I wanted to be able to see how my degree could be applied in the real world and I wanted to gain experience in the Oil and Energy field of Chemical Engineering which is a branch that I am considering a career in, so this placement really was perfect for me!
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- Actively participate in meetings with outside stakeholders and discuss minutes with PM
- Conduct workshop sessions with engineers
- Curate content through the use of maker's manuals, engineer interviews and SOP's
- Undergo training for platform software
- Input content into platform using bite-sizing techniques
- Verifying content with engineers
- Help PM with day to day administrative duties and ensure project stays on
schedule when PM is on holiday.
A typical day started at around 8:30am; I caught the bus from outside of the condo, and the bus ride was about 10 mins long, getting me to the office at around 9am. I would then either have a briefing with the Project Manager (who was also my immediate supervisor) if I had finished the tasks assigned to me or if there was more that I needed to do, or continue with the work that I had been set.
I would also have to hold regular meetings and workshops with the service engineers at GIANTECH and the outside stakeholders to ensure that the project kept on schedule when the PM was away. I also had the role of a 'Content Creator' for the Gnowbe Project that the company was working on, which was a training platform for the service engineers. This meant that I had to learn about the different types of equipment the company uses, for example an Inert Gas Generator (IGG), and be able to explain what an IGG is and how an engineer should repair one if needed etc.
I also had the opportunity to visit the ship yard and learn about the different types of ships and what they transport. This really gave me an insight into the company and enabled me to see what a typical service engineer at the company would have to do.
It was definitely a hands on experience and I really felt part of the team, and although sometimes the workload was hard, my immediate supervisor was really helpful and ensured that I paced myself as I had kept forgetting that the timeline for the project was 3 years and not 3 months!
I really enjoyed the fact that the boss of the company had complementary Muay Thai classes twice a week for his employees, which really helped with team building and strengthening friendships in the office. And also the complementary condo that the company had sorted out for me was lovely!
Some of the knowledge of Fuel and Utilisation taught in my CPE225 course, was helpful during the content creating I had to do. For example, one of the tasks I had been set was to be able to describe how a boiler works and what it does, which was exactly what I had been taught in this course. It also impressed the boss when I knew about pressurised storage tanks and oil rigs.
Yes, it has enabled me to really experience what working as a Project Coordinator would be like in a professional environment, and it has given me a greater insight into a career path I would consider.
Go with your gut feeling! If it feels like its the right thing to do, it probably is!
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Internship Testimonial
Form completed: 08 Sep 2017