Co-Op-ing with Shenouda Associates

(This is an excerpt from a student's reflection on his co-op experience with Shenouda Associates Inc.)

Until recently, all of my time at the Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.) was spent sitting behind a desk or reading from a text book as preparation for this career. Now, that's fine, but there are some things you simply can't learn from a book. That's why the college mandates that students work at least two semesters at a job within their chosen field and that's where my co-op with Shenouda Associates began.

While working at Shenouda Associates, I got a taste of what to expect should I choose technical writing as the branch of communications I'd like to work in. The field involves dedication to perfection and a disciplined attention to detail. It's said that first impressions are paramount when making new acquaintances. Similarly, with technical writing, your work makes your impression for you. One mistake and your credibility is dealt a blow. Even a simple error such as an errant period or an unnoticed typo can tarnish your reputation. Having patience and taking the time necessary to do a good job are both important in this field. These are things teachers have said, but I never fully understood until actually getting out and working in this field.

Another aspect of the communications field (and many other jobs as well) where it helped to have real-world experience was all the little things you do besides the actual work. Things like interacting with your boss. How does she prefer to be addressed? How do you act friendly while not appearing disrespectful? Also, there's choosing the right clothing for the right situations and knowing what to do during job interviews to make the right impression. All of these are considerations for the aspiring employee; however, in my experience, I've found that schools don't necessarily spend a lot of time teaching things like this.