How to Write a Chemical Engineer CV
Chemical engineers design the processes that transform raw materials into valuable, everyday products. It’s a highly technical profession that combines scientific understanding with creative problem-solving.
The role spans diverse sectors, working with pharmacists, renewable energy engineers, lab technicians and civil engineers. It appeals to people who are analytical, detail-focused and comfortable working across multiple disciplines.
Given the competitive nature of the field, knowing how to write a good CV is essential. Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter candidates, so submitting a modern CV including the right keywords, academic background and practical skills can significantly improve your chances of being noticed.
This guide offers a clear structure for writing your chemical engineer CV and includes examples for students and early-career applicants as well as senior professionals.
In this article, we cover:
A chemical engineer CV example tailored for recent graduates
Step-by-step advice on structuring your CV
Examples of work experience and personal profiles for chemical engineers
Bonus tip: Writing a CV with little to no experience
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Chemical engineer CV example
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This CV uses the Wisconsin template, a structured and professional format that clearly presents skills and experience. With strong headings, effective spacing and room for achievements, it's well-suited to technical graduates seeking roles in engineering, production or R&D.
What to include in a chemical engineer's CV?
For roles like chemical engineering, a targeted CV should be supported by creating a comprehensive master CV. This allows you to track your skills, coursework, software knowledge and project experience over time, then tailor individual applications more efficiently.
Your chemical engineer master CV should include:
A concise personal profile detailing your motivation and career goals.
A list of relevant skills, including software, lab techniques and transferable soft skills.
Work experience, such as placements, internships, project work or research.
Education, including degree title, institution and relevant modules.
Optional: professional memberships, certifications or publications.
Remember, a standout CV for an electrical engineer needs an equally top-notch cover letter, especially if you plan on applying for jobs and sending your CV via email.
Want to get inspiration for your cover letter? Explore the product manager cover letter or engineer cover letter examples.
Pro Tip
Many chemical engineering roles, particularly in graduate schemes, have tight application windows and formalised hiring processes. Having a prepared master CV helps you respond quickly with role-specific examples, especially when different employers emphasise different areas, such as lab safety, process optimisation or simulation tools.
How to structure a chemical engineer CV: 5 steps with examples
Each of the following steps includes sample content with recent graduates and early-career applicants in mind. However, these insights apply to senior candidates too. For more inspiration across technical industries, see our CV examples for mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and graduate roles.
1. How to list chemical engineer skills on a CV
Correctly listing key skills on a CV is essential for demonstrating your technical expertise and workplace readiness. Grouping your skills into categories (such as hard and technical skills) can help recruiters quickly identify your suitability. Weave your soft skills into your personal profile and work experience sections, and add specific sections for hard and technical skills.
Five essential skills for chemical engineers:
Process design: Creating and refining chemical processes for production and safety.
Data analysis: Working with lab and process data to identify improvements or troubleshoot.
Health and safety awareness: Understanding HAZOP, COSHH and general lab or plant safety.
Problem-solving: Applying logical thinking to complex challenges in production or development.
Cross-functional teamwork: Collaborating with engineers from other disciplines or departments.
| Hard skills | Soft skills |
|---|---|
| Material selection | Initiative |
| Heat exchanger design | Decision-making under pressure |
| Process flow diagram (PFD) creation | Time estimation and planning |
| Hazard and operability studies (HAZOP) | Conflict resolution |
| Quality control procedures | Resilience in high-pressure environments |
Technical skills for a chemical engineer CV
Pro Tip
Soft skills like communication, adaptability, and teamwork aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re often what set candidates apart. Highlight real examples of how you’ve used these skills to solve problems or support others to show your value beyond the job description.
Learn more about the soft skills employers look for.
2. How to write a personal profile for a chemical engineer CV
Personal profile on a CV
A well-written personal profile should be a short paragraph at the top of your CV that introduces who you are, your background and what you’re looking for. Highlight your academic focus, software or lab experience and transferable skills.
Chemical engineer CV personal profile example
Recent MEng Chemical Engineering graduate with 5 years of practical experience in process design, laboratory testing and data modelling. Strong interest in sustainable engineering and ready to contribute to process optimisation and innovation.
