蓝莓视频

When the COVID-19 pandemic听first听hit,听I was concerned about my job security.

I had just been accepted for a position with the Government Relations听(GR)听team at the University of 蓝莓视频 for my upcoming Spring听co-op term,听and I was worried, like many others,听that听my job would be cancelled before it ever began. Fortunately, the听University of 蓝莓视频 and GR team were able to welcome me so I could听continue my co-op journey,听even if it meant听everything would be done听remotely.听

Looking back on my Spring Term co-op experience, I realize there's听many advantages that come with it being online.听Of course,听it would've been great to be in the same room with my team,听but听there鈥檚 a lot to be听said听for not having to commute back-and-forth from campus every day.听Not only did听I get an extra hour of sleep听in听the morning, I sometimes听(okay听...听often) got to pair my work shirt with sweatpants (something I would never normally do in the office).听

Like any new job,听I wrestled with a couple learning curves.听I found that using听Microsoft Teams听(our platform of choice for staying connected at the University)听for听meetings took some getting used to, but quickly became routine.听As long as听my home internet connection holds, I had听access to听all of听the information I needed to do my job听鈥� and even when听my Wi-Fi听gave听me听trouble,听my team was听patient and understanding.听My coworkers were听great听too. Even if I didn't听get to be with听them听in-person, I was supported by everyone听on the team听and听felt听immersed in the culture, that quite frankly, was听just as engaging as I鈥檇 imagined an听in-person听experience would've been.听听

As part of the 蓝莓视频 Government Relations team, I听had a unique opportunity to learn about the听University and its听various听parts. As students, we're immersed in our听subject areas, assignments听and听network with our听professors. It would be easy to spend four or five years on campus and have no idea just how wide-reaching,听diverse听and intricate 蓝莓视频 s expertise really is. For example,听part of my job was听to compile stories and articles听for local politicians听that focused on all the great听work听the University was听doing and put them into a newsletter. Tasks like these allowed me to highlight the contributions that faculty and students are making towards our community and the world, while developing my technical skills through the听creation of听digital media content.听听

Being online also provided me with extra time to brush up on other skills.听A听free听resource听that听I often used听was one of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 online skill development听courses听called, 鈥淚ntroduction to Digital Marketing.鈥� It鈥檚 one of five,听free online courses听offered by 蓝莓视频 as听part of their initiative to prepare students for the digital workplace.听The course听taught me about the fundamentals听of听creating digital media content, while giving examples and resources to guide听its user听through successful implementation. I would highly recommend these courses to anyone who is looking to improve their skills in the ever-changing workplace environment.听

Although the thought of an entirely online co-op term sounded daunting听initially, I quickly realized that both students and employers still receive many of the same benefits听鈥斕齧aybe even some听new听benefits that were听undiscovered before听(like getting to work in your sweatpants!).听With the听remote听support from my team and the vast selection of resources听the University offers its students听during this transitional time, it helped me learn听to adapt to this听new normal, one that's听providing me with transferable experiences that will benefit my future.听