Life after college is a constant thought that swarms the minds of Drexel students as young as freshmen. While co-op gives us our first taste of living in the real world, the real deal is still a bit of an enigma. Jedidiah Weller, a 2012 Drexel graduate with a computer science degree, sheds light on the mystery and offers insight into his current life after Drexel.
Growing up in Benton, Pennsylvania, Jedi chose Drexel for “the city and its diversity, the co-op opportunities and the opportunity to travel.” Taking full advantage of these circumstances, Jedi has began to flourish in Philadelphia, worked on three co-ops that each benefitted his life in a different way, and traveled across the U.S. and to countries such as Ireland and Greece.
For his first co-op, Jedi had the opportunity to experience another culture. For six months, he lived on the island of Crete, Greece in the city of Herkalio, where he “worked part time [and] traveled full time.” He encountered many amazing experiences that he still cherishes till this day. His second co-op at Analytical Graphics Inc. allowed him to work, for the first time, as a software developer. His third co-op, where he worked throughout his junior and senior years, was at Unisys Corporation. He did his senior design project with the company as a sponsor and was able to file six U.S. Patent Applications. He boasts, “one of those patents officially got approved, you can Google my name in the patent website!”
A man with plenty interview experience under his belt, Jedi offers a few tips to consider on your next interview.
1. “Don’t worry about memorization. Teach yourself how to solve problems, and come up with creative solutions.”2. “The social aspect of an interview is just as important as the academic. Remember, the people interviewing you will be working with you for years. You have to get along.”3. “Stand out. Be yourself. Focus on your strengths in the interview.”
If you’re specifically looking to enter Jedi’s field of work and are wondering what it takes to become a software developer, he mentions that “problem Solving, Google, and creativity are the most important aspects of a great software developer.”
With his co-founder, Jedi has recently started his own tech company called Webjunto. He and his team provide clients with web, mobile, and social designs. You can follow Webjunto on Twitter and Facebook for daily tips and resources about web design and more.
Aside from running Webjunto, Jedi’s life consists of lots of travel. He has hosted events such as The Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland and SXSW in Austin, Texas, where he hosted an event for Slash of Guns and Roses. He also leads a large networking group called the Philadelphia Junto. This event, which is open to all, is helpful for anyone looking to switch careers or anyone seeking advice.
Although, for most, life after college can seem extremely intimidating and scary, Jedi has managed to utilize his experiences, his education, and his knowledge to accomplish goals so many of us dream of. He is proof that if you take advantage of the opportunities that may present themselves to you and employ all that you have and are willing to learn from your college experience, you can make the most of your life after Drexel. The next time you get a knot in your stomach from worrying about getting out into the real world, remind yourself that Drexel has ensured that you’re equipped with the knowledge you need to succeed; it’s just up to you to put it into use.