The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc.

NSW Branch

ResumÈs and Interviews in Chemistry  

 Go to The ResumÈ

 Go to  The Covering Letter

 Go to  Example of a Chronological ResumÈ

 Go to  The Interview

 Go to  RACI Membership

The ResumÈ

Different Types of Resumes

• There are two basic types of resumÈ - the chronological and the functional.
• The functional resumÈ is skill-oriented. It highlights your achievements by drawing together different examples of your expertise and accomplishments from various employment and educational experiences.
• The chronological resumÈ is the more traditional type of resumÈ, and is quite common in chemistry.
• It focusses on the Experience section, where each job is listed in reverse chronological order and described in some detail.

Writing Your ResumÈ

• Focus on the employer's needs.
• You need to write your resumÈ to appeal directly to them. Re-write your resumÈ for each application so that it focuses on the requirements of each job.
• Ask yourself: "What would make someone the perfect candidate?"
• Address the job-selection criteria in the advertisement.
• Think broadly about your experience - for example, working for Big Bad Burgers is not chemistry, but it may demonstrate other attributes such as reliability and leadership.
• First impressions are important. The resumÈ should be well laid out and appealing.
• It should contain absolutely no errors. Typographical, spelling errors, grammatical or punctuation errors create a slip-shop impression - not the image you want to convey.
• Make sure you've checked with your referees before putting their names down. Recent professional referees are normally best.
• In most cases, you should not include a "Personal Interests" section. This is irrelevant to professional employment in chemistry.

Summary

• Many people include a Summary section in their resumÈ. The summary consists of several concise statements that focus the reader's attention on the most important qualities, achievements and abilities you have to offer, and why they should hire you instead of the other candidates. It gives you an opportunity to highlight your best qualities. This is one way of achieving some of the benefits of a functional resumÈ within a chronological resumÈ. The Summary is particularly useful if the resumÈ is long.

  Go to  top

The Covering Letter

• Write a good covering letter. Remember that it will be the first thing the employer reads.
• Write it in the format of a business letter.
• The covering letter is another opportunity to put in your summary information. There you can highlight your best attributes.
• Make sure the name of the job (and reference number, if there is one) is clear and near the top of the covering letter so the reader knows what it is about.
• 
   

  Go to  top  

Abbreviated Example of a Chronological ResumÈ

Trent D. Blair ResumÈ  

Personal Details     Name:     Address:     Telephone:     Fax:     E-Mail:     Date of Birth:	Trent D. Blair           14 Hutchinson Pl, Woopwoop 2134           (02) 4621 3367           (02) 4621 3456           t.blair@xyz.com.au           12-12-70
Current Position	Senior Analyst, Smith Specialty Chemicals
Education     1991-1993     1990	BSc, University of Woopwoop (Transcript attached)     HSC, Woopwoop High
Experience     1995-Present           1993-1995           1990-1992	Senior Analyst, Smith Specialty Chemicals; Supervisor responsible for a team of four analysts developing surface coatings..............etc.     Analyst, Smith Specialty Chemicals; Responsible for quality control in surface coatings..............etc.     Section Manager and Cook, Big Bad Burgers; Responsible for Sauce Application Team..............etc.
Awards	Zeffel Prize for Second Year Chemistry (1992)
Professional      Affiliations	Member of The Royal Australian Chemical Institute           Committee Member, Woopwoop University Alumni Association
Referees	Dr Julia Bloggs (+ address, telephone, fax and e-mail, if available)          Mr Ralph Smith (+ address, telephone, fax and e-mail, if available)
Summation	I have had considerable experience in analysis and .............etc

  (Note that this example is abbreviated due to space considerations.)   Go to  top

The Interview Preparation

• Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview. Nothing is worse than arriving late and flustered.
• Know about the organisation. If possible, know about the interviewers.
• Rehearse your answers to possible questions (see below).

In the Interview

• Think before answering questions - don't rush in.
• Be prepared to ask your own questions where appropriate.
• Take examples of your work - research project reports etc.

Some Typical Questions

• What would you say is your weakest point? (strongest?)
• What do you know about our organisation?
• Why did your last job end?
• Do you prefer working alone or with others?
• What are your career objectives?
• Where do you want to be five years from now?
• What is important to you in a job? (this job?) Why?

REMEMBER You cannot anticipate all the questions that will be asked. Be prepared, but be alert.

Further Information

For more information about the RACI:

Contact the NSW State Branch Office on (02) 9663 4960 or  e-mail
 

  Go to RACI NSW Branch  

Go to  top

More information about preparing resumÈs will be available soon at this web-site.