Professional Chemist CV Example & Writing Guide

A chemist CV is your entry ticket to research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, or industrial settings. It's more than just a list of qualifications; it's a strategic document that demonstrates your technical expertise, analytical capabilities, and contribution to scientific advancement. 

Regardless of whether you're a recent graduate or an experienced research chemist, your CV must strike the right balance between your skills and achievements, demonstrating them in a clear, compelling way.

In this article, we'll show you how to write a chemist CV that gets noticed, provide two outstanding examples, and highlight common mistakes that could cost you an interview.

2 Real-World Chemist CV Examples

Before we examine writing strategies in detail, let's look at two chemist CV examples that demonstrate what works in practice. The first targets entry-level positions, whilst the second showcases how experienced professionals should present their credentials.

Entry-Level Chemist CV

Use this example

This CV example immediately establishes credibility through strong academic performance and relevant laboratory experience. 

The quantified achievement in the dissertation (“18% efficiency improvement”) demonstrates practical impact, whilst the inclusion of specific instruments and techniques shows technical competency. 

Additionally, the internship position at a pharmaceutical company adds industry exposure, making this candidate competitive despite limited professional experience.

Experienced Chemist CV

Here’s a seasoned analytical chemist CV you can use for inspiration:

Use this example

This chemist CV example demonstrates career progress and leadership, with quantified achievements that prove impact (30% reduction in development time, 22% decrease in method failures). 

The inclusion of publications and patents establishes scientific credibility, whilst the blend of technical skills and regulatory knowledge makes this candidate attractive to pharmaceutical employers. 

How to Write a Chemist CV: A Step-by-Step Guide

To write a chemist CV that will help you land an interview, you need to highlight technical expertise and research contributions in a chemist CV format that's both scannable by recruiters and comprehensive. 

The reverse chronological format works best for most chemistry roles because it showcases your career progression and allows employers to quickly assess your most recent and relevant experience.

Now, let's examine how to write each section effectively:

#1. Add Your Contact Details and Professional Headline

Your contact information should sit at the top of your CV header, where recruiters can immediately see it. For chemists, this section carries additional importance because you may need to include links to publications, research profiles, or online portfolios.

Include these essential details:

Avoid adding personal information like date of birth, marital status, or photograph unless specifically requested. These details aren't standard practice in the UK and can introduce unconscious bias.

Here's what a proper contact section looks like:

Following your contact details, include a professional summary that captures your expertise in 3–4 lines. This isn't the place for vague statements about being "hardworking" or "passionate"—focus on your specialisation, years of experience, and one standout achievement. 

A strong professional summary follows this formula:

Here's what that looks like in practice:

#2. Highlight Relevant Skills

The skills section is where you demonstrate your technical capabilities and professional competencies. For chemists, this means balancing hard skills—the specific techniques, instruments, and methodologies you've mastered—with soft skills that show you can work effectively in research teams and communicate complex findings.

List 8–12 skills as bullet points, starting with technical competencies before moving to transferable abilities. Be specific: instead of writing "laboratory experience," specify "GC-MS analysis" or "protein purification using FPLC."

Hard skills for chemists include:

Meanwhile, some soft skills to emphasise would be:

#3. Showcase Work Experience and Research Projects

Your work experience section is the cornerstone of your chemistry CV. This is where you prove you can apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, be it conducting research, developing pharmaceutical products, or ensuring quality control in industrial processes.

List your positions in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role. Each entry should include your job title, employer, location, and dates of employment. Below that, add 3–6 bullet points describing your achievements, not just your responsibilities.

The difference matters. Saying "conducted HPLC analysis" tells recruiters what you did; saying "developed and validated 12 HPLC methods that reduced testing time by 40%" shows the impact you made. 

You should also use action verbs like synthesised, analysed, developed, optimised, validated, and implemented to start each bullet point, and include quantifiable results whenever possible.

Here's what strong experience entries look like:

#4. Include Education and Certifications

For chemists, education credentials carry substantial weight, especially for research and pharmaceutical roles. 

List your most recent degrees first, including the qualification type, dates, institution, and location. If you're a recent graduate, you can elaborate on your dissertation, relevant coursework, or academic achievements to compensate for limited work experience.

Here's how to structure your education section:

Certifications demonstrate your commitment to professional development and regulatory compliance. For chemists working in pharmaceuticals or regulated industries, certifications in GMP, GLP, or laboratory safety are highly valued. 

Furthermore, if you hold professional designations like Chartered Chemist (CChem) from the Royal Society of Chemistry, include these prominently; they signal recognised expertise in your field.

List certifications like this:

#5. Add Publications, Patents, and Extras

This section sets you apart from other candidates, particularly in research-heavy roles. 

Publications demonstrate your ability to conduct rigorous scientific work and communicate findings to the broader scientific community. Meanwhile, patents show innovation and practical application of your research.

List publications in a standard academic format (author names, year, title, journal, volume, pages). If you have numerous publications, include only the most relevant or impactful ones on your CV and note that a complete list is available upon request.

Here's how to format this section:

Other optional sections worth considering include:

These additions help round out your profile, but only include them if they're genuinely relevant to the position you're targeting. A focused, concise CV typically performs better than one padded with tangential information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Chemist CV

Even strong candidates can undermine their applications through easily avoidable CV errors. Here are the most frequent mistakes we see in chemist CVs:

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Final Thoughts

Writing an effective chemist CV requires balancing technical precision with clear communication. Your document should showcase laboratory skills, research contributions, and analytical capabilities whilst remaining accessible to recruiters who may not share your chemical expertise. 

Your CV must demonstrate both your scientific competence and your ability to contribute meaningful results. Therefore, you need to follow the structure we've outlined, learn from the examples provided, and avoid common pitfalls. This way, you'll significantly improve your chances of landing interviews for your ideal chemistry position!

Chemist CV FAQs

#1. How long should a chemist CV be?

A chemist CV should typically be up to 2 pages long, which provides sufficient space to detail your technical skills, work experience, education, and relevant projects. Recent graduates can often fit everything on a single page, whilst senior chemists with extensive publications or patents may even extend to 3 pages. 

#2. Should I include lab techniques and instruments?

Yes, you should include specific laboratory techniques and instruments because these details demonstrate your practical capabilities and help you pass applicant tracking system (ATS) scans that search for technical keywords. For example, you can list chromatography methods (HPLC, GC-MS), spectroscopic techniques (NMR, IR, mass spec), and any specialised equipment you're qualified to operate. 

#3. What skills make a chemist CV stand out?

Skills that make a chemist CV stand out include advanced analytical techniques, method development, validation experience, regulatory compliance knowledge (GMP/GLP), and demonstrated ability to publish or patent research findings. Additionally, highlighting cross-functional collaboration, project management, and the ability to communicate complex chemical concepts to non-specialist audiences is a plus.