Quoc Vu
Major(s): 3rd Year - Computer Science BA
Interned at Collins Aerospace
What was a typical day as a Service Engineering co-op at Collins Aerospace?
My team was mostly remote. There was really only one or two other people that showed up to the office—my day consisted of 2-3 meetings and some work. That work would consist of an ongoing project and some other daily routine work offloaded by some senior engineers. It wasn’t non-stop work, however, I did take quick breaks here and there to talk to other departments and my other co-workers to see what they were working on.
How did you secure multiple internships within the same company?
I attended last year’s career fair, where I met my manager. She told me I stood out from the rest of the candidates because I knew how to hold a conversation, was confident, and had unorthodox experience in developing my soft skills. The only professional experience I had up to that point was six years of stocking at Fareway, a grocery store. She found how I was able to use that experience in my current field unique.
My manager stated that an internship or a co-op is basically a test to see if they want to keep you as a full-time employee. She was satisfied with my performance and offered me to stay on her team and is helping me secure an internship at a different department in our Cedar Rapids location.
How has your experience aided you since returning to the University of Iowa?
Honestly, it hasn’t. Maybe if it was a software engineering co-op, it might have. But I loved every bit of working in Service Engineering and working full time. My co-op gave me a little taste of what freedom tasted like, and now that I’m back to being a student, I hate being in college even more.
What skills did you develop or enhance during your time as an intern?
Using resources to get coding projects done, communicating, and asking questions.
What tips do you have for current students seeking internships?
If you feel like you’re behind your peers, it’s okay! I felt like I saw all my classmates having much more experience than me—Leetcode solutions every day, coding since high school, and straight A’s. That’s not me, and I was terrified! However, I learned that most of those guys might be smarter than me, but they might not know how to hold a conversation or function within a team. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and make yourself stand out as a candidate by having a personality.
What was your favorite aspect of your internship?
I just enjoyed having a very consistent routine and not being in college. My team was very lovely and enjoyable to talk to. We met outside of work for events and such. It was my first time being on my own and feeling like an adult. It was awesome.
Can you see yourself in a future career with Collins Aerospace?
Absolutely, I can. My team and I did a lot of talking about different careers available within the company and I enjoy being part of it.