Anvesha Dwivedi is a fourth-year Bachelor of International Economics student, who did an 8-month co-op term as an Analytic Project Coordinator at Boeing Vancouver.
Anvesha Dwivedi
Why the co-op program?
I wanted to get professional work experience that involved practical application of my classroom knowledge. Moreover, co-op was a great chance to work with different sectors – corporate, nonprofit, government, etc. and get exposure to a variety of real world problems.
What was your role at the job?
My main responsibilities included project management and maintaining the financial spreadsheets used internally for invoice and budget tracking. I assisted in creating presentations for project and portfolio level reporting as well as maintain tools for management and communication of the portfolio and project activities. I also assisted on projects by using Tableau and Microsoft Power BI to visualize and analyze data.
What experience did you get on site, that you could apply to the theory you’ve studied at VSE?
Experience with challenging tasks made me more confident academically once I returned to school. I was able to look at things from a wider perspective which helped me synthesize my thought processes.
How did your classroom/faculty experience at VSE help add value to your job?
Knowledge of various micro-macro economic applications, developing technical skills as well as exposure to various real world applications of concepts and theories made.
What was your overall experience in the co-op program?
The co-op program truly enriched my university experience. I found the most valuable aspect of the program was the fact that I could try out a few positions and get more familiar with my career interests whilst developing my professional development portfolio. Through the co-op program, I was able to apply my studies in different arenas and determine where I think I will fit best once I graduate. Along the way, I have also made amazing connections and found mentors.
Any advice for future students?
Think of how co-op can supplement your theoretical background from school and allow you to apply concepts learned in the classroom in a dynamic setting.
To learn more about co-op at UBC, click here.
