Co-op

Mossin

The time has finally arrived in my college experience for this co-op malarky.

Next Monday at 9:30 I begin work for 8 long and, probably most definitely, arduous months.
INTEL in Shannon is my destination.
Gotta move out there this Sunday, can't wait for that part to be honest, but the thoughts of actaully working is killing me...

So this thread is here for people to comment on their experiences, give advice, and listen to me bitch weekly about co-op.

I want to wish everyone else goodluck with their co-op too.

justfortherecor

Best experience of my life so far.
Definitely made me more mature and you realise the value of the co-op system in UL when you start looking for jobs after graduation. Work experience on the CV gives you a headstart.

Probably the best part of courses run in UL.

cooperguy

OP you decided to move to Shannon:eek: I was out there last year and everybody I worked with made a point of not moving out there!

And justfortherecor you were one of the lucky few who seemed to enjoy co-op, can I ask where you worked? I dont even get the benefit of having experience to put on my CV because my Co-op had nothing to do with the area I specialized in:(

Mr. CooL ICE

justfortherecor wrote: »

Best experience of my life so far.
Definitely made me more mature and you realise the value of the co-op system in UL when you start looking for jobs after graduation. Work experience on the CV gives you a headstart.

Probably the best part of courses run in UL.

Can't really agree 100% with this. Essentially, you go for whatever interviews the co-op office assign you and you have to take the first job you are given, which may be absolutely nothing with what you have to do. Some people do get lucky, but people like me weren't, e.g. Worked in an IT dept, doing little more than refurbishing old PCs and weekly server checks to make sure antivirus software was kept up to date, which is no good to anyone, not even a comp engie.



But Mossin, why is the thought of work killing you? Unless this is the first job you ever had, I can't think of any other reason. Going to college in the first place is the reason why you want a good job, right? Unless you're assigned a photocopying job (which is highly unlikely), think of it like any old summer job you have had, but where they actually value your brains over anything else

rororoyourboat

I'm moving to Ennis tomorrow and I start my 7 month Co-Op on Monday morning. I'm fairly lucky I suppose, my placement kind of deals with what my degree is about. Good luck OP!

Mossin

justfortherecor wrote: »

Best experience of my life so far.
Definitely made me more mature and you realise the value of the co-op system in UL when you start looking for jobs after graduation. Work experience on the CV gives you a headstart.

Probably the best part of courses run in UL.

I do believe that it will be beneficial in the long run, and like you it will look good on my CV.

cooperguy wrote: »

OP you decided to move to Shannon:eek: I was out there last year and everybody I worked with made a point of not moving out there!

I've lived in Limerick for 2.5 years now, including the summers working, so I can't wait for a break, and so what if it is Shannon.
It will be a change, I don't know why people are so against moving there.
It is not far from Limerick if I want to come back for nights out.

LordChessington wrote: »

But Mossin, why is the thought of work killing you? Unless this is the first job you ever had, I can't think of any other reason. Going to college in the first place is the reason why you want a good job, right? Unless you're assigned a photocopying job (which is highly unlikely), think of it like any old summer job you have had, but where they actually value your brains over anything else

The first job I've had?? That'd be a worrying prospect alright, but that's not it.
I was kinda forced into going to college, and I'm enjoying the lifestyle, but I've done the whole working full-time thing before, and its not all its cracked up to be, so the thoughts of working full-time again is killing me.
I can't see companies valuing co-op students as anything other than skivvies either.

rororoyourboat wrote: »

I'm moving to Ennis tomorrow and I start my 7 month Co-Op on Monday morning. I'm fairly lucky I suppose, my placement kind of deals with what my degree is about. Good luck OP!

Good luck with the move and the co-op.

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

So this thread is here for people to comment on their experiences, give advice, and listen to me bitch weekly about co-op.

I had a pretty good experience on co-op while the work was boring enough on occasion I still managed to learn a bit and make a few good friends where I worked. On the advice end of things, go to a few of the company nights out and get to know people there socially there's nothing worse than going home in the evening and having nothing to do after work e.g. I got to know a few people in Symantec and ended up getting pissed every Thursday with them

Other than that if you find yourself getting bored at work or there isn't much work on the horizon don't be afraid to ask your manager about moving into a different area which might have more going on it's a killer sitting in an office for weeks on end with nothing to do but browse the web, there's only so much flash games you can find.

I've also heard that Shannon is a pretty boring place but don't end up doing what I did last time I was there...Wine + trip to shop + screaming abuse + shopping trolley & a hill was not the best idea I've ever had.

