If you’re looking to make the most out of your co-op experience, there’s no better place to start than by learning from those who have been in your shoes. Srdjan Mirkovic, a McMaster Engineering grad and co-op employer at Hatch, shares his insights on what it takes to succeed during a co-op placement and how these experiences can shape your future career.
Q: As a McMaster Engineering grad, what skills and qualities do you look for in co-op students at Hatch?
A: At Hatch, we pride ourselves on being a company that embraces technical curiosity, diversity and an entrepreneurial spirit. In that sense, we look for candidates who embody those ideals. The best candidates are those willing to go beyond the immediate task and learn more about what they’re working on, how it impacts the overall project and think about ways they can bring positive change into the work they are doing. This often means having to reach out to others on the project or within the company to ask many questions, so being curious and being a strong communicator is a plus.
Q: How do co-op placements at Hatch help students prepare for their future careers in engineering?
A: Hatch provides a positive environment where students can engage with challenging work and work with teams that are diverse in both work and life experience. We always try to give our co-op students an opportunity to work on multiple aspects of a project so they can gain exposure to different streams within engineering, whether within consulting or with some of our partners in specialty engineering and equipment design and manufacturing. A placement at Hatch gives students insight into the different career paths available to them after graduation and provides them with the experience and building blocks necessary to succeed in any of them.
Q: What tips would you give to students to help them succeed during their co-op placements?
A: Given the dynamic project environment that many of our students find themselves in, the best advice I can give is to over-communicate and ask lots of questions at the start, and to challenge themselves as to what they are able to take on. If a lead feels a sense of strong engagement from a student, then that same student is more likely to be involved with engaging work and is more likely to have a meaningful experience during their co-op placement.
Q: As a Mac Eng grad, what was your favourite part about co-op?
A: What I found as a co-op student, and what I find now as an employer of co-op students, is that students have the power to shape their co-op experience. In my case, during my co-op, I worked with a pump manufacturer. Initially, I was working with the continuous improvement team, but over time I expressed and pursued my interest in working on hydro testing new pumps—speaking to the engineering team, working with test stand engineers during my breaks, and reading more about performance testing. Through that, I ended up working with a team developing a sub-sea prototype and even traveled to California for a few weeks to set up testing equipment and witness endurance testing at their facility in Los Angeles. As an employer, I see similar things—students who perform well and actively pursue work that aligns with their interests generally end up having a more enjoyable experience and are often the ones that end up returning for full-time positions as new grads.
Do it for #FutureYou
The path to a successful engineering career starts with taking full advantage of your co-op opportunities. By stepping out of your comfort zone, asking questions, and actively engaging with your work, you’ll gain the skills and experiences that will set you apart. The Centre has the resources and expertise to guide you every step of the way.
Ready to make future you proud?
Send us an email at thecentre@mcmaster.ca or book an appointment to get started.
