Lyba Mughees

What motivated you to apply for a co-op/internship?

The main thing that motivated me to apply for a co-op/internship was the experience. Being in Software Engineering, there are many aspects to explore. With a coop/internship, I was able to explore the different sides of development (full-stack, automation, etc). This helped me narrow down exactly what pathway I want to do after the completion of my degree.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

In my position, I do web development in the network department. We are responsible for creating internal tools that can be used within the company.

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

I did not receive training for all my engineering duties per se. We had access to courses throughout the internship where I was able to look at courses for anything that I needed a refresher for. Most of my tasks were done through JavaScript and other web development tools that I had learned from my time at university.

What was your work atmosphere like? 

My coop was no different than most software coops meaning it had a lot of time flexibility. Everyone on the team was easy to contact and talk to. My coop was mostly remote but that did not change the fact that the team was always available for any questions I had.

What new skills were you able to learn/develop during your co-op/internship?

Some skills I learned were working in an agile scrum environment. I also got to improve my web development skills.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

This co-op exceeded my expectations in every way. I thought I'd just be doing some network automation, but I've had the opportunity to learn and grow in a variety of areas. I was always encouraged to bring my ideas forward and provide any feedback. I was also encouraged to use my experience from university to provide any changes.

What was your proudest moment?

My proudest moment would have to be when I was able to apply the concepts learned in my courses to a real-life setting.

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

I would tell them to go for it! Doing a coop or internship opens up many opportunities for personal growth and career growth. It helps you decide what you want to specialize in as well as your future career goals.