If you’re looking for a career as a chemist, you’ll need to prepare your skills and know the requirements to enter this dynamic field. Developing products, researching chemicals, testing good, and conducting studies are all be included in the job description of a chemist. There are many industries that can use the special skill set of a chemist, so it’s a useful and rewarding profession. Here’s how you can start your journey to become a chemist.
Skills You’ll Need
- Attention To Detail: Whether the task at hand is quality assurance or conducting research, a successful chemist is extremely detail-oriented.
- Independence: Recruiters want a self-starter, a motivated individual that doesn’t need to be babysat.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities: The chemistry field requires detailed explanations of all products and processes, so you’ll have to be able to record your findings and report them in a clear and concise manner.
Education Requirements
To execute entry-level work as a chemist, you need a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a closely-related field. If you strive to be a researcher, an advanced degree will be required. A career as a chemistry researcher will need a master’s or even a Ph.D. Typically, job listings for a chemist will request a mixture of education and experience. Therefore, if you don’t have a master’s degree but you’ve been in the field for ten years, you’ll be able to find the right fit.
Places You’ll Work
Some examples of companies in Chicago that hire chemists include:
- Industrial
- Food and Beverage
- Manufacturing
- Private laboratories
- Research and development firms
- Inspection services
- Colleges and universities
- Local and state government agencies
Depending on your experience and area of interest, placement occurs in a number of roles at different organizations. This is why flexibility can also be a marketable skill in this profession. Being a versatile chemist can pay off if you’re willing to experiment in different fields, or shift between public and private operations.
Options for Chemists
Entry-level work is found in both basic or applied research capacities. You’ll create reports and execute research based on your reporting in the lab. However, working as a chemist is about more than just test tubes and typing. You’ll be collecting samples, analyzing products, and embracing opportunities to check out the newest products on the market to evaluate their effectiveness. Those trained for a career as a chemist can also consider job opportunities as a chemical engineer or environmental scientist.
Work With a Top Staffing Agency in Chicago
To find a job as a chemist in Chicago, you’ll want to work with the best professionals around. When you’ve got a solid resume and you’re ready to find the right position, contact Davis Staffing. As a leader in the industry, we can help you find the right position, perfect your resume, and land the chemist job that best fits your qualifications. Contact us today to learn more.
