For the past three weeks, I have been interning at Canadian Pacific in the Product Design department. When I was initially invited for an interview, the department name confused me. I was under the impression that CP transported goods via railway, so I wasn’t even sure if I was working with the renowned Canadian Pacific, or an ambiguous company with the same name.
In reality, what we do here in Product Design is handle the logistics of the railway. The team works together to design and effectively utilize our Integrated Operating Plan and Local Servicing Operating Plan so our trains can reach customers on time.
Today was somewhat of a typical day. I rushed in and sat at my cubicle with a coffee in hand, taking time to greet several friendly co-workers. At the moment, I am finishing up an informative presentation on CP’s Newtown subdivision that I have been researching with my Shad internship buddy, Betty Wang. We will be presenting a condensed version to the PD department soon, and the full deck will be posted to the share drive for future reference.
On the days that I didn’t work on projects and assignments, I had the opportunity to job shadow people within PD and other departments. Everyone I met was friendly, and explained their jobs very clearly to me, taking the time to voluntarily show me some interesting things about our railway. As well, I was allowed to tour the Calgary Intermodal Facility yard for a day. Seeing the actual trains that we were discussing and planning the routes for was fascinating. I even got to ride in a Reach Stacker, a huge crane-like machine that transferred the intermodal containers to the train cars.
Overall, I am very grateful that I was selected to work here at Canadian Pacific. The friendly environment coupled with the interesting work I was given has made this an amazing learning experience.
Alison Wong
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
August 23 - RBC
As I begin my last week here, I look back and can honestly say that not one day has been the same as the day before. Working with RBC Contact Centre, I’ve had a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and the incredible amount of work that goes into each phone call the bank receives.
So far, I’ve worked with five different groups. My first week was spent with the Client Analytics group, which focused on using a brand new speech analytics program to analyze phone calls. Later on, I visited other groups such as Project Management, Workforce Management, and Reporting.
In each of these groups, I learned about their roles and picked up helpful tips along the way. This ranged anywhere from discovering how to create a website demo using PowerPoint to calculating how many workers were needed to maximize efficiency. Even in the most tedious data entry tasks, I managed to learn something new every time – bringing back reminiscent memories of Shad Speaks and lectures on finding opportunity.Along the way, not only did I learn things about each department, I also began to see how each group fit into the much larger scheme of things.
Although at Shad we often complained about the bureaucracy of large corporations and the brilliance of small, innovative companies, at RBC I learned that often it’s not about how quickly a project is done, but rather how it gets done. As I walk past familiar faces, I sometimes can’t help but marvel at how intricate the relationships between each department are. Like Shad, RBC is a truly interdependent community.
And if I’ve learned anything in the past month, it’s that alone you may go very quickly, but only together can you go far.
Nina Chen
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
So far, I’ve worked with five different groups. My first week was spent with the Client Analytics group, which focused on using a brand new speech analytics program to analyze phone calls. Later on, I visited other groups such as Project Management, Workforce Management, and Reporting.
In each of these groups, I learned about their roles and picked up helpful tips along the way. This ranged anywhere from discovering how to create a website demo using PowerPoint to calculating how many workers were needed to maximize efficiency. Even in the most tedious data entry tasks, I managed to learn something new every time – bringing back reminiscent memories of Shad Speaks and lectures on finding opportunity.Along the way, not only did I learn things about each department, I also began to see how each group fit into the much larger scheme of things.
Although at Shad we often complained about the bureaucracy of large corporations and the brilliance of small, innovative companies, at RBC I learned that often it’s not about how quickly a project is done, but rather how it gets done. As I walk past familiar faces, I sometimes can’t help but marvel at how intricate the relationships between each department are. Like Shad, RBC is a truly interdependent community.
And if I’ve learned anything in the past month, it’s that alone you may go very quickly, but only together can you go far.