Process engineer CV personal profile example
Process engineer with a strong academic foundation in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Six years of experience transforming industrial processes. Proven track record analysing data and improving lab-scale processes in cross-collaborative team environments.
Graduate chemical engineer CV personal profile example
Graduate chemical engineer with hands-on experience in simulation tools and safety analysis. Looking to begin a career in a regulated industry such as energy or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Chemical engineering placement CV personal profile example
Completed industrial placement in a process plant environment, supporting senior engineers in monitoring outputs, identifying risks and implementing quality control processes. Gained practical knowledge of process optimisation, data analysis, and regulatory compliance while developing strong problem-solving and communication skills. Eager to apply this experience in a graduate role within the chemical or manufacturing industry.
Chemical engineering student CV personal profile example
Final-year student with internship experience in water treatment and coursework in reactor design. Strong problem-solving abilities and keen to develop technical expertise in an applied setting. Supported senior engineers in monitoring production outputs, identifying operational risks, and contributing to the implementation of quality control and safety processes. Seeking to apply this experience in a graduate role to broaden my knowledge and expertise.
Looking for more help to write your personal profile? Discover the best tips for your profile summary.
If you are a student or recent graduate entering the workforce, consider focusing on your motivations, skills developed through work experience and relevant educational projects.
Invest in your career with a professional CV
3. How to include practical work experience
Including a relevant work experience CV section helps employers assess whether you can apply your technical knowledge in practice. This is the meat of your CV and a section which is equally important for graduates as it is for seasoned professionals.
We recommend listing experiences in reverse chronological order, listing your main responsibilities while weaving in-demand soft skills into the text. Remember the power of action verbs on a CV such as ‘arranged’, ‘facilitated’ or ‘developed’. Conclude each entry with two to three quantifiable results to demonstrate your achievements and impact in the role.
First, we will take a look at a good and bad example of a work experience section for the same role.
Good example of a work experience entry:
Graduate chemical engineer | EcoFuel Systems, London | 2023 – Present
Assisting senior engineers in enhancing thermal efficiency across pilot biofuel systems. Contributed to the calibration, testing and maintenance of new process equipment. Supported the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety documentation and data collection tools for pilot trials.
Achieved a 10% energy reduction by analysing heat exchanger performance.
Developed cleaning protocols to reduce system downtime.
Took part in weekly technical review meetings with R&D and operations.
Why is this a good example?
This is a good example because it’s clear, specific, and shows impact. It highlights key responsibilities using strong action verbs and includes measurable achievements (like a 10% energy reduction), which help demonstrate the candidate’s value. It also shows collaboration, technical skills, and real contributions to ongoing projects – exactly what employers look for.
Bad example of a work experience entry:
Chemical Engineer | EcoFuel | 2023
Worked on various tasks to help the team. Showed I am a team player. Responsible for data and supported different areas as needed.
Helped with different projects.
Took part and spoke in staff meetings.
Showed an aptitude for learning about chemical processes.
Why is this a bad example?
This is a bad example because it's vague, lacks detail, and uses weak, repetitive language. It doesn’t clearly explain the candidate’s responsibilities, skills, or impact – making it hard for employers to understand their value.
Job-specific work experience examples
R&D engineer, Genetix Pharma, Reading, 2022 – 2023
Collaborated with formulation scientists to test and optimise purification methods for new pharmaceutical compounds. Assisted in setting up experimental runs, monitoring results and interpreting data to inform process improvements.
Reduced cycle times by 15% by improving batch flow setup.
Automated data entry for stability testing using MATLAB scripts.
Co-authored internal process summary presented to management.
Chemist, University of Bristol Research Lab, 2021 – 2024
Contributed to a group research project focused on synthetic chemistry and compound development. Prepared reagents, conducted analytical testing and documented procedures in line with lab protocols.
Synthesised and analysed three novel compounds.
Presented findings at a faculty showcase.
Maintained full laboratory logbook and safety records.