LordChessington wrote: »

But Mossin, why is the thought of work killing you?

Because he's about as lazy as I am if not more so

Mossin

rmacm wrote: »

Because he's about as lazy as I am if not more so

ROFL

Rory, I am nowhere near as lazy as you!!

springs

Best experience in the history of the universe for me. You have to go in to it with the right attitude. I was lucky in that I got a job very relevant to my degree and it was really cool too.

I went to the UK. Anyone else take the plunge and head abroad? And like rmcam said, try to socialise as much as possible with the guys from work. It will pay off not just while you are working there but in the future if you want a reference or a FT job.

Another piece of advice is to just scribble down a quick list of what you did every week. It saves having to make up a load of stuff for your logbook (i presume you're are in engineering/physics) and gets your co-op report out of the way a lot quicker when it comes time to do it.

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

Rory, I am nowhere near as lazy as you!!

You're probably right given that I'm lying on the couch typing this....after last nights insanity I'm not really fit to do anything. Damn wine is a curse and people shouldn't sell it to me.

rmacm

springs wrote: »

(i presume you're are in engineering/physics) and gets your co-op report out of the way a lot quicker when it comes time to do it.

He's not he's one of those dirty business people

I'd agree with the taking few notes every week or two as it helps when it comes to writing the report at the end of it all. It's one of those things you should get out of the way as soon as possible as it becomes a pain in the arse if you put it off and you'll end up doing something like a friend of mine who did hers during the summer after she finished 4th year.

Mossin

springs wrote: »

Best experience in the history of the universe for me. You have to go in to it with the right attitude. I was lucky in that I got a job very relevant to my degree and it was really cool too.

I went to the UK. Anyone else take the plunge and head abroad? And like rmcam said, try to socialise as much as possible with the guys from work. It will pay off not just while you are working there but in the future if you want a reference or a FT job.

Another piece of advice is to just scribble down a quick list of what you did every week. It saves having to make up a load of stuff for your logbook (i presume you're are in engineering/physics) and gets your co-op report out of the way a lot quicker when it comes time to do it.

My co-op is supposedly relevant to my course, but I'll reserve my judgement until later.
I love to socialise so that won't be a problem for me
I had almost forgotten about the co-op report...

rmacm wrote: »

You're probably right given that I'm lying on the couch typing this....after last nights insanity I'm not really fit to do anything. Damn wine is a curse and people shouldn't sell it to me.

No Rory, people shouldn't sell you any alcohol in general, not just wine!!
And lying there on the couch with a hangover is not being lazy, but you are still quite the bum..

rmacm wrote: »

He's not he's one of those dirty business people

I'd agree with the taking few notes every week or two as it helps when it comes to writing the report at the end of it all. It's one of those things you should get out of the way as soon as possible as it becomes a pain in the arse if you put it off and you'll end up doing something like a friend of mine who did hers during the summer after she finished 4th year.

Us Business get a raw deal from ye Comp Sys.

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

No Rory, people shouldn't sell you any alcohol in general, not just wine!!
And lying there on the couch with a hangover is not being lazy, but you are still quite the bum..

Unfortunately neither the local off license or pub can afford to stop selling me alcohol something about my consumption paying the wages of several former UL business students who couldn't find jobs when they finished college

I've moved from a lying to sitting position but I'm still feeling like a wreck....oh well there's always Sunday for an extended recovery.

Mossin wrote: »

Us Business get a raw deal from ye Comp Sys.

We do try our best.

Mossin

rmacm wrote: »

Unfortunately neither the local off license or pub can afford to stop selling me alcohol something about my consumption paying the wages of several former UL business students who couldn't find jobs when they finished college

I've moved from a lying to sitting position but I'm still feeling like a wreck....oh well there's always Sunday for an extended recovery.

I think you have Business confused with those with an Arts Degree

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

I think you have Business confused with those with an Arts Degree

Wait until bluedolphin sees this.....I might just ask Denis to ban her so we don't have to listen.

kaimera

rmacm wrote: »

Wait until bluedolphin sees this.....I might just ask Denis to ban her so we don't have to listen.

Now now, we all know your used to listening to wimen bitch

rmacm

kaimera wrote: »

Now now, we all know your used to listening to wimen bitch

I'm going to hurt you it doesn't take long to walk to the 46A bus stop you know.

Mossin

rmacm wrote: »

Wait until bluedolphin sees this.....I might just ask Denis to ban her so we don't have to listen.

