Cole Greenwood

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

I wanted to see and experience the applications that lay beyond the theory I had been studying so relentlessly. I wanted to get a glimpse of what jobs would be available to me after I receive my degree, as well as which positions I would want to pursue.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

Magna International is a global supplier in the automotive industry. In the Latching department at Magna Mechatronics, latch designs are made (either for doors, hoods or trunks) and they go through several stages of testing before they are produced and provided to customers. My position involves signing off on tests which are scheduled to occur in the test lab, tracking all of the testing which occurs, and compiling the results into a manner which is suitable to send to the customer. It also includes making modifications to designs to see how the changes directly impact the results of different tests.

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

I had a position as a Test Technician Co-op in Magna's Testing department September-December 2018. It was because of my experience and knowledge of the Test Lab that I was hired into my current position, so I guess you could consider that part of my training in a way. Once I changed positions in the new year, it was very different, but I was still given adequate training and manuals to help me through the different tasks that I would be assigned.

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

Everyone is always busy, but often willing to spare a few minutes to help solve an issue if they are able. Start times and break times tend to be flexible, as long as you are available during scheduled meetings, and complete work that needs to be done by a certain deadline. The atmosphere is more of a professional work environment, but it feels casual because of how friendly the co-workers are, and consulting with team members is always encouraged.

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

The lack of oversight in my position has helped me to develop confidence in my decisions and how I spend my time. I am definitely more independent since I started the position. That doesn't mean that I don't ask for help; I often still do. It means that I am knowledgeable enough about the program and the environment that I am able to layout my own tasks, because I know what needs to be done. I also exercise my leadership skills by giving advice and providing instructions on how to perform tests to the technicians in the test lab.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

Everything was overwhelming at first. I didn't expect to get a desk or my own computer to work on, and it was very different from previous positions I had been in. As time went on though, I found I was becoming more confident in my role, and more essential to the department. Eventually my co-workers started coming to me to learn about programs I had more experience with.

What was your proudest moment? 

After working by myself on a large document (consisting of test reports from one of our projects) for almost 2 weeks straight, we reviewed it in a meeting with my boss and co-workers. I had received praise on it from all of them. I was glad that my hard work didn't go unnoticed.

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

Do it. Getting your first co-op position without any prior experience can be difficult, but once you get that first position in your field, you'll find that potential employers will be much more likely to return your calls. It will make a huge difference when you start looking for work after graduation.