Skills
Chemical Technician Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in chemical technicians, and how to build and show them.
What skills do chemical technicians need?
Chemical Technicians need technical skills such as analytical chemistry, instrument operation, and solution preparation, plus people skills like attention to detail and organization. They also use tools such as Gas and liquid chromatographs and Spectrometers.
Technical (hard) skills
- Analytical chemistry
- Instrument operation
- Solution preparation
- Data analysis
- Quality control
- Lab safety
People (soft) skills
- Attention to detail
- Organization
- Teamwork
- Integrity
Tools, equipment and technology
- Gas and liquid chromatographs
- Spectrometers
- Balances and pH meters
- Fume hoods
- LIMS software
- Glassware
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how chemical technicians put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Analytical chemistry” and “Instrument operation.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “attention to detail,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as ACS-approved chemical technology degree near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our chemical technician glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Chemical Technician training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.