Iervinny Tanto | A day in the life of a UBC Sauder Co-op student
Third-year UBC Bachelor of Commerce student Iervinny Tanto offers an inside look at her day as a Co-op student for Teck Resources Limited, from the podcasts she listens to on her morning commute, to the work she tackles in the name of talent attraction.
Since January, I’ve been working as a Campus Talent Attraction Co-op Student with Teck Resources Limited, a diversified natural resources company headquartered in Vancouver.
You might be wondering why I pursued a role in the mining industry? I chose Teck because I admire its sustainability efforts. I’m specializing in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources with a concentration in Sustainability and Social Impact, so it’s been an amazing opportunity to grow professionally and personally.
Come along as I take you through what a day in my life looks like.
6:30 a.m.
Rise and shine! I usually get up early to start the day. After getting ready, I take a quick peek at my emails to ensure no fires are burning. Some of the people I work with are one hour ahead of me, so checking my emails in the morning ensures I provide a timely response.
7:45 a.m.
I ride the Canada Line SkyTrain to work. I usually stop at Waterfront Station and walk the rest of the way to the office. I love listening to podcasts during my commute. My favourites right now are "Stuff You Should Know" and "Rotten Mango."
Here we are, Teck's Vancouver Head Office!
8:10 a.m.
Once I get to the office, I always pause to take in the view. It’s incredible and one of the reasons I love working from the office compared to working from home.
Looking out onto the mountains and the ocean. This view is hard to beat.
8:15 a.m.
Every morning, I take some time to check my emails to make sure I’m in the loop. I also create a to-do list for the day to ensure I don’t fall behind. There's something very satisfying about checking off everything at the end of the day!
9:00 a.m.
Every week, the Campus Talent Attraction team has a chat about Co-op updates throughout the unit and plans for campus events and our company webinar, Campus Coffee.
The Campus Talent Attraction Team during our trip to the Canadian Rockies.
10:00 a.m.
This month, we have various Co-op student events across the different Teck sites. There are over 150 Co-op students at Teck and several events are held at each location every term. Today, I am planning a laser tag event in Calgary with my fellow Co-op friends located there.
10:30 a.m.
My supervisor and I have a daily chat to give updates and facilitate coaching. I enjoy these check-ins because they’ve made me more comfortable working with my supervisor and have helped me improve my ability to communicate in a professional environment.
My corner at the office.
12:00 p.m.
Teck holds a ‘Video Challenge’ where students showcase their time here for a chance to win amazing prizes! Today is the first workshop for all Co-op students to help them learn more about the challenge.
1:00 p.m.
At Teck, a team of students works collaboratively to create fun and professional development events for all Co-op students called the Student Experience Committee (SEC). We usually meet bi-weekly to give updates and plan a mix of virtual and in-person events.
Here is a picture of me and my friend, Nipuni. She and I met during our work term at the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre at UBC Sauder and now we are both working at Teck!
2:00 p.m.
Today, I am having my lunch outside of the office with some friends. Another perk of working downtown is trying different eateries nearby, especially when it's a sunny day like today. Of course, it’s always a great day when the sun is shining in Vancouver.
3:00 p.m.
Remember that to-do list from earlier? Today was a meeting-packed day, and now it’s heads down time and I can finally complete all those tasks.
I work on the 33rd floor. Fun fact, there are also 7 other Co-ops on this floor.
4:00 p.m.
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to take a Microsoft Power Apps training session, and so today, I’m doing some practice modules to ensure I don't forget what I learned. My favourite tool is Power Automate.
5:15 p.m.
And that wraps up my work day! Time to go home and start binge watching movies on Netflix.
My Co-op experience has been nothing short of exceptional. At Teck, I’ve not been treated like a student. I’ve been given real responsibilities that have allowed me to grow beyond my greatest dreams. I never used to be one to start a conversation, but now I find myself talking to everyone I meet.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people in the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre, especially the UBC Sauder Co-op Team. They not only helped me land the role at Teck, but also believed in me by giving me my very first Co-op job as the Project Coordinator for their team.
I’m so grateful that I decided to embark on this Co-op journey. It has been the best year.
Thank you for spending the day with me!