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Are you graduating and looking for an entry-level chemist position? Here are some tips for hitting the ground running, and landing an entry-level position.

  1. Position Your Resume

As a recent graduate; your resume might lack some of the experience and projects that employers take note of. But for entry-level positions, the trick to impressing hiring managers is in positioning your experiences and skills to show how you would be a good fit for the job. Consider highlighting your academic courses and projects that are relevant to the job. Talk about your experience working on labs, in internships and even volunteer work. All that experience can be relevant to your future career and should take center stage on your resume.

  1. Do Your Research

In today’s job market, it’s not enough to submit your resume to any company who’s hiring. You need to do the leg work, build your network and do your homework to get your foot in the door. If you can, meet with someone who works for the company you would like to join for an informational interview, where you ask the questions and learn more about whether they would be a good fit for you. Research the company online. Dig into their social media pages. Read any news article that mentions their name to better understand trends and current events and how they relate to your job opportunities. Remember that knowledge is power, and the more knowledge you have, the better prepared you will be to succeed.

  1. Understand the Job

To really hit the ground running, you need to know what to expect from the jobs you are applying to. Entry-level chemist positions require a very specific skill set and series of qualifications that if you lack will inevitably result in disappointment. Entry-level chemists should be able to follow established testing procedures, perform quality checks and maintain detailed and adequate records and information on the products and raw materials they work on. They must follow standardized testing procedures, and know how to conduct standard tests such as viscosity, gloss, solids, color, density, pH, Gel and product applications. It’s important to know how to record data, including product codes and test results, as well as clean and maintain testing equipment for future use.

Understanding the required skills expected of entry-level workers in this field will help you better position yourself as a professional and prepare you for the work that is involved in the job. If you have the opportunity to learn more about the job than you would by reading the job description, jump on it. Attend career fairs and networking events. Meet for coffee and lunches with as many professionals in your industry as you can. It is these connections who will help you most in your job search.

If you are struggling to find the connections that can place you where you want to be in the job market, you should definitely consider working with a recruiter or career advisor to help you make the shift from academic to professional career. Our team at Verum Technical are the staffing partners you can depend on for just that sort of introduction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get started.