Douglas College’s Co-operative Education is a gateway to many careers for students looking to break

into their industry of interest.

For Troy Sim, his area of interest lay in the technology sector, prompting his decision to transfer from a private college to Douglas in 2012, where he enrolled in the Computer Science and Information Systems program.

Knowing the value of work experience while studying, Sim applied and completed three different Co-ops that focused on his area of study with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the CEIT department at Douglas and finally with Avigilon – where he currently works.

“After graduation, I was offered a full-time IT position with Avigilon because my colleagues and my manager liked me and my work ethic,” Sim said. “It was always my plan to go back and work with my team at Avigilon.”

Sim notes that his experience gained from Co-op was incredibly valuable and he credits the hands-on tasks and projects that he learned out of the classroom with his success.

Through his experience at each position, Sim was able to improve on communication and problem-solving skills, and test drive what it would be like to pursue a career in the technology industry.

“At first, I was confused and had no clue what I wanted to do down the road, but Co-op helped me plan for my future and what I wanted to do after graduation,” he said. “Participating in Co-op gave me the exposure I needed in the IT industry and helped me figure out what I wanted to do when I graduated.”

Another added benefit to Co-op had to be the connections made, Sim said. Even today, he is in regular contact with his former colleagues from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and CEIT.

“Working experience is a must-have before graduation,” he said. “And that’s the beauty of Co-op. You are there to learn and gain experience.”

To learn more about Co-operative Education opportunities at Douglas College, see here.