired because hiring managers assume they aren’t interested in the role or haven’t put much thought into it.
Some questions you might ask for a chemist job are:
- Why is this position open?
- How do you define success for this job?
- What are the next steps?
Have references ready.
Having professional references ready before your interview will prepare you in case the hiring manager decides to move forward. Have a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak to your abilities and write a letter of recommendation for you. Ensure you contact those who you know will give you a stellar review.
If you are applying for your first full-time job and don’t have former colleagues or a manager for reference, you can get references from a former instructor, volunteer coordinator, internship manager, classmate, or community leader who will provide a positive review about your ability to perform different tasks.
