Jace Winder

  

 

What were your expectations?

I expected to gain professional experience in my field of study while making some money to pay for school.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

My experience has greatly exceeded my expectations. I have learned so much more than I expected since I started working here. Just being in and around the plant, you are conditioned to the safety culture and promoted to learn and discover more everyday.

Did you enjoy your experience?

I couldn’t be any happier with my placement at Aecon, I have built skills that I didn’t even know I had. The culture at Aecon has allowed me to gain a very unique and valuable experience.

What were your tasks and responsibilities?

As a Jr. Project Coordinator I facilitate the construction of engineering of the D20 Heavy Water Management building project as part of the overall Darlington refurbishment. On a daily basis I interact with many different disciplines of engineers and construction trades and support the overall completion of subsystems in the building, the main system being drum handling facility. On a daily basis I split my time between schedule/project based meetings and being in the field supporting the completion of construction and dealing with engineering issues.

What was the work atmosphere like?

The atmosphere here at Aecon is very flexible, and informal. Everyone here is very friendly and supportive generally speaking. It is an amazing environment to learn by experience. At times it can be overwhelming due to the amount of responsibility they give you but it is a great learning environment. The hours are very flexible, the policy is as long as you can get your work done, you may work whatever hours you’d like. Primarily I am in a construction site environment which relies on a very team oriented social network.

Did you receive any additional training and/or opportunities?

When you first start at Aecon you are assigned a mentor, that is someone who has lots of experience and guides you through the process and procedures of the job, this system worked really well for me. As far as being at a Nuclear Power Plant there is a standard safety training that everyone goes through that takes about 2 weeks to complete before you start. Continual training is offered and is very good also, some of the best instructors I have ever seen.

What advice would you offer to students that want to pursue a co-op/internship?

A co-op or internship is invaluable when searching for a job after graduation. There are certain things that can not be taught in a class room and a Co-op is the perfect way to gain experience and build industry aligned skills and connections.