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Chris Townend
Chris Townend
Computer Information Systems grad
December 2005
Team Co-op is pleased to announce our second Leong Co-op Award recipient Chris Townend, a Computer Information Systems student. Chris secured the first work term at BC Centre for Disease Control. In fall 2003, Chris was placed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Through the Co-op connection, he landed on a permanent position at Health Canada in Winnipeg, where he is now living. Chris was selected for the Co-op Award because he has made a significant contribution to the employers and was also extensively involved with the community. Below is his experience with Co-op:
"The Co-op program at Douglas College has had a profound influence on my career as a student as well as my professional career. I was very lucky to have a teacher by the name of Raymond Yu. Ray was the one who made me realize my love for computers when I took his CISY 100 course. He is also the one that advised me to participate in the Co-op program. I believed the best course of action was to graduate, get out in the real world, and make money. But it was Ray's wisdom that showed me that just having an education is not enough; I need experience to survive in the competitive IT world.
Since I had not worked in an office setting or interviewed for an IT position, the helpful staff in the Co-op office coached me on my interviewing skills and really helped me get prepared for the interview. The resume class at the beginning of the Co-op program was also a great help. Since the staff has worked with the companies in previous work terms, they really prepared me for what to expect in the position as well as the interview.
My first work term was with the BC Center for Disease Control. It was definitely an eye opener to what I could expect in an office situation. I was in the role of systems analyst. My responsibilities were to set up workstations for clients, troubleshoot hardware and software problems and work on projects. My first work term prepared me very well that I could make the most of my second work term at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. There I also had the title of systems analyst, but I was given more responsibilities and that really helped me grow. Those responsibilities included supporting presentations off site, video-conferences and BlackBerry handheld devices
I have gained a lot from the Co-op experience. I have a better understanding of the theory that I learned in class because of the hands-on experience. I also learned how to interact with fellow co-workers and supervisors. It can be quite different than a classroom setting and a Co-op work term is the perfect place to learn this. Not only did I learn about different technologies and more about how networks work, I also was able to network myself. It is very important to expand my possibilities by meeting new people and potential future employers.
The thing that I enjoyed the most about my Co-op terms was the people, especially at Agriculture. Everyone was very friendly and welcomed me with open arms. I even made a good friend who I still keep in touch with even after I moved to Manitoba. The Co-op program was one of the major reasons why I moved to Winnipeg. Working at Agriculture made me realize that I wanted a career in the Federal Government. I was lucky enough to get a contact through my supervisor and landed on a position with FIPD in Winnipeg. As soon as I graduated and finished my last work term, I moved to Winnipeg to work for the Federal Government. It was a big step in my life and at the time I was not so sure I had made the right decision. But now almost a year later I have no regrets and I love my job with Health Canada.
My advice to my fellow students would be to take advantage of the great opportunity that the Co-op program has to offer. It helped me find direction in my career and I am very thankful for that. Had I never joined the Co-op program, I could still be working in a warehouse and not doing what I love to do. Co-op is a great program and I think more students should take advantage of it. Even if you are not sure what you want to do, it can you help you figure that out and get you invaluable experience. I would like to thank all the Co-op staff who helped me along the way. I owe a lot to you and I think that you should get the credit you deserve.
