How to build a job-winning chemical engineer cover letter
Chemical engineers have many essential responsibilities involving the development of chemical manufacturing processes. To become a chemical engineer and earn your ideal position, you need a well-written cover letter that focuses on your dedication, skills, and qualifications.
In this guide, we will teach you about the 5 key elements of a strong chemical engineer cover letter. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Create a chemical engineer cover letter header & headline
- Tailor the greeting & content on your chemical engineer cover letter
- Write a compelling chemical engineer cover letter introduction
- Showcase your skills & accomplishments as a chemical engineer
- Conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
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1. Create an effective chemical engineer cover letter header & headline
The first step when writing a chemical engineer cover letter is to create a header and headline.
Your cover letter header will contain all the vital information about yourself and the company you are applying to, including:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name, department, and address of the company you are applying to
A well-formatted header is essential, as it is the first piece of information an employer will see. As such, the information needs to be organized and visually appealing.
Here is an example of a header from a chemical engineer cover letter
Jane Miller, Chemical Engineer
(123) 456-7890 | janemiller@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-miller
To: Chem Solutions, Engineering Department
1234 Street Address
New York, NY, 10004
Following up the header is the cover letter headline, an optional element that can be incredibly useful when well-written. To write this headline, include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of a headline from a chemical engineer cover letter, followed by a breakdown of its components
My Effective 3-Step Approach to Chemical Engineering & How I Will Use it at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 3-Step Approach
Keyword: Chemical Engineering
Adjective/Verb: Effective, Use
Promise: Your Company – this detail tells the employer you will relate the information in your cover letter directly to the needs of their company.
2. Tailor the greeting & content on your chemical engineer cover letter
Generic cover letters can come across as boring and lazy to employers, while cover letters that have been tailored for the job are often seen as highly impressive.
To tailor a cover letter, you need to thoroughly research the company beforehand, discovering information such as:
- Who at the company will read your cover letter
- What the company’s values and goals are, and how they align with your own
- What current and future projects the company is involved in, and how your skills can benefit these projects
As part of this tailoring process, you will need to create a personalized greeting that addresses a specific person by name – ideally, the department head, the hiring manager, or the company CEO.
Here are 3 examples of personalized greetings
- Dear Mr. John Smith,
- To Hiring Manager John Smith,
- Dear Engineering Department Head Jack King,
3. Write a compelling chemical engineer cover letter introduction
The quality of your cover letter introduction can have a significant impact on employers, affecting whether or not they continue reading the document. To make your chemical engineer introduction as strong as possible, you should aim to include:
- A brief & specific overview of your professional history
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) – naming mutual acquaintances not only gives the employer an immediate professional reference but also helps you build credibility.
Pro Tip: If you do not have any mutual acquaintances, try following the company on LinkedIn and connecting with existing employees and associates on the LinkedIn platform before applying.
Here is an example of a well-written chemical engineer introduction
Dear Mr. John Smith,
I am a Chemical Engineer with 4+ years of experience in the gas processing industry. As an advocate for sustainable petrochemical processes, I am greatly impressed with your company’s commitment to clean manufacturing practices. After reaching out to your company’s Assistant Manager, Mary Joe, on LinkedIn, Ms. Joe recommended I apply for this opening.
4. Showcase your skills & accomplishments as a chemical engineer
Unlike a resume, a cover letter gives you an excellent opportunity to fully describe and explain your relevant skills and accomplishments in the body paragraphs of the document. A strong chemical engineer cover letter will contain between 2 to 4 body paragraphs that answer key questions, such as:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What Chemical Engineering qualifications do you have for the position?
- What accomplishments as a Chemical Engineer make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess and how can you apply them at the company?
Here are 6 examples of chemical engineering skills to include in a cover letter
- Resource & project management
- Creative problem-solving
- Manufacturing processes
- Clear communication & collaboration
- Chemical research & testing
- Product design & prototyping
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a chemical engineer cover letter
As a Chemical Engineer at [Former Employer], I decreased manufacturing errors by 65% by implementing a new automated chemical manufacturing process. I later had this process patented in my name, allowing me to implement it at any new companies I join.
5. Conclude your cover letter with a strong closing statement
It is crucial to give your cover letter a memorable finishing touch with a strong closing statement. This closing statement should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an effective closing statement from a chemical engineer cover letter
As your new Lead Chemical Engineer, I will ensure your chemical manufacturing processes are top-notch quality, as well as provide your engineering team the crucial support they need. I am eager to further discuss this opportunity and am available to meet any time this coming week. I plan to reach back out regarding my application next Monday if I do not hear back.
The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890.
Best Wishes,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
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