Nina Chen
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Friday, August 20, 2010
August 20 - Hatch Engineering
Looking back on the past three weeks, I realize that they have passed by unbelievably fast. It must be an indication that I am truly enjoying my Shad internship experience. During the three previous weeks I have been working at Hatch Engineering in Mississauga, Ontario. I, along with three other Shad students have been filling different job positions meant to expand our knowledge and interest of engineering.
Personally, I have been working with computer modeling software designing components of a retractable roof to a professional baseball stadium. Being a 10 year baseball player myself, I have found the work very engaging and interesting. Just this past week, I finally reached a stage in the design process where I could start to electronically fit some of the components together. For me, seeing weeks of work all come together to create a unified system is an indescribable feeling. It left me feeling proud of myself with regards to the amount of information I learned about engineering in just three weeks.
I would like to express my thanks to Shad Valley, for presenting me with this wonderful opportunity. I truly feel that my experience at Hatch has already, and will continue to help me in ways that my previous summer experiences have not thus far. And to Hatch Engineering, I would really like to thank everyone who has made me feel welcome and has guided me through my first three weeks. I never could have imagined that among 400 people in one office (not to mention international offices) I would feel like part of the team. I was definitely proven wrong. I am certainly looking forward to my final week but I know that saying goodbye to this experience will be difficult and reminiscent of my last days at Shad UNB.
Justin Samardzic
Hometown: Oakville, ON
Personally, I have been working with computer modeling software designing components of a retractable roof to a professional baseball stadium. Being a 10 year baseball player myself, I have found the work very engaging and interesting. Just this past week, I finally reached a stage in the design process where I could start to electronically fit some of the components together. For me, seeing weeks of work all come together to create a unified system is an indescribable feeling. It left me feeling proud of myself with regards to the amount of information I learned about engineering in just three weeks.
I would like to express my thanks to Shad Valley, for presenting me with this wonderful opportunity. I truly feel that my experience at Hatch has already, and will continue to help me in ways that my previous summer experiences have not thus far. And to Hatch Engineering, I would really like to thank everyone who has made me feel welcome and has guided me through my first three weeks. I never could have imagined that among 400 people in one office (not to mention international offices) I would feel like part of the team. I was definitely proven wrong. I am certainly looking forward to my final week but I know that saying goodbye to this experience will be difficult and reminiscent of my last days at Shad UNB.
Justin Samardzic
Hometown: Oakville, ON
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Internship at RBC Financial
Internship? I didn’t even know what internship meant for the longest time. Dictionary.com defines it as any official or formal program to provide experience for beginners in an occupation or profession. I define it as something beyond experience, a radical change perhaps. You see, an experience is something that just happens; an occurrence and it may or not have an impact on one’s life. A radical change has impacted the individual’s life, transforming it into something different and new. I have definitely participated in an internship.
RBC Financial has changed me, transformed my life, and has helped me grow as an individual. The radical change of an internship starts not when you do the work, it starts when you get out of bed. I get out of bed, make my breakfast, put on my dress shirt, my dress pants, and my dress shoes, take my RBC bag and go to work. I come in front of the beautiful RBC building, standing like a professional with my lanyard and photo pass card with access to the different floors in the building. I go sit at my desk with my computer and my chair. I say “Good Morning” to my fellow co-workers and my work day begins. At 9 am, after the arrival of our last co-worker, we all go to the servery for a coffee or water break. The key word there is all. The establishment of a community, which was emphasized at Shad Valley UNB is still being emphasized here at RBC, here in the workplace.
I am challenged here at RBC with new projects that test my skills and understanding. I enjoy working with my team members and am grateful for their support and generosity as they make time for me in their busy schedules. I can say many things, I can go on and on, but you will really only understand what I’m saying when you participate in an internship for yourself. For it is not some ordinary experience, it is an internship, that will radically change your life forever.
