Harshil’s co-op journey in India and Canada
Harshil began his professional journey as an embedded systems engineer at a local start-up in India, where his knowledge was limited to a narrow domain. After transitioning to Canada for his co-op, he continued to explore embedded systems, focusing on wireless communications and product life-cycle management. While working at Geotab, he honed his skills in troubleshooting, reverse engineering, and big data analytics, using industry-standard tools and instruments.
How has working internationally contributed to your personal and professional growth?
Before coming to Canada for my master’s, I worked for about a year as an embedded systems engineer at a local start-up in my home country. At that time, my knowledge was limited to a narrow domain. My current co-op experience in Canada has allowed me to explore various aspects of embedded systems, greatly expanding my learning and potential career opportunities. Professionally, this experience has broadened my expertise. Personally, it has boosted my self-confidence, particularly in communicating clearly and effectively with managers and leaders.
What unique skills did you gain from your international co-op experiences?
I am currently working as an Embedded Systems Engineer on the Modem team at Geotab. Prior to joining Geotab, I had a solid understanding of wireless communications, which helped me secure this position. Over the past four months, I have deepened my knowledge in wireless communications and acquired several new skills. I have become proficient in troubleshooting Geotab devices, reverse engineering, systematically breaking down problems and solving them with the best available knowledge and understanding embedded systems design patterns. Additionally, I have gained experience in product life-cycle management, leveraging big data analytics, building machine learning models, and using industry-standard tools and instruments.
What advice would you give to other students considering international co-op opportunities?
I highly recommend that international students seeking co-op experience in Canada gain some industrial experience in their field before coming. This is crucial because even a small amount of industry experience can make you stand out from other students and significantly increase your chances of attracting recruiters’ interest. If industrial experience is not possible, strong academic or personal projects in your domain can also play a vital role in distinguishing your profile. My previous work experience greatly benefited me in securing my current co-op position.
How did the Centre for Career Growth and Experience support you in securing and completing your international co-op placement?
I recall receiving an invitation for the final technical interview for my co-op placement late in the evening. Without hesitation, I promptly accessed OscarPlus to schedule a practice mock interview with an available career educator. Unfortunately, all team members were fully booked for the next two days. Given that it was my first technical interview, and I urgently needed assistance for a practice mock-up interview, I decided to take a chance. I sent an email to the Grad Co-op team, kindly requesting them to arrange a slot for my practice interview if possible. Surprisingly, Christine Rich responded promptly, extending a helping hand by providing a special meeting invite within minutes. This extraordinary display of responsiveness and generosity left an indelible impression on me, showcasing Christine’s genuine commitment to ensuring students receive support whenever they need it, even beyond working hours. Following all instructions and learnings, as well as my technical talents, I passed the co-op interview and was offered a 12-month internship as an Embedded System Developer Intern at Geotab beginning in Spring 2024.
How do you plan to leverage your international co-op experiences in your future career, and would you recommend these opportunities to other students?
I am confident that the skills, experience, and knowledge I gain during this co-op will be highly beneficial for my future career. Working at a prominent company like Geotab offers the opportunity to learn from skilled engineers and build valuable connections. As an intern, you are always welcomed and supported, making it an ideal environment for growth. I strongly recommend that every student at McMaster take work term preparation courses and participate in activities and events organized by the Centre. These resources are specifically designed to help students build strong, standout profiles, eventually helping them land in their desired co-op.
At the Centre, we’re dedicated to helping you build a successful and fulfilling future. Co-op placements as an international student offer unique experiences that can significantly shape your career. Ready to take the leap? Let’s get started. Your future self will thank you.
For more information on international co-ops, email us at thecentre@mcmaster.ca.
