My Co-op Work Term
My job mainly entails that I support an IBM software foundation, "Jazz", and various software development/collaborative products with a focus on Rational Team Concert (RTC). I work with external clients and stakeholders through email, conference calls, and assist on sight (AOS) software. Collaboration among support staff, developers and customers is a central part of my job. The depth and breadth of these resources is enormous, ranging from countless repositories of information to direct interaction with industry experts.
What I Learned to Do
I've become familiar with much of the background information that was sometimes left out of my university courses. I've learned a great deal about networking, both in context of soft skills and technical specifications. Thanks to IBM's focus on continuous learning I've been able to attend several presentations put on by leading experts within various IT fields covering topics both internal and external to IBM.
Why I joined Co-op
I had heard about the benefits of the co-op program from my elder brother Jeremiah. I set out to increase my base of knowledge, learn about the industry through hands-on experience, and save some money for my tuition.
Through Co-op I . . .
Have gotten to meet a lot of new friends, make some money, and learn from experienced professionals.
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My Co-op Work Term
For my first co-op work term, I worked at Talisman Energy Inc. in Quebec. I was hired as an administrative coordinator. What is really great about my position is the variety of duties and responsibilities I have. I am in charge of most of the daily administration of the office (office supplies, equipment maintenance, IT requests, mail and courier, telephone reception, meeting minutes, etc). Also, I am in charge of isolated projects, some larger than others. I can be asked to do a lot of translations, to fill out expense reports and time sheets, to organize meetings or to work the website.
What I Learned to Do
I have learned so much in a short period of time: how to take meeting minutes, how to write formal correspondence, how to run and manage a website, how to fill out expense reports and how to organize meetings. I have also learned and improved on personal skills such as problem solving, multitasking, critical analysis and quick thinking.
Why I Joined Co-op
I chose to join the co-op program because it allows me to get a glimpse into the different fields of business that interested me and see if it is something I would be interested in doing in the long run. Also, co-op allows you to have a competitive edge coming out of university. Having prior work experience can really set you apart from all the other great students coming out of the business program each year.
“Through Co-op I … “
I have gained the confidence to give an interview, get the job and work as hard as I can to be the best I can be!
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