Skills
Chemist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in chemists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do chemists need?
Chemists need technical skills such as analytical chemistry, instrumentation, and method development, plus people skills like critical thinking and communication. They also use tools such as HPLC and GC and Mass spectrometers.
Technical (hard) skills
- Analytical chemistry
- Instrumentation
- Method development
- Data analysis
- Synthesis
- Regulatory compliance
People (soft) skills
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Persistence
- Teamwork
Tools, equipment and technology
- HPLC and GC
- Mass spectrometers
- NMR
- FTIR
- LIMS
- Data analysis software
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how chemists 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 “Instrumentation.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “critical thinking,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as ACS-certified degree near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our chemist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Chemist 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.