Justin Bansal
Hometown: Brampton, ON
RBC Financial has changed me, transformed my life, and has helped me grow as an individual. The radical change of an internship starts not when you do the work, it starts when you get out of bed. I get out of bed, make my breakfast, put on my dress shirt, my dress pants, and my dress shoes, take my RBC bag and go to work. I come in front of the beautiful RBC building, standing like a professional with my lanyard and photo pass card with access to the different floors in the building. I go sit at my desk with my computer and my chair. I say “Good Morning” to my fellow co-workers and my work day begins. At 9 am, after the arrival of our last co-worker, we all go to the servery for a coffee or water break. The key word there is all. The establishment of a community, which was emphasized at Shad Valley UNB is still being emphasized here at RBC, here in the workplace.
I am challenged here at RBC with new projects that test my skills and understanding. I enjoy working with my team members and am grateful for their support and generosity as they make time for me in their busy schedules. I can say many things, I can go on and on, but you will really only understand what I’m saying when you participate in an internship for yourself. For it is not some ordinary experience, it is an internship, that will radically change your life forever.
Justin Bansal
Hometown: Brampton, ON
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
August 18 - Canadian Pacific
Whenever I tell anyone that I’m working at Canadian Pacific (CP), the immediate response is always “Driving trains?” Well, no, the trains don’t stop on the 7th floor of Gulf Canada Square. What does happen on floor 7, however, is the managing of CP’s multimillion dollar Information Services department. Running a railway in the 21st century requires more than just trains and tracks, this organization uses over 100 different computerized applications in its day-to-day business. Not only do these systems keep the trains on time, they also manage crews, provide enterprise planning support, and give CP’s customers a self-service portal to track and manage services.
Obviously, all these services cost money to build, run and maintain, and being able to track these costs is key in making decisions and improving efficiency. That’s the job I do. The first day there I was shown the current system for Service Costing (as it’s called in the biz) and asked what I could do to improve it. Almost two weeks later I’ve nearly finished a completely new version of the model. The previous version was suffering from neglect, mainly because updating it with new data was such an unpleasant task. On the other hand, the new system I’ve constructed is designed to streamline the data entry process (or fully automate it, where possible), along with fully automating the data processing, reporting and export processes- components of which I suspect used to take place on a solar calculator.
All together, working at CP has been a very rewarding experience, not only have I learned about Microsoft Access, the internship has been invaluable in helping me learn about how big business IT functions, introduced me to the world of modern railroads, and given me many great experiences I can certainly apply in my future endeavors.
Collin Fair
Hometown: Carstairs, AB
Obviously, all these services cost money to build, run and maintain, and being able to track these costs is key in making decisions and improving efficiency. That’s the job I do. The first day there I was shown the current system for Service Costing (as it’s called in the biz) and asked what I could do to improve it. Almost two weeks later I’ve nearly finished a completely new version of the model. The previous version was suffering from neglect, mainly because updating it with new data was such an unpleasant task. On the other hand, the new system I’ve constructed is designed to streamline the data entry process (or fully automate it, where possible), along with fully automating the data processing, reporting and export processes- components of which I suspect used to take place on a solar calculator.
All together, working at CP has been a very rewarding experience, not only have I learned about Microsoft Access, the internship has been invaluable in helping me learn about how big business IT functions, introduced me to the world of modern railroads, and given me many great experiences I can certainly apply in my future endeavors.
Collin Fair
Hometown: Carstairs, AB
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
August 17 - George KELK Corporation
As I was led around George KELK Corporation on the first day of my internship, the foremost thought in my mind was "wow, these people are really friendly". Two weeks have gone by and that impression hasn't changed.
The members of my department, Information Systems, have been particularly supportive. In between doing their own demanding jobs, they’ve taken the time to show me the ropes and to give me crash courses on topics such as cloud computing and Linux systems.
Of course, when three people are in charge of all that is technological at KELK (seriously, the IS guys are asked to fix anything from networks to toasters) there are bound to be moments when the entire team has rushed off in different directions and I'm left somewhat puzzled in the cubicle. Luckily, the tasks I've been working on mostly rely on organizational skills and are quite independent.
We’ve actually just started what is sure to become an intensive project: completely redesigning the system in which KELK tracks its software. Today, while we waited for the new database to be programmed, I spent most of my time creating ISO images for stacks of CDs. It was a fairly low-key day, punctuated in the middle by a festive company lunch (and I do mean festive: they have rainbow umbrellas!)
