Anuj Patel

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

Knowing that practical experience in my field can be achieved through our university and learning more in detail about the aspects of the software industry in action motivated me to apply for the co-op program.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

As an Information Security Analyst, I take my knowledge about computer networking and security to analyze different offences that are logged on our system and try to investigate if the offence is a false positive or if it is malicious activity. Also, I use my programming knowledge to automate a lot of tasks performed in the process of the investigations.

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

Yes, training was one of my best experiences in the co-op term as my manager and co-workers made sure I was introduced to and trained on each and every aspect of my position in an engaging way rather than reading tons of books.

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

The work atmosphere was really friendly and supportive. Flexibility at our workplace made sure that the workers weren't stressed and that they were engaged in doing their tasks. Each and every worker that I approached for were more than willing to teach me beyond what I asked for. While working in my department, I felt like we were all part of a cohesive team as no one had any sort of ego and equality was highly supported.

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

Although there were many skills that I developed during my co-op, some of the major ones were: communication, organization, team-work, independent work, time management and problem-solving. Throughout my Co-op term, I learned 3 new programming languages that will be helpful for me in my upcoming years at university.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

My experience went way beyond my expectations. At Sun Life, I was treated the same way as other employees. My team had full trust and confidence in me that I am capable of making meaningful changes. Through their support, I was able to overcome any obstacles and climb even higher by developing new skills and actively contributing to the company.

What was your proudest moment? 

My proudest moment was that I fully understood how our system is monitored securely and how automation can be applied to a big company like Sun Life. This Experience made me feel like I have been successful during my co-op term.

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

If you have a desire to learn more about your program/Industry, don’t be afraid to take a few steps in order to make a big leap. The Engineering field is filled with a lot of new ways you can develop your skills and get more experience. This is why I recommend the co-op/internship option as this provides all the experience you need to be successful.