Principal Chemical Engineer,FutureChem Industries, Leeds, 2021 – Present
Overseeing a multidisciplinary team working on waste-to-energy process development and implementation. Responsible for the design, optimisation and scale-up of modular systems across pilot and production phases. Coordinated project planning, stakeholder communication and technical risk assessments.
Designed a system currently undergoing pilot testing.
Reduced emissions output by 18% compared to previous design.
Mentored junior staff and coordinated multi-site operations.
If you are still gathering full-time experience, a well-crafted work experience section demonstrates learning and initiative through research, apprenticeships or internships.
4. How to include education on a chemical engineer CV
Formatting the education section on your CV correctly is crucial. Like other skilled jobs such as biomedical scientist or chemist, chemical engineering typically requires A-Levels and a university degree or vocational qualification.
How to format a university degree
Format your degree by listing the qualification, institution and completion year. You can optionally include coursework, especially for graduate applications.
MEng in Chemical Engineering, University of Leeds, 2023
Relevant coursework: Reaction Engineering, Safety in Design, Process Modelling
How to format a vocational diploma
Include the diploma name, college and year. Add relevant modules or focus areas if they support the job.
BTEC Level 5 HND in Chemical Engineering, Sheffield College, 2022
Relevant modules: Chemical Process Control, Thermodynamics, Project Management
How to format A-Levels education
If your degree is pending or recently completed, include A-Levels with grades.
A-Levels, Newcastle Sixth Form, 2017 – 2019
Mathematics (A), Chemistry (A), Physics (B)
How to format GCSEs education
List GCSEs by subject and grade. Highlight those relevant to the role.
GCSEs, St. Thomas High School, 2015 – 2017
10 GCSEs including Mathematics (A), Chemistry (A), English Language (B)
5. Tailoring your CV for the job
Chemical engineering roles often include detailed person specifications. Tailoring your CV is a powerful way to strengthen your application. This means reviewing the job advert and ensuring your CV reflects the terminology, responsibilities and required skills mentioned.
For example, if the job description mentions "scale-up experience", highlight any academic projects or placements involving scale-up or pilot testing. Use job titles and keywords in your personal profile and experience section where appropriate.
Recommended keywords
Tips for a chemical engineer CV with little to no experience
For those with limited experience, for example, navigating a career change or just perhaps writing a CV for your first job, focus on what you’ve gained through your studies, previous work history or time out. Avoid over-fluffing your CV. Recruiters value clarity over vague statements. Instead, include practical and relatable examples showing your understanding of technical concepts and an ability to work methodically.
If you’ve taken part in group projects, volunteering or tutoring, these can be used to highlight soft skills like communication, time management and initiative. It can also help to find a mentor in the industry, whether through university, alumni networks or online platforms. A mentor can offer insight into what employers look for and help you refine your CV over time.
Learn more about how to write a CV with little to no experience.
Key takeaways
Dos
Use a clean CV layout and structure experience clearly
Provide context, responsibilities and impact
Tailor your CV using job-specific keywords
Emphasise transferable and technical skills.
Dont's
Include vague experience without context
Neglect your personal profile or 'About me' section
Send the same CV to every employer
Forget to proofread for any typos or errors.
Next steps?
Iron out any creases using our intuitive CV maker with 20+ CV templates and professional designs to choose from. To accompany your CV, discover our cover letter templates. If you don’t want to leave anything to chance, connect with our professional CV Writing Service.
Draw inspiration from our career blog for tips on how to save time by tracking job applications and how to improve your CV to make the best impression with hiring managers.
FAQs
Are chemical engineers in demand in the UK?
Yes. Demand is steady, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy and water treatment.
What can I do with a chemical engineering degree?
You can work in design, manufacturing, quality control, process optimisation, safety or environmental roles.
What is the salary for a chemical engineer?
Graduate roles often start between £28,000 and £35,000. Experienced engineers may earn £50,000 or more.
How do I prepare for a chemical engineering interview?
Review the job spec, prepare examples of your technical and teamwork experience, and research the company’s recent projects. Read our article on how to prepare for a job interview.
How can I get into the field of chemical engineering?
A degree in chemical engineering is the most common route. Work experience, internships or placements are also important for getting started.
