University of Dayton

engineering co-op

June - August 2023 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I loved the diversity of opportunities that are available at Stantec. It's such a large company that you get that wide range of projects, but you also don't feel like just a number. The New York City office was a very close group, and there were many fun out-of-office activities that helped me get to know my co-workers on a personal level. The support I received from my co-workers was outstanding, as everybody wanted to help me learn and succeed. I continued to develop my technical skills this summer, and I gained more knowledge of civil engineering in general by changing locations this summer.

What I wish was different

Something I wish had been different was my prior knowledge of the New York City area. It is a very crowded and packed area, which makes a lot of projects challenging. Although a challenging task is a good thing, as someone coming from the Midwest it sometimes felt overwhelming. Being familiar with the area you are working in is also helpful when getting to know co-workers, but being from somewhere else also made conversations interesting.

Advice

I would say going into every new work experience with an open mind is key. Learning new things is a huge part of any career, and the more you learn sooner the better. Also, reaching out and connecting with as many people as possible can help you get to where you want to be. I got my position this summer by attending a seminar at work and reaching out to the host. Making connections like these early helps lead to success down the road, even if it's years later. Also, ask plenty of questions, people are happy to help you!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Engineering Co-op

August - December 2022 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Getting my degree is all I have been focused on these past 5 years. I am a transfer student to UD with a wife and three kids. I did not think I had nor wanted to take the time away from getting my degree as fast as I could, but I also did not know my next steps or what was even out there for me after graduation. I am thankful for the way things worked out; for this co-op experience that not only helped me gain some real engineering experience, but also for clearing up the unknown. Allied Motion - Dayton is the exact type of company I was looking for that I did not think existed. I think the best aspect and the thing I liked most about the company was having EVERYTHING you needed at your disposal to see a project through from start to finish. I enjoyed the scope of work, which fell within my passion. I liked working with people outside of my immediate field including electrical and software engineers, machinists, manufacturing engineers, lab technicians, and more. The capability Allied Motion is impressive, and I definitely could not have asked for a better place to get an introduction into the world of engineering.

What I wish was different

I will start out by saying that I am very thankful for the opportunity to co-op at Allied Motion. As to what I wish had been different, I am not a believer in things not happening exactly how they are supposed to. I had a great experience and I would not change a thing. It is amazing that University of Dayton works hard to afford students these opportunities to get the much needed career experience. In my opinion, the career experience allows a new perspective to form that helps realize/remind that the career is the ultimate goal; leading to more confidence in the transition from school to work; finding more willingness to give up the student identity that is so often used as a lifeline and continued to be held onto when unknowns exist for the future.

Advice

A piece of advice I will offer to future co-ops, is to be ready to learn. Go into the work as if you know nothing. You will be only hurting yourself by not observing and exploring the methods and ways that other people may approach the work. Be actively looking for things to learn and get your hands on everything you can. Experience is exponentially more potent than knowledge. Ask questions. Time flies, so get the most you can out of your experience.

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Engineering Student Ambassador

May 2018 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

I liked that I was able to meet so many different high school students and share my experiences with them.

What I wish was different

I wish I wasn't the only one working for half the summer.

Advice

Be friendly and be yourself!

Be the first to mark this as helpful

Student Coordinator

October 2017 - November 2018 • Dayton, OH

What I liked

Opportunity to be put front and center on the development of the new 1850 organizational website and given much freedom to apply changes that would be beneficial for the program. I felt that I was supported in my role as a technological head and was appreciated for the skills I could add to the team.

What I wish was different

I wish that there was more time and ability to add more fun ideas to engage with our orientation staff.

Advice

To come in with an open mind and will to learn a lot about the University processes and how a lot of confirmation goes into every decision made at the academic level.

Be the first to mark this as helpful