LMAO

kaimera wrote: »

Now now, we all know your used to listening to wimen bitch

Yeah, he's living with the Don, and we know what kind of bithciness goes on there...

rmacm wrote: »

I'm going to hurt you it doesn't take long to walk to the 46A bus stop you know.

You are too lazy, as previously pointed out, to fulfill that threat!!

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

You are too lazy, as previously pointed out, to fulfill that threat!!

You're right I'll just wait until he needs to kip here again after a night on the piss or until I'm working in Dun Laoghaire again whichever comes first.

The Don

Mossin wrote: »

Yeah, he's living with the Don, and we know what kind of bithciness goes on there..

Yea, he doesn't stop nagging or throwing dirty looks.;)

kaimera

The Don wrote: »

Yea, he doesn't stop nagging or throwing dirty looks.;)

or snooping

rmacm

kaimera wrote: »

or snooping

Amazingly there's been none of that going on and to be honest I'm not entirely sure what I should think yet. Either he's actually listened and gone and secured his laptop or purely by accident it's reasonably secure by default. Granted at the moment I'm kind've leaning toward the security by accident end of things.

Webmonkey

Mossin wrote:

The time has finally arrived in my college experience for this co-op malarky.

Next Monday at 9:30 I begin work for 8 long and, probably most definitely, arduous months.
INTEL in Shannon is my destination.
Gotta move out there this Sunday, can't wait for that part to be honest, but the thoughts of actaully working is killing me...

So this thread is here for people to comment on their experiences, give advice, and listen to me bitch weekly about co-op.

I want to wish everyone else goodluck with their co-op too.

Ah you'll see me in April!

I going out there on my work placement too but I'm from CIT cork.
Oh the joys of assembly programming - That's the role I'll be going into anyways, the software Dev department.

caesar

Start Monday morning at 9. Working in Leopardstown in Dublin for the next 6 months, with the option of doing 8 if I want to stay on. Organised the job myself so it's relevant to my degree.

When can I start bitching??:p

springs

Yeah. If there is one piece of advice I would give people who haven't got it organised yet is to throw your cv around a few places you'd like to work first. Then if that doesn't work take what the co-op office give you.

I had an interview with the Air Corps but had organised my placement with a racing car manufacturer in the UK already so I definitely came off better for it. Although I hear the air corps is a good place to work too.

5uspect

springs wrote: »

Yeah. If there is one piece of advice I would give people who haven't got it organised yet is to throw your cv around a few places you'd like to work first. Then if that doesn't work take what the co-op office give you.

I had an interview with the Air Corps but had organised my placement with a racing car manufacturer in the UK already so I definitely came off better for it. Although I hear the air corps is a good place to work too.

Did mine in the Air Corps. Was great balance of really good work and dossin.:)

springs

Did you do much relevant work to your degree? And what were the working hours like? I heard they are brilliant.

5uspect

springs wrote: »

Did you do much relevant work to your degree? And what were the working hours like? I heard they are brilliant.

I studied Aeronautical Engineering and I worked on aircraft maintenance there, you don't get better than that! I did 9-5 pretty much every day but there's no problem if you disappear now and again. I've heard of stories of some students since my time there taking the piss time wise which I wouldn't be too happy about.

Its a great opportunity and I wouldn't want to see people wasting it.

ninty9er

8 of us starting in the same place in town at 10 tomorrow. Mix of Business and Laccys. Adding about 7-8% onto the total workforce....let's hope there isn't enough photocopying and shredding for 8 people for 8 months:D:D

Got mine myself, though the co-op office put 5 of the other lads in.

bluedolphin

rmacm wrote: »

Wait until bluedolphin sees this.....I might just ask Denis to ban her so we don't have to listen.

You wouldn't be listening to me anyway, you'd be reading, surely


Ah, co-op... Five months in the Houses of the Oireachtas...the cushiest job going! What a life! :rolleyes:

Mossin

ninty9er wrote: »

8 of us starting in the same place in town at 10 tomorrow. Mix of Business and Laccys. Adding about 7-8% onto the total workforce....let's hope there isn't enough photocopying and shredding for 8 people for 8 months:D:D

Got mine myself, though the co-op office put 5 of the other lads in.

8 people! Thats a bit ridiculous is it not?? Is the place big or something?
There can never be enough photocopying to be done...

bluedolphin wrote: »

You wouldn't be listening to me anyway, you'd be reading, surely


Ah, co-op... Five months in the Houses of the Oireachtas...the cushiest job going! What a life! :rolleyes:

Don't call him "Shirley"!! :p:D:D

ninty9er

Mossin wrote: »

8 people! Thats a bit ridiculous is it not?? Is the place big or something?
There can never be enough photocopying to be done...

