Co-op Experience
When I first started college, I planned on graduating within four years so I did not consider getting a co-op. During my sophomore year, several upper classmen and alumni told me that most companies prefer hiring students who had some co-op or internship experience. Listening to them talk about the benefits of a co-op experience motivated me to look into it.
I wanted this opportunity very much
and if I wanted it badly enough, then there is no room for self-doubt. Putting aside my insecurities, I signed up for a Mock Interview and attended a resume workshop hosted by the MTU Career Center. I spent a lot of time putting my resume together and revising it at the MTU Writing Center. I researched information on companies that were attending the MTU Career Fair and I purchased business suits to wear on that day. With all the preparation and determination, I landed a co-op position at Rockwell Collins Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa! I was so excited that the delay of my graduation date did not matter. I didn’t remember feeling scared or unsure. I just knew it was the next best thing to have happened in my college career.
I was a systems engineering assistant in the Communications Management and Integration program under Government systems. My team and I worked on the VH60-N (Presidential Helicopter) communication subsystem. In the beginning of my co-op, I knew nothing about aircraft platforms, bus connections, system simulation, encrypted radios, and the programming language that was used. Some of the things I worked on were advanced and it was not until I returned to MTU that I started to take classes that actually covered the work I did at Rockwell Collins such as digital signal processing, cryptography, and hardware and software integration.
I had the opportunity to work in the office and in the testing lab. Some co-ops I knew did not get that kind of opportunity. The first time I entered a lab, the size of the test platform, cables, and measuring tools overwhelmed me; I was afraid to touch anything that looked expensive. For example, an oscilloscope that I used for testing had cost Rockwell Collins $80,000. After I learned of its value, I treated that thing like I would to a brand new car. Eventually, I developed the skills to use the lab equipment and the fear of breaking something turned into confidence that I know what I am doing. The more I ran tests in the lab, the more concepts I made from the basic measuring tools in the testing lab used in the MTU’s Electrical Engineering labs.
Transitioning from student mentality to engineer employee mentality was no smooth ride. At work, there was no one to give me a grade or test my progress. Progress was shown through results and productivity. I didn’t want to make any mistake so I turned to my team leader for every little thing I felt unsure about. My lack of confidence was a habit I developed during my school years. Over time, I gained confidence through my work and constructed my own network of knowledgeable co-workers. For example, if I had difficulty debugging a script, I would have a software co-worker to turn to. I learned that though it is OK to ask questions, make it a habit to ask questions that will further your skills in the workplace and not just questions that only get you through the day. That separates a great individual from an ordinary employee.
There was no regret in spending 7-8 months in Iowa. When my co-op term ended, I left Iowa with renewed confidence, technical experience, and set of goals. My work experience expanded and it never goes unnoticed at a job interview. My advice to the MTU students is to consider getting co-op experience. Choose a co-op that does what you are interested in, because that first co-op can set the trend for your next job experience and even your career.