Pranjal Saloni

What motivated you to apply for Co-op/Internship

I wanted to get hands-on experience working in the field of software before I graduate.

Can you describe your position in a few sentences?

I am a software developer, so my responsibilities include developing back-end and front-end, managing databases, testing and quality assurance, developing websites using HTML5, making apps using Microsoft PowerApps, data and reporting etc.

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

Yes, I received two weeks of training prior to being put in different projects. My training included understanding the functionalities of the software The Commonwell uses - CommSoft. I was given training in coding C#, HTML5, ASPx. There was also training for database management, quality assurance as I moved on from one project to another.

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

Work was very flexible, team-centric and everyone was extremely supportive. I never hesitated in asking questions or clarifications, even if I had the same question twice or thrice. Working from home, the leaders were always available to call.

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

I learned various skills during my co-op term, many of which were related to my field of study, and many that I just developed by exploring certain new things. I upskilled my coding knowledge by learning a few completely new languages such as C#, ASPx, Python etc. Apart from the technical skills, I also got a chance to explore the business/management side which was very interesting to me, since that is something I want to pursue in the future as well.

How did your experience compare with your expectations?

My experience here at The Commonwell exceeded my expectations. This is because, not only did this experience help me understand the software industry very closely, it also opened me up to a new perspective, for example, like the business and management side of things.

What was your proudest moment? 

My proudest moment was when I had successfully completed my very first project that I was also leading.

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

I would advise them to definitely keep looking for opportunities, and even if there's something that does not pertain to the field of study but it catches their interest, to go ahead with the opportunity because it will open them up to many more things.