Rijithan Sasitharan

What motivated you to apply for a co-op/internship?

Experience to get a head start on my Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Application.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

My position is with the engineering services department, and I focus on a lot of the program management side of engineering. I am coordinating conflicts with different utilities in Ontario and creating/producing key performance indicators for different aspects of my responsibilities.

Did you receive training to perform your engineering duties? Please explain.

Yes. I have and still am receiving training, and I am able to ask as many questions as I have and the supervisors and analysts are more than welcome to answer all of them.

What was your work atmosphere like? 

Semi-formal, semi-team-centric, and very supportive. Somewhat flexible with hours.

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your co-op/internship?

Communication, Excel, and intuition with project management software.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

I had no expectations heading in, so far succeeded them.

What was your proudest moment?

Being able to understand the concepts and apply them.

What advice would you offer to students thinking about pursuing co-op or internship?

Ask questions, be kind and talk to everyone.