Co-op Log
Overview
This co-op term, I began a new role as a .NET Developer at the Ontario Public Service. More specifically, I worked for the CSC I&IT cluster in the Ministry of Education as part of the Application Operations team. My team is responsible for maintaining all of the software products associated with the Ministry of Education, including OSAP and OEN. As a .NET developer, my role included the development of a cybersecurity tool which tracks and provides AI remediation steps for vulnerabilities in our systems. In addition, I took on many business intelligence projects, such as a dynamic data-linked floor plan and a cybersecurity vulnerability burndown report.
Work Term 3 Goals:
Strengthen my skills with the .NET framework so that I am more capable of creating .NET applications in the software industry.
Strengthen my trust in my decision-making skills, so that I can be more effective in my work without relying on a high degree of supervisor approval.
While in a public service position, reflect on the impact of my role in my society and determine how I want the rest of my career to fit into that society.
Career impact
This position is my first true software development role. I always intended to work in the software development field rather than IT, so it is great to have a foot in the door. The Ontario Public Service is known for hiring previous co-op students as full-time staff, so the connections I make as a student here provide a strong foundation for a possible career in the government after graduation. My work has made a strong impression, impressing not only my manager but also his manager and other managers in the organization. As a result, I am confident that those I work with will do what they can to find me a permanent position in the organization. Additionally, the OPS provides very strong supports for their co-ops, including student networking events and presentations from the highest levels of management. The connections I have made with my peers through these events are a valuable asset to me as career connections, and may lead to employment opportunities in the future. Lastly, my work itself has provided me with new or strengthened skills in .NET programming, PowerBI, Visio, Excel & the Microsoft 365 suite, presentation/public speaking, and business literacy. These skills will no doubt serve me well in the rest of my career.
Summer 2025
Work Term 3
Overview
My second co-op work term was a continuation of my first. I continued to work for the University of Guelph Hospitality department as a Jr. Field Service Technician. The tasks I undertook remained largely the same as the previous semester, with some increase in responsibility. I still maintained all of the University's point-of-sale devices, hospitality staff computers, as well as any other devices the department owns, but in addition I was given the opportunity to re-organize our shared office space and to sit in for some meetings with our 3rd party vendors.
Work Term 2 Goals:
Apply my organizational skills in order to track and prioritize tasks on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Create or improve software that is used by my employer after I conclude my employment.
Learn how to write emails that are professional and appropriately formatted for a workplace setting.
Improve my hireability and enhance my resume.
Career impact
This position remains a key stepping-stone into IT roles. Since the end of the last work term I have strengthened by relationship with my manager, who will be an important reference as I apply to other jobs in the field of computer science. My confidence in my foundational IT-related abilities has grown, and I am more experienced and more prepared for future tech-related jobs. Lastly, the location and flexibility offered by my position allowed me to take on a couple of University courses alongside my full-time work. I was able to advance my education and strengthen my resume ahead of schedule, which aligns with my goal to improve my hireability during this work term.
Fall 2023
Work Term 2
Summer 2023
Work Term 1
Overview
For my first work term, I was employed by the University of Guelph Hospitality department as a Jr. Field Service Technician. The University provides residences, food services, conference services, and merchandise to thousands of students and professionals each year. These services require a great deal of administrative technology as well as point-of-sale (POS) systems. My role as a Jr. Field Service Technician was to deploy and service all of these digital systems in order to keep the day-to-day operations of the university running smoothly. This role was my first professional experience in the enterprise IT field of the computer science industry.
Work Term 1 Goals:
Improve my ability to simplify complex technical information or instructions when communicating with end users.
Develop fluency in common enterprise IT operations including device and driver management, device deployment, and troubleshooting.
Apply my organizational skills in order to track and prioritize tasks on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Create or improve software that is used by my employer after I conclude my employment.
Learn more about computer hardware components to compliment my understanding of processors and software.
Career impact
The field of computer science includes a wide diversity of career pathways, though there are two broad categories which are the most common - IT and software development. My long-term intent is to work in software development creating music software, but it is very valuable to me to have the necessary skills for IT-related jobs, as that opens many stable job opportunities to me as alternatives. My work as a Jr. Field Service Technician provided me with important experience in enterprise IT, and will be a valuable stepping stone to future IT work. By working with network management tools, administrative software, computer hardware, and by doing end-user troubleshooting in my daily work at the university, I have developed a foundational set of skills which bring me security in IT career options.
