Kunj Patel

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

To get engineering experience before I graduate, so that getting a job after graduation would be much easier and I would have a better idea of what I want to do.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

I’m a technical developer also known as a software developer. I create back-end Application Programming Interfaces (API) in Java that update a database, and create user interfaces in Angular and Javascript in the form of a web app that connects with the API.

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

I knew how to program before going to this position, but I was taught some best practices and trained on their specific structure.

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

At Jonah Group, it’s a relaxed environment, our team is really friendly and the work hours are not fixed. At times I was allowed to work from home when the need arose.

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

I learned to work and coordinate in larger teams with around 20—25 people and work on a small portion of the project that integrates with the rest of the code.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

My experience exceeded my expectations. I get to learn and apply my skills constantly. The exciting part is that the company and my team leads want me to succeed, and they try to make sure I get to work on things that I want to learn.

What was your proudest moment? 

My proudest moment would be taking the lead on an epic (a large chunk of work that is part of a larger work package). I also got the opportunity to interact with the business side and plan the structure as well as implement a large portion of it.

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

Don't accept a position that you know will not be a good fit for you and your future job goals. Sometimes it is better to not do an internship, than do one for 16 months and not learn anything worthwhile. If you do get an internship that is well suited, learn as much as you can and make many connections. Getting to know people in your field is great, even if you do not end up working in the same place.