There's still over a week to go, but I can already see the outcome of this experience: a working knowledge of computer systems, valuable insight into the real world workplace -- and hopefully, the ability to develop a better maintenance strategy for my home computer than simply thumping it into submission.
Lily Zhang
Hometown: Toronto, ON
The members of my department, Information Systems, have been particularly supportive. In between doing their own demanding jobs, they’ve taken the time to show me the ropes and to give me crash courses on topics such as cloud computing and Linux systems.
Of course, when three people are in charge of all that is technological at KELK (seriously, the IS guys are asked to fix anything from networks to toasters) there are bound to be moments when the entire team has rushed off in different directions and I'm left somewhat puzzled in the cubicle. Luckily, the tasks I've been working on mostly rely on organizational skills and are quite independent.
We’ve actually just started what is sure to become an intensive project: completely redesigning the system in which KELK tracks its software. Today, while we waited for the new database to be programmed, I spent most of my time creating ISO images for stacks of CDs. It was a fairly low-key day, punctuated in the middle by a festive company lunch (and I do mean festive: they have rainbow umbrellas!)
There's still over a week to go, but I can already see the outcome of this experience: a working knowledge of computer systems, valuable insight into the real world workplace -- and hopefully, the ability to develop a better maintenance strategy for my home computer than simply thumping it into submission.
Lily Zhang
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday, August 16 - TD Insurance
Today was another busy day as I started my third week with TD Bank Financial Group. It is hard to believe that I am already half way done. Similar to the past two weeks, I woke up at 5:30am and soon after started the one and a half hour commute to downtown Toronto. There was very little traffic and I was able to get to work much faster than normal. I headed to the second floor of the Richmond Adelaide Centre already in a good mood.
At TD Insurance, I am a member of the finance department. At the beginning of each week, all of our team members start with a group meeting where we discuss what was accomplished last week, what needs to be accomplished this week, and any general problems or questions that we may have. With everyone extremely busy with everything that needs to be done, our meeting was soon over and I headed to my desk. What shocked me from the very first day was how completely silent an entire floor can be. Everyone is so focused on what they are working on that the time always passes by surprisingly fast. My day continued with work that I had started last week.
At TD Insurance, I mostly work with excel to put together information on premiums collected. There are several documents that must be updated regularly with all the transactions that occur on a daily basis. With it being quarter end, it is especially busy around here. Each day, I learn how to do a different task and then it is my job to continue doing these tasks for the days to come. It has really opened my eyes to just how much is done in a company. I feel like I am learning so much with the help of my colleagues who always take the time to assist me whenever I am having trouble. Before I knew it, it was already time for me to go. I am truly looking forward to spending my next two weeks with TD Insurance and am so glad with the wonderful experience this has turned out to be.
Livia Pasol
Hometown: Newmarket, ON
At TD Insurance, I am a member of the finance department. At the beginning of each week, all of our team members start with a group meeting where we discuss what was accomplished last week, what needs to be accomplished this week, and any general problems or questions that we may have. With everyone extremely busy with everything that needs to be done, our meeting was soon over and I headed to my desk. What shocked me from the very first day was how completely silent an entire floor can be. Everyone is so focused on what they are working on that the time always passes by surprisingly fast. My day continued with work that I had started last week.
At TD Insurance, I mostly work with excel to put together information on premiums collected. There are several documents that must be updated regularly with all the transactions that occur on a daily basis. With it being quarter end, it is especially busy around here. Each day, I learn how to do a different task and then it is my job to continue doing these tasks for the days to come. It has really opened my eyes to just how much is done in a company. I feel like I am learning so much with the help of my colleagues who always take the time to assist me whenever I am having trouble. Before I knew it, it was already time for me to go. I am truly looking forward to spending my next two weeks with TD Insurance and am so glad with the wonderful experience this has turned out to be.
Livia Pasol
Hometown: Newmarket, ON
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