Computer science students navigate internships during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Computer Science Professional Internship Program has been facilitating student work placements in the tech industry for almost 25 years, and 2020 was no different. With the help of our amazing employer partners and the hard work of our students, the program has continued its long history of providing work integrated learning opportunities, even during a global pandemic.
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, we braced ourselves for the unknown. Would our students still have the placements they had just secured in February? Would their start dates be pushed back, or their term lengths shortened? Would our interns who had already been working for 11 months be able to finish their placements? It was a frantic week of phone calls and emails to check if our students were still safe and employed. Our employer partners need to be commended for their efforts and commitment to our program. In a time of such uncertainty, they did everything in their power to take care of our students. With only a few exceptions, our students kept their jobs and started their placements on time.
The biggest, and most immediate, change was the shift to working remotely. Erickson Ureta had been working with Vecima Networks for 11 months when the stay-at-home orders rolled across the province. He spent the remaining five months of his position working remotely, and towards the end of that time he reflected on the positives of the situation.
“Being able to experience working from home was [a] massive surprise because of the pandemic,” Ureta said. “I came into the CSPIP program prepared for a 9-5 office life and I find myself about to end it being completely working remotely from home. Getting exposed to these lifestyles definitely helped me set expectations for working styles when I dive into the job search later on.”
Students who started their placements in May encountered the (previously) uncommon situation of starting their jobs remotely. In-person orientations and welcome lunches were replaced by their virtual counterparts, and a common first day included a quick stop at the office to pick up laptops or workstations.
Instead of a move to the Rocky Mountains, Leah Bohlken found herself starting her software engineering internship with Garmin Cochrane from her kitchen table. Being an outgoing person, she admits that it was a difficult way to begin her term at the company. “When you're in the office, you have lots of opportunities to interact with people outside of your immediate work circle, which helps establish a feeling of fitting in. When you are working remotely, however, opportunities to interact with others don't come about as often.” To help build a sense of comradery, the company held virtual lunches within teams and with other interns. Interns were also assigned a mentor who they checked in with on a weekly basis.
It also took time to find a good work-life balance when working from home. “I found it easy to just keep working,” she recalls “especially when I was interested in what I was learning/working on and there wasn't much else to do. Work-life balance is so important not only to prevent burnout but for your personal wellbeing, and it is still something I am still striving to master.”
Four months into her internship, Bohlken reached a crossroads. Facing what felt like an “exponential learning curve with no end in sight”, she was unsure if the placement was right for her. She contemplated returning to school to finish the last year of her degree.
During these difficult times, she found support from those around her. “I reached out to my mentor, my internship coordinator and my boss and they all helped me through it. They listened, offered me tips and tricks that had helped them and made sure I knew that I wasn't alone.”
Bohlken is also no stranger to the hard work and perseverance needed to succeed; she achieved U Sport Academic All-Canadian status five years in a row and was named league all-star while playing for the Huskie women’s hockey team.
Her strong work ethic and drawing on her support system helped her turn a corner. “Around five months, I felt like I was starting to figure things out,” she said, “There were still moments where I felt overwhelmed and thought ‘what have I gotten myself into’, but those moments would quickly pass. Today, at about eleven months, I am so happy I stayed, reached out for help, and pushed through.”
Bohlken also recognizes that doing her internship in this climate has allowed her to grow in ways that might not have happened otherwise. “I've learned things about myself - how I operate, what I need to be successful, when I need to reach out for help,” said Bohlken. “My communication and problem-solving skills have improved drastically because they had to. To be successful working remotely you must be able to communicate effectively and figure things out; you don't have someone in a desk beside you to turn to and ask a question.”
Her advice for other students or new graduates starting a job during the pandemic? “Listen and learn from everyone around you who is willing to teach you. There are so many intelligent people in this industry and the internship is a great way to meet and learn from them. Starting a job during the pandemic is one of the most exciting, challenging and satisfying experiences you will have. Be patient with yourself, reach out for help if you need it, and enjoy the ride.”