Well there's about 100-110 full time there

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

8 people! Thats a bit ridiculous is it not?? Is the place big or something?

Symantec took on a similar number of people from UL if not more when I did co-op there. They took on a few business people (4 or 5 I think) and myself and a few others in the Localisation department. We were cheap hires for a few months, saved them hiring full time people when it wasn't really worth it for them.

kaimera

And so it begins for however many students it's relevant to.

Suckers

Otacon

Mossin wrote: »

Don't call him "Shirley"!! :p:D:D

Now I remember why I'm glad I left the house!

My co-op was with a firm in Limerick City. Part of me was hoping to go further away from home at the time, but overall, I was happy with my time there.

So how goes the first day?

Webmonkey

yeah How did your first day go Mossin

Mossin

kaimera wrote: »

And so it begins for however many students it's relevant to.

Suckers

Yes it has begun.

Otacon wrote: »

Now I remember why I'm glad I left the house!

My co-op was with a firm in Limerick City. Part of me was hoping to go further away from home at the time, but overall, I was happy with my time there.

So how goes the first day?

You left the house to go receive the Queens pension!!

Webmonkey wrote: »

yeah How did your first day go Mossin

The first day was the most bored I have ever been in my entire life.
I was made walk between 2 buildings all day, outside in the ****ing cold and the rain.
I was introduced to about 20-25 people in my department, of whom I'll be working with apparently. They are all very nice people, and it is very relaxed [and deadly quiet]. The dress code is casual which made me stand out a bit today, [went in with a shirt and tie combo, I'll know for tomorrow].
Not sure what exactly I'm going to be doing for 8 months, but after tomorrow I should have a better idea [fingers crossed] :rolleyes:
We have to have a months worth of induction and training procedures

Otacon

*sniffles* My boy is all growed up!

Yeah, no matter where you go, they seem to bore you for the first while just to see how you handle it. Then they heap work on you, just to see how you'll handle that too!

Any possible office affairs on the horizon!?

5uspect

Otacon wrote: »

Any possible office affairs on the horizon!?

One of the lads in the Air Corps with us was fond of the "Lady Pilots" as he called them. Crashed and burned pretty quickly...

Nothing like an Army Trolly Dolly either :rolleyes:

Mossin

Otacon wrote: »

*sniffles* My boy is all growed up!

Yeah, no matter where you go, they seem to bore you for the first while just to see how you handle it. Then they heap work on you, just to see how you'll handle that too!

Any possible office affairs on the horizon!?

Your boy!?!?
I'm older than you ya pillock!!

I'm sure I can handle the boredom of work, its the boredom of Shannon that is killing me now, and I'm only here a day. *I HAVE NO TV!!*

As for office affairs...All bar one of the staff I met today was male, although the other two marketing co-op students are females from UL. But would you want to risk opening that can of worms??

Otacon

Mossin wrote: »

...But would you want to risk opening that can of worms??

Need I answer?

Are you living on your own? I was for the last three months of my co-op. It was the most BOOOOORRRRING time of my life. I used to walk from the city to the Cresent and back every day 'for sh*ts and giggles', of which I got neither!

Mossin

Otacon wrote: »

Need I answer?

Are you living on your own? I was for the last three months of my co-op. It was the most BOOOOORRRRING time of my life. I used to walk from the city to the Cresent and back every day 'for sh*ts and giggles', of which I got neither!

Yes I want an answer!

No, I'm living with two others, both working full-time also, but also foreigners [Chinese and Polish], but very nice guys.
Not much craic though, only 1 real pub down here, and no TV in the house!
How am I gonna survive with no Soccer??

rmacm

Mossin wrote: »

The first day was the most bored I have ever been in my entire life.
I was made walk between 2 buildings all day, outside in the ****ing cold and the rain.

Were they attempting to break your spirit or something?

Mossin wrote: »

We have to have a months worth of induction and training procedures

I'd love to know who comes up with this crap (more than likely some bottom feeder HR person) as you can see I have a special hatred for HR people (well most of them anyway).

Otacon wrote: »

Yeah, no matter where you go, they seem to bore you for the first while just to see how you handle it. Then they heap work on you, just to see how you'll handle that too!

Aye 4 months of training followed by a **** blizzard of work great way to see how someone handles things. Either I'm going to be thrown onto a project and give up cigarettes of else my smoking will sky rocket.

