Jashandeep Gill - ELEC
I’ve completed six co-op terms so far, ranging from construction sites with Kiewit to high-level consulting with WSP. The shift from field boots to boardroom attire taught me how versatile engineering really is. My time at WSP especially showed me the impact of strong mentorship, collaboration, and asking the right questions. It’s easy to feel intimidated in a corporate setting, especially as a student, but I learned that curiosity is not a weakness. It’s your strongest tool.
One of the most rewarding moments came not from technical design, but from connecting people. At a client mixer I helped organize, I introduced my manager to principals of architectural firms I had met at other events. That small connection led to real business development opportunities and taught me the power of networking when it’s authentic.
My advice to any young engineering student is don’t wait. Go to events in your first year, even if you don’t know anyone. Say yes to projects that scare you a little. Treat every co-op like a learning lab. Most importantly, never be afraid to ask why, because that’s where real engineering begins.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Hear from one of our senior Co-op students at Intel who's currently working as a Design Veritification Engineering Intern!
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Looking for a co-op where you can make a real impact in the community? The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) supports services across Vancouver Island – from community parks and centres, water services, and the pollution control centre. Co-op students play a vital role in the success of the CVRD, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that enrich the workplace and help advance their projects and initiatives, while directly supporting CVRD’s commitment to service excellence, sustainability, and community well-being.
Check out Comox Valley Regional District on our Employer Spotlight page on the UBC Applied Science Co-op website > Community > Employer Spotlight.
💡 Bonus: for a glimpse into daily life at CRVD, check out their co-op video linked on their Employer Spotlight!
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Isaac Dee - MANU
My name is Isaac Dee, and I am a manufacturing engineering student that is going through the co op program. Throughout my 20 months of co op experience, I have had the opportunity to work at Avcorp Industries (now known as Groupe Latécoère), BD Diesel, and Dometic. My biggest piece of advice was do not underestimate your knowledge on topics, and do not underestimate how quickly you can learn something. I would say throughout my experience, I was tasked to do something that I have never done before, however once you put your head down and do your research, you will amaze yourself how fast you can learn things. I would say that engineering is more like a mindset that helps you figure out the solution to any problem. The next piece of advice that I have for you is learn as much as possible from your fellow co workers/supervisors. Since you are only at the company for so long, you should try and extract as much information form them as possible so that you can leave the company with a lot more tools in your toolkit. The coworkers and supervisors that I had were always so willing to put hours aside to teach me something new. The last piece of advice that I would give is to give your 100% all the time. If you want a shot of securing a full time job there post graduation, you better have left a good impression since no company will want to hire a lazy worker.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Lauren Services provides Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) services upholding the highest standards of integrity and quality in all interactions. Co-op students at Lauren gain a deeper understanding of how consulting work operates in practice. Lauren is committed to developing students into the next generation of successful engineers and looks forward to continuing to support and mentor emerging talent in upcoming terms.
To learn more about Lauren Services, check out our Employer Spotlight section on the UBC Applied Science Co-op website > Community > Employer Spotlight.
💡 Tip: interviewing with Lauren? Be familiar with the courses you’re currently taking and be ready to discuss a technical challenge you or your team have overcome.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
UBCO CIVL - Saihaj Basi
Civil engineering offers numerous specializations for your full-time career, ranging anywhere from water resources engineering to structural engineering. Deciding on a specific path can be challenging without practical experience through co-op programs or internships. You could choose to focus solely on academics, then apply for jobs upon graduation and hope to find your ideal career. This might work if you have a clear understanding of yourself and your passions. However, this wasn't the case for me.
Co-op programs were essential in helping me navigate my career choices. Before starting my civil engineering degree, I was torn between business and engineering. Through research, I discovered construction management, a field within civil engineering that seemed to perfectly blend my interests in both business and engineering. I completed 16 months of co-ops in this area, including positions in estimating (4 months), construction advisory (8 months), and project coordination (4 months). Each co-op was with a different company and was different position, but all were within the construction industry.
Since I had an extra summer before my final graduation year, I decided to try a co-op in transportation engineering. After taking transportation and urban planning classes, I found them particularly interesting due to their everyday applications, and for my interests in land and transportation economics from living in a big city.
I enjoyed learning how to keep the city safe and efficient, especially when new developments are being built and require transportation solutions. I worked on speed tests, signage plans, visibility tests, and traffic management solutions.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Mechanical Co-op alum, Thurston Bandala, has fond memories of his experiences during undergrad – embracing the Okanagan lifestyle as well as an unforgettable exchange semester at the Technical University of Berlin. The combination of co-op and meeting different people on an exchange term helped shape how he approaches communication in the workplace. Thurston has found that understanding different perspectives leads to clearer communication, more effective collaboration, and stronger teams.
Hear more about Thurston’s story and his tips as a former Co-op student on the UBC Applied Science Co-op website > Community > Alumni Spotlight.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Meet QCA, a local engineering firm specializing in bulk material handling – from ship loaders and stacker reclaimers to light rail infrastructure. QCA views engineering as a people business, where soft skills are highly valued. Co-op students gain hands-on project work, industry training, and meaningful experiences. They share the story of their first UBC Engineering co-op student who participated in a project commissioning trip to see his programs come to life in a real-world environment.
To learn more about QCA, check out our Employer Spotlight section on the UBC Applied Science Co-op website > Community > Employer Spotlight.
💡Bonus: hear from QCA about their stance on AI as a tool in the recruitment process.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
Karisma Jutla - MTRL
When I started searching for my first co-op, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I be a testing technician? I enjoyed my labs well enough, but I had never seen that for myself. Would I be a simulation builder? I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I found myself applying for everything and anything.
I never expected to become a bartender.
My first co-op was at a worldwide consulting company that taught me so much about not only the projects we worked on, but also how to have a professional, adult job.
I was inspired to take a risk, try something for myself. So I applied for my second co-op, doing Robotics and Process Automation. It wasn’t Materials Engineering – I was with a Fizzer and a CS student, and looking at the long list of past co-ops, I saw an endless list of ECEs. It wasn’t anything like my coursework, and I found myself learning as much as I could on the job.
The next summer, I tried something completely different – I worked in Manufacturing. It seemed like a natural fit in retrospect – Materials Engineering met people.
This summer, I continued the manufacturing bug with a job in supply chain. And one day HR walked up to me, and said “any chance you know how to bartend?” Before I knew it, I’ve been behind the bar at 3 different company wide events. I’ve met almost everyone who works here and had great conversations.
#ubc #ubceng #ubcengcoop #ubcengineering #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #appliedsciencecoop #ubapsccoop #ubcappliedscience #ubcapsc #ubcengcoop
