Comments on: My University workterm at GigPark.com http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/ Programming, Education, Computer Science Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bashar http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46715 Bashar Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:46:46 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46715 It's working now! Guess it was my PC or ISP :( It’s working now! Guess it was my PC or ISP :(

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46705 Tony Sat, 01 Sep 2007 16:51:41 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46705 @Bashar - there's a certain degree of luck involved with the company itself, and the students. I've heard of an Engineering student who was hired to fill out the comments for the existing code. Another was packing keywords into cardboard boxes. There's a fair share of people (not just students) who waste time away on the internet, especially at the larger companies. I think that a combination of low expectations of the company from a "student" with a low motivation on the student's part will result in what we've described above. On the other hand, an opportunity and a desire to do something remarkable, can easily result in a fantastic workterm for everybody involved. Also - I'll email you about figuring out what's happening with the website. It should be working. @Bashar – there’s a certain degree of luck involved with the company itself, and the students. I’ve heard of an Engineering student who was hired to fill out the comments for the existing code. Another was packing keywords into cardboard boxes. There’s a fair share of people (not just students) who waste time away on the internet, especially at the larger companies.

I think that a combination of low expectations of the company from a “student” with a low motivation on the student’s part will result in what we’ve described above. On the other hand, an opportunity and a desire to do something remarkable, can easily result in a fantastic workterm for everybody involved.

Also – I’ll email you about figuring out what’s happening with the website. It should be working.

]]> By: Bashar http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46658 Bashar Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:59:26 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46658 It's nice and also hurts when I read about how successful summer internship is at your side. For us internship is just hanging out, copy/paste from internet. I once had internship 4 girls (I know ppl reading this already say lucky man!) but I was about to literally kick them out of office. I was told they are web developers. Then they said they are designers. I started giving them beginner Access tutorials, and when I asked about little research for web spiders they just stopped working for the next 4 weeks until they left! By the way, I would love to see more of what you were working on but the site is not returning anything :(. Just says Done and nothing comes! Is it me or my ISP? It’s nice and also hurts when I read about how successful summer internship is at your side. For us internship is just hanging out, copy/paste from internet. I once had internship 4 girls (I know ppl reading this already say lucky man!) but I was about to literally kick them out of office.

I was told they are web developers. Then they said they are designers. I started giving them beginner Access tutorials, and when I asked about little research for web spiders they just stopped working for the next 4 weeks until they left!

By the way, I would love to see more of what you were working on but the site is not returning anything :( . Just says Done and nothing comes! Is it me or my ISP?

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46263 Tony Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:05:13 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46263 You're better off asking those guys directly, but personally I feel that the answer would be a "no". The position at GigPark was advertised on their blog, and they were looking for a "student". It shouldn't matter if the University gives you a checkmark credit for having worked or not. It does (at the very least should) make quite a difference that you are currently in school though. I also think it's important to point out that some (especially larger) companies might prefer to deal through the established University connections, but that's not for a fact. It's a valid strategy to find out what companies are looking to hire students, from a friend in the co-op system, and then apply yourself as well. You’re better off asking those guys directly, but personally I feel that the answer would be a “no”.

The position at GigPark was advertised on their blog, and they were looking for a “student”. It shouldn’t matter if the University gives you a checkmark credit for having worked or not. It does (at the very least should) make quite a difference that you are currently in school though.

I also think it’s important to point out that some (especially larger) companies might prefer to deal through the established University connections, but that’s not for a fact. It’s a valid strategy to find out what companies are looking to hire students, from a friend in the co-op system, and then apply yourself as well.

]]> By: Paul Butler http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46144 Paul Butler Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:06:43 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46144 Thanks Tony. I have a follow-up question :P - did you feel you had much of an advantage in getting the job because you are in co-op? The reason I ask is that I wasn't accepted into co-op, but I would like to get a job next summer that doesn't involve selling french fries. I'm not looking to get a job at Google or Microsoft or IBM, but I would love to work for a small start-up; will they be hesitant to consider me if I am not in co-op? Thanks Tony. I have a follow-up question :P – did you feel you had much of an advantage in getting the job because you are in co-op?

The reason I ask is that I wasn’t accepted into co-op, but I would like to get a job next summer that doesn’t involve selling french fries. I’m not looking to get a job at Google or Microsoft or IBM, but I would love to work for a small start-up; will they be hesitant to consider me if I am not in co-op?

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46123 Tony Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:26:49 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46123 GigPark has advertised the position in a number of places, including the University of Waterloo co-op system, their <a href="http://blog.gigpark.com/2007/03/20/a-great-opportunity-for-a-student-developer/" title="GigPark: A great opportunity for a student developer" rel="nofollow">blog</a> (if anyone wants to read up on my original job description), and a number of other places online. GigPark has advertised the position in a number of places, including the University of Waterloo co-op system, their blog (if anyone wants to read up on my original job description), and a number of other places online.

]]> By: Paul Butler http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-46102 Paul Butler Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:44:09 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-46102 Sounds like a good time. I'm curious how you found out about the company, was it through the coop office, or did you know people who worked there, or what? Sounds like a good time. I’m curious how you found out about the company, was it through the coop office, or did you know people who worked there, or what?

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-45862 Tony Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:37:52 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-45862 heh, Pema - what you have to do is hide all of Paul's tea. He tends to go for coffee as an alternative ;) heh, Pema – what you have to do is hide all of Paul’s tea. He tends to go for coffee as an alternative ;)

]]> By: Pema Hegan http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-45840 Pema Hegan Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:47:00 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-45840 I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed your time with us Tony!! Good luck this year at Waterloo and hopefully we'll see you very soon. PS - I'm drinking much less coffee now that you're not in the office ;). Hurry back! I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed your time with us Tony!! Good luck this year at Waterloo and hopefully we’ll see you very soon.

PS – I’m drinking much less coffee now that you’re not in the office ;) . Hurry back!

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/comment-page-1/#comment-45767 Tony Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:44:33 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/my-university-workterm-at-gigparkcom/#comment-45767 Paul, Noah - thx guys! I'll try to start publishing more often to the blog. It will be almost as if I'm there, just doing something completely different. Hmm... Adrian - excellent point! It's just not Web 2.0 enough ;) Paul, Noah – thx guys! I’ll try to start publishing more often to the blog. It will be almost as if I’m there, just doing something completely different. Hmm…

Adrian – excellent point! It’s just not Web 2.0 enough ;)

]]>