Thomas Gollen

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

Mainly I took an internship due to the fact that I had dedicated the last 3 years to becoming an engineer and I knew a rough idea as to what I wanted to do as an engineer, but was not sure how the world would be.  This gave me perspective of where I wanted to be and what part of engineering I wanted to do while also showing me sides of it that I was not as familiar with. Now I know more accurately where I want to go with my Engineering Degree

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

This position is the process flow engineer, for production I am doing time studies, fixtures, floor plan layouts, and a large portion of product launches.  I am doing what I can to ensure the production flow is as efficient as possible while also assisting other departments such as R&D, Quality, and the management of the production to ensure in all regards the production is a safe, and efficient place.

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

I shadowed an engineer and he showed me who to talk to for what assistance and what paperwork was required for specific tasks.  Once he felt I was comfortable and capable I was given my own tasks and jobs, and the more they trusted I had a good handle on what I was doing the more they would let me work as an equal more than an intern,  but I am always encouraged to learn more and ask questions.

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

Very flexible, the nice thing about this company is you can dabble in many parts of the field, I have experienced some R&D, ergonomic analysis, time studies, creation of work instructions, and have constantly learned new ways of thinking and different perspectives on what tasks I've been given.  This is definitely a place where you are able to step up and be rewarded for it.

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

I have learned a more open form of critical thinking, and to build my own system of project planning.  The ability to see that not every situation that is similar needs a similar solution. I have learned proper etiquette when talking to vendors and how critical the initial impressions will change the working relationship moving forward.  Overall I have learned a lot more on what an engineer does in the planning process, and what must be considered in the designing and prototyping stages.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

I was overwhelmed but also excited, when I was handed all my projects and given the responsibilities.  It was a lot to take in but when I got moving it became all very intuitive as to what I needed to do and had a decent idea as to how I was going to achieve this. Overall my expectations were met in certain ways, but I was also happy that in other ways they were different, the level of projects and work I have is more rewarding than I thought I would get.

What was your proudest moment? 

One of the Engineers quit and I was given his current projects, and going into one of them I was working on an unfamiliar project.  I took a few steps and when I checked in with the head of the department, I was doing exactly what I was supposed to and then already setting up things that others usually don't, this was a big boost on the reassurance that engineering is the job for me.

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

Do it.  The world of engineering is more than numbers and design, it is people interfacing, research, and relationship building.  You will learn so much in just the first few months and you will know if it is the job for you, and if it isn't you will find parts of that job that has what you want to do in it, you will know what you want to pursue before you leave school and the experiences that come with it will only help you in your early years of working.  Build your bridges, make your connections and take a step forward so when they hear your name from a reference call, they remember all the great things you did.