Rebecca Fuenmayor

Did you always know you wanted to do co-op/internship?

No

Did you have any concerns or hesitations before you started?

Yes

What were your expectations?

The main reason why I wanted to participate in an internship program was to identify what career path I would be more interested in pursuing (i.e. management or engineering design).

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

I honestly think my experiences have surpassed my expectations in fact, I have been exposed to more experiences than I thought I would before I started. Additionally, I also had the opportunity to get involved with projects in many different fields, from quality to management and safety.

How would you say you enjoyed your experience?

I have truly enjoyed every day I have spent at the Oshawa Assembly Plant. I have been trusted with a lot of responsibility and at the same time have been allowed to pursue projects that I am passionate about. I believe GM has provided me with the right
coaching and training for me to grow professionally, allowing me to gain skills that are highly valuable in any industry.

In a few sentences, explain your position. Please provide details about your daily tasks, projects, and responsibilities.

GM offers a very unique and interesting internship program where students are assigned a different role every four months. So far I have been a Production Supervisor (managing the assembly line), a Maintenance Group Leader (managing the skilled trades team and in charge of the maintenance of the Trim building) and currently, I am in the Manufacturing Engineering team (executing refurbishment projects as well as changes in procedures and layouts).

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

I enjoyed the atmosphere. When I was assigned a project I was given the ability to work on it at my own pace so that it wouldn’t interfere with my other duties. As a manager, formality was an important aspect of my role; thus punctuality, business casual
attire and proper email etiquette were expected. In view that you are given a significant amount of responsibility, you are also provided with all the support you need to succeed in any role.

Did you feel that any training and/or support available to you was helpful or beneficial to you?

Yes; I was provided with all kinds of training, from corporate-wide coaching on procedures and policies to government regulations such as Working at Height and Supervisor Health and Safety Training. These training sessions were very helpful in order for me to know the expectations of the role as well as my duties as a supervisor.

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

If you have the opportunity to apply for internships or co-ops you should do it. I know that graduating over five years instead of four sounds like a very long time but you gain so much out of the program that makes it all worth it. Additionally, internships and co-op programs are the perfect settings for you to grow your network.