Mechanical Engineering Co-Op Story: IS4S

Emory Clifford

Mechanical Engineering

What company did you co-op with and where are they located?

IS4S | Opelika, AL

How did you identify and apply for your co-op? Are there any specific resources you used to find the opportunity (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, other recruitment events)?

I first spoke with engineers from IS4S at a networking event hosted by CDCR and then I used Handshake to apply for the co-op position with an interview hosted on-campus during an interview day.

What was the application process like?

It was very simple compared to other application I've seen. Handshake simplifies the process by bringing every application together in one system. Once my account was up to date, the heavy lifting was done.

Tell us about your co-op experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular project or part of the experience you learned the most from?

IS4S is a small company with big resources. This was really exciting and beneficial as a co-op student because it meant my help was worthwhile and there were important responsibilities I was tasked with. I was given some main projects to work on, and I would often get pulled in to help out in other places. Overall, I had several opportunities to learn and build experience.

In what ways did this co-op help you prepare for your next destination after Auburn?

This experience was the first time I got to step into the career of an engineer. I learn about how problems are solved and what it takes to meet goals. It also helped me learn more about myself and how I can approach challenges to the best of my ability.

In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your co-op experience? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice on the job?

The projects I completed in several classes were some of the most beneficial experiences to prepare me for work. They probably most closely resembled the situations I found myself in where I was given a problem and needed to design, execute, and document a solution.

Do you have any advice for other students looking for co-op opportunities like yours?

Finding the right opportunity is not just attending a career fair. It takes time and effort to search for something that appeals to you. The CDCR is an excellent resource to help throughout the searching process. I would highly recommend participating in as many developmental sessions as possible. I attended events to learn more about how to build a resume and elevator pitch. I also participated in mock interviews to build confidence and learn more about the STAR format. Then I went to networking events put on by the CDCR to meet employers and build connections. Maintaining these connections with the skills I built from meeting with the CDCR was crucial to the success of my co-op search.