Best parctices for Co-Ops 9

[HDS]

We are excited to finally be getting some Co-Ops in our engineering department. We are getting prepared with some assignments for them and want this to be a good experience for both of us. What is the advice of everyone here on the best practices for effectively using Co-Ops? I'd like to hear both side of the stories from the engineer and the Co-Op.

 

[SiliconeAurora]

I've had two co-ops (as was mandated for my graduation) and the experiences were widely divergent. The first company treated me like an operator - they taught me some basic things about the inspection and set-ups and then put me on a line for 8/10 weeks. The second took the totally opposite approach: treated me like a professional in the field that knew everything instead of someone trying to siphon off as much experience as possible. They had me attempt to design the entire process of molding a new part, from formulation to tooling to processing, and present a business proposal to the VP. I did the best I could, but they attacked it mercilessly, and by the end I was barely restraining yelling "What the hell do you want out of me?! I've been in your doors for like a month and I have no actual job experience!" Apparently I disapointed everyone, though in retrospect, even with a few years of work under my belt, I think my proposal was pretty darn reasonable.

The first was tedius, but the second was maddening. At least I left the first one on good terms with everyone; the second one got grimmer and grimmer until the end.

 

[GregLocock]

'Highlights' from my first year

Walking around the site tracking down missing 40 ft trailers.

Working in a time and motions group that was not allowed to time stuff, all times were estimated. No computers, the times were written in pencil and added up by hand.

Six weeks working on an assembly line that was on strike.

Manning the payroll counter after a stuffup with the payroll (basically arranging loans over the counter to tide people over)

Oddly enough, although those have little to do with designing cars, they did teach me useful things. The Industrial Engineering group actually asked me to work another rotation there, one of the strangest compliments I have ever had, as I loathed the work.



Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[cry22]

The following s for use of interns in HVAC.

1. Insure that the mentor is one that loves to teach. Someone that is accessible, funny, etc.
2. Challenge them in applying their school work, give them tasks like calculations, energy modeling using software, etc..
3. Have them create some sort of needed database for the department - something tangible they can show in their resume and profitable for the company. Use their brain, not just give them Autocad work.
4. Take them to the meetings.
5. Give them a task requiring: Observation, research, analysis, determination, recommendation - AND write a consice report.
6. Give tham a going away gift for their cheap labor.
7. Give them an award for the database they created, etc.
8. Give them a letter of recommendation as a reference for their future job seeking.
9. Show them how to make a fee proposal, establish a drawing list and task description, specfication writing, meeting time, survey, coordination times, QA/QC, etc.
10. Teach them briefly the legal aspect of your work, liabilities, etc.
11. Teach them how and where to find information quickly, how to use databse efficiently.
12. Teach them how to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information on drawings.
13. See to it that they have fun while working for you. Go have a beer with them on happy hour (and pick up the tab for them).

I have had many interns, and I must say that I enjoyed having them around me, they bring such a life and a new vision (sometimes wrong vision but it's OK) that is not influenced by repetitive tasks of our environment.
In return, I think they enjoyed being around me. I even had an invitation to an intern's wedding (even though he was long gone), and for me, that is a satisfaction in itself.
Interns show you more appreciation than your boss.