Following the FOSSI Senior Celebration, scholars were offered practical advice on entering the workforce from HR experts and hiring managers from FOSSI partner companies.
With moderator Prince Gammage (LyondellBasell), panelists Jason McAlpine (BASF), Taesia S. Ashworth (Dow), and Jakell Wilson (Lubrizol) outlined key strategies for success in their future careers.
Preparing for the Interview Process
To ace an interview, Jakell Wilson recommended the use of multiple resources—LinkedIn, Google, personal connections, and college career centers.
Highlighting challenging yet common interview questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “What is your biggest weakness?” and “How do you handle stress?” she explained, “These open-ended questions help employers assess who you are, how you solve problems and whether you collaborate well with others.”
To combat nervousness, she advocated thorough research, documenting achievements early, practicing mock interviews with peers and mentors, and using real examples from projects, lab work, internships, and part-time jobs.
“The STAR method,” she said “is a simple plug and play for every question: explain the Situation, the Task, the Action you took, and the Results, including any lessons learned from setbacks.”
In conclusion, Wilson suggested that connecting with recruiters on LinkedIn and sending a thank-you note is “a small gesture that makes a big impact.” She added, “Even if you don’t get the job, maintaining relationships can lead to future opportunities.”
Navigating Job Offers
Taesia Ashworth reminded scholars, “You are the prize. With an offer in hand, there’s room to negotiate.” While salary matters, she emphasized considering other key factors:
- Role & responsibilities: Are expectations and growth opportunities clear?
- Contract terms: Is there a fixed term? What happens afterward?
- Priorities: What’s most important—location, commute, flexibility? Is hybrid work an option?
- Compensation & benefits: Use tools like Glassdoor or AI platforms to compare industry standards.
- Work-life balance: Think about your lifestyle—caregiving, fitness, volunteering. What’s the time-off policy?
- Company culture: Does it reflect your values and vision?
- Stability & reputation: How is the company perceived publicly? Do they walk the talk on social responsibility?
She added, “I always tell people to look at the top—the C-suite. At my company, I see leadership that looks like me, it matters and it makes me proud.”
The First Three Months
“Starting a new job can be both exciting and overwhelming,” says Jason McAlpine. “Feeling nervous is normal. Every job should push you outside your comfort zone.”
To hit the ground running, he outlined important tools for success:
- If you work for a publicly traded company, visit their Investor Relations (IR) website and listen to the last two or three quarterly reports from the CEO and CFO to understand the company’s focus and priorities.
- Become a student of the business: Learn about your company’s products and those of your competitors. Know your forecast better than anyone else and understand the challenges.
- Be clear on expectations—ask what success looks like and how your performance will be measured.
- Check in with your leader after three months to get feedback. Ask: “How am I doing? What do I need to improve? Where are the gaps?”
He encouraged scholars to “be authentic, credible, and humble—this will shape your professional reputation. Working hard gets you noticed, but relationships matter just as much. Build a network within the company so people know you beyond your immediate team.”
Following the discussion, scholars participated in a lively Q&A touching on a variety of topics, including mentors vs. coaches, red flags to look out for in entry-level positions, standing out early in your career, and navigating professional relationships.
Click here to listen to full discussion.
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