Career FAQ with Chemistry Alumna Alexis Weber ’17
Thinking about starting your career after graduation can be overwhelming. Chemistry alumna Alexis Weber ‘17 shared her advice for College of Sciences students. Weber earned her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry in 2017. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University at Albany, SUNY and is the COO of SupreMetric, LLC.
Follow along for career advice from Weber.
How do you build confidence while networking?
Remember that everyone you’re talking with is human too. As silly as it sounds, a lot of people will put the people they’re networking with on some type of pedestal. But they are just as human as you are and make the same mistakes as you do. So, try not to be as intimidated by them, because they’re just like you.
How do you prepare for a job interview?
Research the company beforehand and know a little bit about the company culture and mission. This will let you know if it’s a place that you want to work. You should also make sure that you always have questions at the end of an interview because it shows that you’re invested in the company as much as you want them to be invested in you.
What is a mistake you learned from early in your career?
I learned that perfectionism is not sustainable. When I was in school, I strived to be perfect. But that’s not healthy. You hear a lot about work-life balance, but that’s even more important when you’re just starting off. Throwing yourself deep into a career early on will burn yourself out faster than anything else. So, understand what your limits are and understand that you don’t have to be perfect to do well in the workforce.
How do you move on from rejection?
I move on from rejection by allowing myself to be sad for a little while. It’s unrealistic to think that you’re going to move on from being told no or rejected immediately. So, my method is that I allow one night where I am sad, but then the next day I wake up and make a list of how to move forward. So, allow yourself that space, but always take the next day to make a plan on what to do next.
What words of encouragement did you need to hear when you graduated?
Your first job out of college doesn’t have to be the rest of your life. You’re allowed to change careers, and you’re allowed to keep developing yourself. Graduation is not the end—it’s just the beginning.