The Vigilant Co-op Experience
Just like that the summer begins to come to an end meaning an end to our Co-op hires Ewan and Emma’s time with us. We have thoroughly enjoyed having them with us and they have become valued members of the Vigilant family. We wish them nothing but the absolute best going forwards.
Before they finished we asked them a couple of questions about their time here at Vigilant.
Ewan Mackenzie
If you were to describe vigilant in a word what would you say and why?
Fun
I know its a pretty basic word but I feel it describes Vigilant perfectly. It really is a great place to work filled with fun people. I don’t know of any other work term placements that host a mandatory team horseshoe tournament. While I have to miss it, which is lucky for Terry as I would've been coming for his throne, it’s things such as that create such an enjoyable work environment.
What did you enjoy most about working at Vigilant?
There are many things I’ve thoroughly enjoyed about working at Vigilant, however, I can without a doubt say my favourite part was the sense of a team that's present. Everyone feels intertwined and connected despite the offices being in different provinces. You never feel stranded or alone when working on something. Even if I needed to ask someone in the Paradise office a question they always accommodated me and helped me out. On top of this, Vigilant has regular events such as the weekly all-hands meeting, which does an excellent job of keeping the continuity present and is just a fun thing to look forward to.
What have you learned?
During this work term, I learned more than I could have imagined. For example, prior to this, I had no idea an RFP even existed. While my understanding of them is still in its infancy I feel I can greatly benefit from having this knowledge going forwards. I’ve also learned valuable communication and HR skills through the hiring process for the next set of Co-Op students. Going through the process of screening, selecting, and interviewing was an experience that had unforeseen intricacies. However, I learned how to make it all work and ended up taking a lot from this experience that I can carry forward with me.
On top of this, I’ve gotten the chance to actually apply theories I’ve only ever learned about in class to the real world. For years I’ve spent my time wondering if what I’m learning is actually applicable to the real world, and now finally I can say it is. This is such a rewarding feeling, and while I may still hate studying for tests and exams at least I now know what I’m studying will be beneficial going forward.
Final goodbyes
I would like to thank everyone on the Vigilant team for making my first work term a great one. I really couldn't have asked for a better work environment filled with lively and supportive people. I can say that I enjoyed going into the office every day knowing I would get to see everybody. Once again thank you very much for the experience :)
Emma Murnaghan
If you were to describe vigilant in a word what would you say and why?
If I were to describe Vigilant in one word, it would be exceptional. Vigilant has by far exceeded my expectations in all aspects. The vision that Vigilant has on how a company should be operated is like no other. The remarkable level of flexibility and support offered to employees has enhanced the enjoyment that comes with going to work. The Vigilant team consists of highly skilled and talented members, all of whom are eager to involve students and answer questions. Vigilant also highly values the work of students and offers them trust and responsibility, which greatly helps to enhance a students learning experience.
What did you enjoy most about working at Vigilant?
The thing I enjoy most about working at Vigilant is that the opportunities are truly endless. Vigilant works on a variety of projects which helped me to become more adaptable, strengthen my problem-solving skills, and obtain a broader perspective that enhances my skill set as a junior project manager. The team at Vigilant is eager to involve students and help them grow as professionals. If there was something I wanted to learn more about or a skill I wanted to develop, someone was always willing to assist me. The experience I enjoyed most during my time at Vigilant was my trip to Nova Scotia to visit some of the projects the company was working on, as following this trip I was provided the opportunity to work remotely in PEI while spending time with my family.
What have you learned?
Over the last four months I have learned many things about project management and the construction industry. I was involved in multiple projects, each in a different phase. This allowed me to learn about the pre-construction phase, design phase, bidding and procurement, construction phase, commissioning phase, project turnover, and post-construction. I have learned to write RFPs, RFQs, and monthly progress reports. Most importantly I have become proficient at writing meeting minutes such that I have received Lloyd’s approval. Editor’s Note: Lloyd’s approval is a sacred talisman. I have also learned how to invoice, create and process change orders, monitor and control shop drawing submittals, along with many other project management related tasks and skills. I worked with the cost estimation team at Vigilant and learned how to do quantity take-offs for both civil, mechanical and electrical drawings.
Final goodbyes
I would like to thank everyone at Vigilant for such a great experience and valuable work term. This has truly been the best experience and I will miss everyone dearly when I go back to school in September. I have learned so much during this work term, and have learned many lessons that I will carry with me into my career.
