“The internship exceeded my expectations because it was such a comfortable environment to be in and to grow in. I got to learn a lot of new skills and was comfortable to ask questions and try new things.”
As a co-op student, Antonia Zupu wanted a diverse range of experiences through her internships. When she saw an opportunity to work with Chandos Construction on the Advanced Nuclear Material Research Centre project in Chalk River, Ontario, she jumped at it, even though it meant moving to a rural part of the province, simply because it was such a unique project.
As part of the scheduling team, Antonia was very involved with co-plan sessions, creating the various logs related to scheduling. She also worked in procurement and on a greenhouse gas project to help reduce emissions during construction.
Antonia’s biggest adventure as a Chandos intern was arranging to move to Chalk River while studying for and taking exams. Her parents helped her find a place to live and get a car and, once she started work, she found that her colleagues were both welcoming and eager to provide support.
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School: University of Ottawa
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Program: Civil Engineering, specializing in structural and geotechnical engineering
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Favourite class: Reinforced Concrete 2
Antonia cherished the company culture the most during her internship. Building meaningful friendships and feeling her opinions were not just heard but genuinely valued made it an exceptional experience. Early in her term, she contributed to creating a workforce report and was thrilled to see her ideas integrated, despite being a co-op student. Engaging with team members from the Ottawa office and joining company-wide online meetings assured her that this culture was cherished universally across the company, not just in Chalk River.
During her tenure at Chandos, Antonia grasped the importance of asking questions. In previous internships, she tried to navigate challenges independently. Here, she realized the value in seeking guidance, which significantly bolstered her confidence in her abilities. Another pivotal lesson was discovering merit in tasks she might not have found enjoyable, like data entry. She found valuable takeaways regardless of the job's nature.
For students interested in internships with Chandos, Antonia says that it’s a great work environment that offers lots of support and opportunities for growth. Antonia considered a full-time position with the company because of the culture and the nature of the nuclear project, which she’d like to see through to the end. She will be joining the team after graduation.
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