Chemical engineer new grad resume example

By the Rezumed team · Updated November 5, 2026

A new grad chemical engineer resume has to show that you understand a process, not just a part: how material moves through equipment, how you measure it, what can go wrong and how you keep people safe. The unit operations lab, senior process design and a plant co-op are where that proof lives.

What this resume has to prove

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says chemical engineers "apply the principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering to design equipment and processes for manufacturing products such as gasoline, detergents, and paper." Their listed duties include conducting research to develop new and improved manufacturing processes, designing and planning the layout of equipment, establishing "safety procedures for working with dangerous chemicals", conducting tests and monitoring production processes, troubleshooting problems in manufacturing processes, and evaluating equipment and processes for compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

BLS says chemical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field, that employers often prefer graduates of accredited programs, and that internships and co-ops help: "Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have gained experience in an internship or a cooperative education program." On licensing, it says: "Licensure is not required for entry-level chemical engineers." BLS lists passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam among the steps toward a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

Sample resume

Projects sit right after the co-op because the unit operations lab and process design are the two courses every chemical engineering employer knows. Safety training gets its own section, since plant hiring managers look for it, and the FE line shows a real exam date, not a hope.

What to put in each section

Co-op or internship: the unit, the problem, your part

Name the kind of plant and the unit you supported, then write bullets about what you checked, measured or wrote. Plant work is often small and careful: a drawing update, a trend summary, a procedure. That is fine. It matches duties BLS lists, like monitoring production processes and troubleshooting problems. Leave out product names and process conditions your employer treats as confidential.

Projects: unit operations lab and process design

For the lab, name the equipment, what you varied and what you compared your data against. For senior design, name the product and the section you owned, the simulator you used and the safety review. BLS lists analytical skills among the important qualities, saying chemical engineers "must be able to evaluate designs and processes and to propose improvements, if necessary." A bullet that explains why the data and the model disagree shows exactly that.

Safety, education and the FE exam

List each safety course with the year. Write your degree, school and graduation month, and note that the program is accredited if it is. If you have passed the FE exam, say so; if it is booked, write the month. Leave it off if you have no date yet.

Skills to list

Process engineering postings name the simulator, the control system and the kind of plant. Use those exact names for the ones you have used, and add "coursework" if you only used one in class. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords.

Tools

• Simulation: Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, CHEMCAD or DWSIM
• Data: Excel, MATLAB or Python, plant historian trends
• Drawings: P&IDs and process flow diagrams
• Lab: gas chromatography, viscometers, pH and conductivity meters
• Safety training: OSHA courses, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, with years

Abilities

• Mass and energy balances by hand and in a simulator
• Reading P&IDs and walking down equipment
• Taking part in hazard reviews
• Writing procedures operators can follow
• Explaining lab data that does not match the model

Common mistakes

• Leaving out the unit operations lab. It is the most hands-on course in the degree. Give it two bullets with the equipment you ran and what you found.
• Safety as a soft skill. "Safety-minded" says nothing. A training list with years and a hazard review bullet show you have worked inside a safety system.
• Results you didn't measure. A co-op bullet like "improved reactor yield" needs a number you actually saw. If you only collected data, say what you collected and who used it.
• Sharing plant details. Avoid product names, recipes and operating conditions your employer considers confidential. "A resin plant" and "a batch reactor" are enough.

FAQ

Should I list the FE exam before I pass it?

Only with a date, such as "FE Chemical exam scheduled for February 2027." BLS says licensure is not required for entry-level chemical engineers, so the line is a plus, not a requirement.

I want a research lab job, not a plant job. What changes?

Move undergraduate research and lab methods higher, and keep the process design project. BLS lists conducting research to develop new and improved manufacturing processes among the duties. The entry-level lab technician example shows how to write lab techniques as bullets.

How long should it be?

One page, with the co-op, two projects and safety training. See How to write a new grad resume for the general layout.

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See all resume examples.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical Engineers
• University of Maryland Career Center: Resume how-to guide