MAPS-Chicago: Crafting a Top-Notch Industry Resume and Interviewing Tips

MAPS organized their summer event on resume writing and interviewing at the Cresa Chicago office, with a hybrid option available for those wishing to join virtually. The speaker was Afrida Rahman-Enyart, PhD, a Scientific Liaison and Product Manager for Proteintech, who delivered an excellent presentation with a thorough description of what to include in a resume for an industry job and how to navigate interviews successfully. Although the talk focused mainly on folks wishing to transition from academia to industry, the content shared was widely applicable to a broader audience.

The event started with some networking and refreshments, followed by an eloquent 2-part (both parts followed by question-answer rounds) presentation by Dr. Rahman-Enyart. The first part of the presentation was on crafting the perfect resume, and the second was on acing the interview. The audience was highly engaged, and the question-answer rounds provided clarification for audience queries. There was a 15-minute intermission between the two parts of the presentations, during which lively discussions took place between attendees.
Overall, it was encouraging to see attendees sharing their insights and experiences on different topics, adding to the depth of the discussion.

Some of the key takeaways from the resume creation portion of the presentation were:

• focusing on the job description and key terminology to craft the resume
• using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format and showing quantifiable results whenever possible
• having at least a few versions of resumes on hand based on the different types of jobs one is applying for
• ensuring there is a clear Summary section at the top of the resume to provide readers with a succinct overview of qualifications
• including a Skills section with pertinent skills required for the job

From the interview portion, key ideas were:

• preparing for the interview by reading up on the company and interviewer(s)
• practicing common interview question-answers, such as “Tell me about yourself.”
• researching salary beforehand by using multiple avenues such as online sources and trusted connections in one’s network
• using the STAR format to craft answers
• following up by email within 24 hours of an interview
• maintaining a positive attitude even if unsuccessful in securing the job, as relationship building goes a long way and may even lead to new opportunities in the future

Current and former MAPS mentors and mentees and representatives from Proteintech and Cresa attended the event. The WIB-Chicago team gratefully acknowledges Lynnea Wolfe and Austin Marshall from Proteintech for their valuable logistical support at the event and Michael Marrion and Dareona Franklin from Cresa for hosting us at their office.

Submitted by Samia Tasmim