Mossin wrote: »

I'm sure I can handle the boredom of work, its the boredom of Shannon that is killing me now, and I'm only here a day. *I HAVE NO TV!!*

There really isn't a lot to do in Shannon. If you're partial to wine and you can find a willing female to push you I'd suggest trying my wine binge + shopping trolley stunt to relieve boredom but I've no idea where in Shannon the hill is/was.

Webmonkey

What exactly are you doing in UL Mossin, from what I gathered you doing some business course? - What department you working in there.
Sure the first day is bound to be like that but before long you will probably be thrown into the deep end like a lot of companies do (Well in IT anyways) - I'll be going there now in April, must meet up with ya. I'm excited in one way but I not the most comfortable entering a new environment with new people. Scary, done it previous summer - have to do it again now -

Mossin

rmacm wrote: »

Were they attempting to break your spirit or something?

There really isn't a lot to do in Shannon. If you're partial to wine and you can find a willing female to push you I'd suggest trying my wine binge + shopping trolley stunt to relieve boredom but I've no idea where in Shannon the hill is/was.

I think they were trying to break my spirit indeed.

Rory, I dont think I will ever try that stunt!!

Webmonkey wrote: »

What exactly are you doing in UL Mossin, from what I gathered you doing some business course? - What department you working in there.
Sure the first day is bound to be like that but before long you will probably be thrown into the deep end like a lot of companies do (Well in IT anyways) - I'll be going there now in April, must meet up with ya. I'm excited in one way but I not the most comfortable entering a new environment with new people. Scary, done it previous summer - have to do it again now -

I'm doing Business with Marketing. I'm working in the Marketing department, in INTEL.
I don't think we'll be thrown into the deep end anytime soon, not from what I heard today, but I could be mistaken.

Indeed we should meet when you arrive, although, I seriously doubt that I will see much of you in work.

Webmonkey

Mossin wrote: »

I think they were trying to break my spirit indeed.

Rory, I dont think I will ever try that stunt!!



I'm doing Business with Marketing. I'm working in the Marketing department, in INTEL.
I don't think we'll be thrown into the deep end anytime soon, not from what I heard today, but I could be mistaken.

Indeed we should meet when you arrive, although, I seriously doubt that I will see much of you in work.

Yeah true , quite a big place then. I'll prob be in with freak programmers more than likely. Appartently they stay in there overnight sometimes cause they 'love' their job so much lol.

Oh well, gotta go for a drink some night or something. I'm not liking what i'm hearing bout shannon and the bordem - Intel were looking for one of the guys in a year ahead of me to work full time even tho he not finished course yet. They offered to pay to relocate him - things must be bad - He's reason for not wanting it is because of the area. no one wants to go there

Mossin

Webmonkey wrote: »

Yeah true , quite a big place then. I'll prob be in with freak programmers more than likely. Appartently they stay in there overnight sometimes cause they 'love' their job so much lol.

Oh well, gotta go for a drink some night or something. I'm not liking what i'm hearing bout shannon and the bordem - Intel were looking for one of the guys in a year ahead of me to work full time even tho he not finished course yet. They offered to pay to relocate him - things must be bad - He's reason for not wanting it is because of the area. no one wants to go there

Its actaully quite small down there, its just that we are in the other building to most of the programmers and software developers or something like that, [I dont know or really care that much].

Sure just give me a buzz when you get to Shannon, and I'll have someone to go drinking with!

Y2J_MUFC

I was on co-op at Intel Shannon aswell....going back there to work full time in July or some time during the Summer! Who's team are you on?

Mossin

Y2J_MUFC wrote: »

I was on co-op at Intel Shannon aswell....going back there to work full time in July or some time during the Summer! Who's team are you on?

I think John Healy is my manager, and that my mentor is Yaacov.

What did you think of co-op there??

caesar

Wasn't the most exciting day of my life. My left foot is gonna hurt by the end of the week, I can kinda relate to ninty9ers point in a previous thread about having an automatics in traffic. The hour commute is a bit of a pain but thats my choice I suppose.

My department is lacking people of the female persuasion too!!

Y2J_MUFC

Ah John Healy is new since i was there, i have never met him.. Yeah i thought it was good, they treat you like a proper employee, the food in the canteen is unreal too.... can't complain about the place really. They always give co-op's loads of time to do their work too, and if your stuck give someone a shout. Money is decent, and you'ill get at least one bonus too. Its fairly handy, although I wouldn't live in Shannon! Live in Limerick!

Ya can wear in what ya want aswell, like a united jersey will do And you can pretty much come and go at any time of the day as long as you have your work done at the end of the week. Who interviewed ya?