Choice One Engineering

Engineering Co-Op

May - August 2023 • Sidney, OH

What I liked

I loved so much about this job. The people were amazing and very interested in my sucess and personal development. I got to work on a varity of different projects including cleanups, going out on the survey crew to help with topo and staking, creating exhibits and assesments and helping create plans on CAD. Choice One also ensured that I was able to get out into the field, onto construction sites, and in meetings to really be able to experience all aspects of the industry. This company is very transparent and invests a lot into their employees. Everyone is very welcoming, and always excited to share information with you or even just get to know you better! It truly was a joy to come into work everyday and the summer flew by. I would recommend this job to anyone in the Dayton or Cincinatti area looking to work as a civil engineer.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had been more prepared prior to my arrival at the job. I had limited CAD experiences, especially compared to the other Co-Ops at Choice One at the same time as me. This led to me feeling as if I was "falling behind" and being a burden with so many questions. Aside from that, the only other thing that I would change is the intial training. The first week in the office was filled with primarly videos. It was slow and they were somewhat outdated, but things quickly picked up after that!

Advice

One piece of advice that I would share with others is to never be afraid to ask questions and get involved. Asking questions is not only going to increase your knowledge and understanding of a topic, but it also really shows that you are interested and that you care. Asking questions at work creates a space to get to know your coworkers better and create relationships. Getting to know the people you are working with, and being engaged with the company culture really makes you feel like you are apart of the team. It allows people to include you in things because they know you better! That is one of the things that I loved so much about this job, and that wouldn't of been possible if I hadn't been asking questions and reaching out.

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Civil Engineering Intern

January - April 2022 • Sidney, OH

What I liked

Choice One Engineering is a fun and welcoming community that celebrates collaboration, hard work, transparency, and enjoyment. I enjoyed a variety of new experiences, as every two weeks, I transitioned from working on AutoCad in the office to the field with the survey crew. I learned so much about the world of Civil Engineering from each phase of a project. One of my favorite things about my co-op with Choice One Engineering was that I always experienced/learned something new every day. One day I am taken to a bid opening or on a field walk and the next we are having a putt-putt tournament in the office. In the end, Choice One has exceeded my expectations by providing me with a well-rounded and meaningful co-op, in which I have new and improved skills I will use for the rest of my life.

What I wish was different

Because my experience exceeded my expectations, there isn't much that I wish had been different with Choice One. Rather, in hindsight, I wish I had taken more risks and challenges in order to expand and increase my level of knowledge and understanding of certain tasks. I wish I asked more questions exploring the thought process behind the way my co-workers problem-solve instead of getting a general idea of what needs to be done. However, if communication and instructions were more clear during my first weeks of training with the survey crew, I may have felt more comfortable asking such questions. Either way, I wish I had taken more initiative to understand and learn as much as I possibly could.

Advice

I advise the future co-ops at Choice One to take advantage of all the opportunities for learning and growth they have to offer. Step out of your comfort zone and try new things or volunteer to help with projects you may not be familiar with. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. Everyone is friendly and wants to help you, so be vulnerable and pick their brains. The Co-op is what you make of it, so try to gain as much experience and knowledge as you can.

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Engineering Co-op

August - December 2021 • Sidney, OH

What I liked

Choice One is a great company that values their employees and encourages working together to be successful. I never felt judged for not knowing something but rather encouraged for wanting to learn. My experience at Choice One was different than any other company I have worked for in the passed. I had the opportunity to take on work at my own rate, and I got to decide what projects to work on. I also always had access to the project managers to ask as many questions as I needed. As a first term co-op, I would rotate between being in the office on AutoCAD and out in the field surveying. This was one of my favorite aspects of Choice One Engineering. There was a lot of flexibility within my co-op, and I got to experience all scopes of work.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have learned earlier on in my term, if you want to learn something, ask. They want to give you as many opportunities as possible to be successful. Also, the more you let them know you want to learn, the more likely they will ask you in the future to help without having to be prompted.

Advice

Take the opportunity to get to know the employees. There are two offices, but the company, as a whole, is very close. I got to know most all the employees in both offices. They provide many opportunities to bond with your coworkers, and the more you know who you are working with, the more fun the experience will be.

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