My first real taste of the industry. Four months at TQM through a Co-operative Education Program, from January 5 to April 24, 2026. Here's how it went.
The Beginning
I'll be honest, I was quiet. A bit nervous too. Didn't know what to expect walking in on day one.
But step by step, day by day, I started finding my footing. You learn fast when you're in the deep end.
How Development Actually Works
Before this, I just wrote code and hoped it worked. At TQM, I learned the real flow:
- Investigate the problem
- Get the requirements
- Design the solution
- Develop it
- Test it
- UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
- Go live to production
That's the cycle. Simple to say, hard to do. But after a few rounds, it starts to click.
The Daily Routine
Every morning, standup meeting. About 15 minutes. You share:
- What you're working on
- How it's going
- Any bugs or blockers
- Your plan for the day
Quick, focused, and it keeps everyone on the same page. I actually started looking forward to it.
The Freedom
This is what I loved the most. Development here was freestyle. You use whatever tools, skills, and frameworks work for you.
The point is the result. Not how you got there.
If I couldn't find a solution, there was always someone senior around to give advice. The elders here don't just tell you what to do, they help you understand why.
The vibe at work? Very, very good. Everyone was easy to work with.
My Co-op Teammates
I wasn't alone. There were other co-ops like me, and I gotta say, I'm happy I got to be there with you guys.
We had every mood in those four months. Stress, laughter, confusion, wins. But above all, it was fun.
Four months flew by. That's all it took to change how I think about software development.
If you're a student thinking about co-op programs, just do it. The experience is worth more than any course.
Thank you, TQM.