Yasmin Al-Ayech Barquin
Concordia Co-Op software engineering student - Lockheed Martin
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up as a child, influenced by the constant growth of technology and by movies like The Matrix, I knew for certain I wanted to work with computers. I liked the idea of being able to understand, break, protect and create anything from a software component to an entire computer system, which led me to the field of software engineering.
Why did you choose Concordia?
I chose Concordia because it balanced theoretical and practical classes rather than focusing on one type of instruction or the other.
When you first enrolled at Concordia, did you plan to become part of Co-Op?
When I first enrolled, I was registered in Computer Science for only one semester and had no knowledge of the Co-Op program. After looking deeper into the differences between computer science and software engineering, I realized that I wanted to do more than "just" coding. I wanted to know how everything connects and works together and I felt I would get more out of my objective by enrolling myself in the Co-Op SOEN program and so I switched.
How did you find out about Co-Op?
I found out about Co-Op through students, events, and career fairs. Fellow students told me how Co-Op is more rewarding than challenging and how it is a great experience! As ambitious as I am, I decided to take on the challenge and also experience of being on the job market while completing my bachelor's degree.
What was the process like when it came to finding an internship?
The process was stressful at first because it was all new to me. I was intimidated by job descriptions and what employers were asking for in terms of qualifications. I quickly realized companies will always ask for more and it is how we students represent ourselves that will make a difference in the hiring process. There is nothing lost in applying to as many companies as possible in order to increase the chances of finding the right internship.
Can you give a short description of the company and your role there?
During my time with Lockheed-Martin, I was a Co-Op technical staff, which means I was involved in many areas. For instance, my tasks varied from planning to documenting, testing advanced software and simulators, creating class diagrams, writing code, installing software, preparing backups and performing quality assurance to name a few.
Do you feel Co-Op has given you a competitive edge when it comes to the job market?
Co-Op has allowed me to gain more confidence in myself in regards to the job market. From attending seminars and searching for jobs to having interviews and work terms, I feel I am more experienced and better prepared for the job market then if I weren't in the Co-Op program. My Co-Op experience will definitely help me with my job search and interview techniques. I now have an idea what to expect and how to look for work that will be meaningful and interesting to me. I also now have relevant work experience and I hope that will give me an advantage when I go out to the job market.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I would like to find work with a company that I enjoy working for, where I can show off and expand my skills and knowledge. I would like to see myself grow from an entry level engineer to a mid-level engineer and a team lead. I would also like to pursue the opportunities available for senior positions for future reference such as architectural, consultant and managerial positions. Who knows, maybe I can own my own company by then!
Yasmin was excellent! She was given different tasks such as technical documentation, quality assurance, and UML Unified Modeling Language class diagrams. She was professional and worked as if she was a permanent employee. Her work was well done, she integrated herself well into the group, and the quality of her work was great! At Lockheed Martin, we hire students for short term tasks and projects that we know can be finished in the course of their internship. There is a lot of work to be done here and the students contribute to supporting us in our heavy workloads.
- Danny Dionne, Senior Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin and Yasmin's supervisor
Concordia Co-Op software engineering student - Lockheed Martin
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?Growing up as a child, influenced by the constant growth of technology and by movies like The Matrix, I knew for certain I wanted to work with computers. I liked the idea of being able to understand, break, protect and create anything from a software component to an entire computer system, which led me to the field of software engineering.
Why did you choose Concordia?
I chose Concordia because it balanced theoretical and practical classes rather than focusing on one type of instruction or the other.
When you first enrolled at Concordia, did you plan to become part of Co-Op?
When I first enrolled, I was registered in Computer Science for only one semester and had no knowledge of the Co-Op program. After looking deeper into the differences between computer science and software engineering, I realized that I wanted to do more than "just" coding. I wanted to know how everything connects and works together and I felt I would get more out of my objective by enrolling myself in the Co-Op SOEN program and so I switched.
How did you find out about Co-Op?
I found out about Co-Op through students, events, and career fairs. Fellow students told me how Co-Op is more rewarding than challenging and how it is a great experience! As ambitious as I am, I decided to take on the challenge and also experience of being on the job market while completing my bachelor's degree.
What was the process like when it came to finding an internship?
The process was stressful at first because it was all new to me. I was intimidated by job descriptions and what employers were asking for in terms of qualifications. I quickly realized companies will always ask for more and it is how we students represent ourselves that will make a difference in the hiring process. There is nothing lost in applying to as many companies as possible in order to increase the chances of finding the right internship.
Can you give a short description of the company and your role there?
During my time with Lockheed-Martin, I was a Co-Op technical staff, which means I was involved in many areas. For instance, my tasks varied from planning to documenting, testing advanced software and simulators, creating class diagrams, writing code, installing software, preparing backups and performing quality assurance to name a few.
Do you feel Co-Op has given you a competitive edge when it comes to the job market?
Co-Op has allowed me to gain more confidence in myself in regards to the job market. From attending seminars and searching for jobs to having interviews and work terms, I feel I am more experienced and better prepared for the job market then if I weren't in the Co-Op program. My Co-Op experience will definitely help me with my job search and interview techniques. I now have an idea what to expect and how to look for work that will be meaningful and interesting to me. I also now have relevant work experience and I hope that will give me an advantage when I go out to the job market.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I would like to find work with a company that I enjoy working for, where I can show off and expand my skills and knowledge. I would like to see myself grow from an entry level engineer to a mid-level engineer and a team lead. I would also like to pursue the opportunities available for senior positions for future reference such as architectural, consultant and managerial positions. Who knows, maybe I can own my own company by then!
Yasmin was excellent! She was given different tasks such as technical documentation, quality assurance, and UML Unified Modeling Language class diagrams. She was professional and worked as if she was a permanent employee. Her work was well done, she integrated herself well into the group, and the quality of her work was great! At Lockheed Martin, we hire students for short term tasks and projects that we know can be finished in the course of their internship. There is a lot of work to be done here and the students contribute to supporting us in our heavy workloads.
- Danny Dionne, Senior Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin and Yasmin's supervisor
