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Miguel Salaices Santiago

Miguel

Mechanical Engineering Student

16 month Internship with OPG 

Professional Engineering Internship student 

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

I applied to Ontario Power Generation seeking what many other students seek: work experience before graduation. To my pleasant surprise, my first few weeks provided such an enriching experience that the field of nuclear engineering became my new motivation. This, combined with an amazing team and a flexible atmosphere, inspired me to extend my internship past my original term and commit more time to working and learning in the nuclear field.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

My position and duties have been enjoyably varied over the course of my internship, but it has all fallen under the realm of project management. I was immediately assigned to the Nuclear Refurbishment Project of OPG, under the department of Islanding and Containment.  My day to day duties mostly included project planning and project execution, with occasional field walk downs and engineering training. I would agree that my projects are half divided between projects I am directly responsible for, and between projects I am supporting other team members with.

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

I received a general training package to accommodate my preliminary duties, but as time went on and my role in OPG was defined, I received additional training to aid me with my duties. 

What was your work atmosphere like? (flexibility, formality, team centric, supportive)

While work environment varies greatly from department to department, my work atmosphere was extremely flexible and supportive. I was always encouraged to ask questions and receive help when requested. There was rarely a time where I felt uncomfortable or pressured to work at something I did not fully comprehend. I am proud to say that OPG exercises an excellent team culture. 

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your Co-op/Internship?

One of the main takeaways from my internship will be the industry experience. While the nuclear field is ever-growing and ever-expanding, it's lessons in project management that have pushed my skills to be more fully developed.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

I had no negative expectations for my position. I knew briefly what my duties were going to be and how it was going to tie into the OPG refurbishment project, but everything was an exciting experience from the start. There was no room for disappointment.

What was your proudest moment? 

The work pace at OPG is known to fluctuate greatly. Sometimes, even for weeks at a time, the work pace can be flexible and allow for extra detail to be put into our work. However, there can be sudden changes in timelines or even unexpected events that I, as the person directly responsible for the project, must investigate into right away. One case in particular was brought to my attention the night before, and this case has to be dealt with the next day as soon as possible. I am proud to say that, with hard work and determination, I was able to take care of the emergent issue the following morning. This was one of the first times where I felt greatly proud of a task I accomplished.

What advice would you offer to current students thinking about pursuing Co-op/Internship?

The best advice that I can think of is to apply on time. Engineering companies, such as OPG, are always looking to hire students to support their various projects. Unfortunately, many students like myself do not apply on time, and leave applications open until late winter. If you are reading this in late August and are considering to enter an internship next summer...APPLY NOW.