From Office to Site: A Co-op Experience at RAM
When Chloe Stanford joined RAM for her co-op term, she was looking for a role that offered both flexibility and variety. What she found was an experience that gave her exposure to a wide range of work, along with the opportunity to step outside the office and onto active project sites.
During her time at RAM, Chloe worked on several projects, including inspection coordination with BC Hydro and Metro Vancouver, progress reporting for the Surrey Langley Skytrain Walkways Quality Control scope, proposals, document control, and permit submissions. This mix of responsibilities gave her insight into how projects are managed from multiple angles.
While the office work built a strong foundation, it was her time on site that shifted her perspective.
“Visiting project sites was an eye-opening experience and a bit intimidating the first time,” Chloe shared. “I felt somewhat out of place, but I think that will fade with more site visits and experience. Overall, they’ve been really great learning opportunities.” Seeing projects in person helped connect the work she was doing on paper to what was actually being built. Drawings and documents began to make more sense once she could place them in a physical context. “It’s one thing to work on documents and look at drawings for a project but never leave the office, and a very different but satisfying experience to go out in the field and see what’s actually being built and worked on,” she said.
Being on site also brought attention to the importance of safety and communication. Working around large equipment requires awareness and clear coordination, especially in environments where visibility is limited. These are lessons that are difficult to fully grasp without being there in person.
One site visit that stood out to Chloe was the FortisBC Tilbury LNG Plant. She had been involved in document control for the project, reviewing drawings and project materials on a regular basis. Seeing the site firsthand changed how she understood that work.
“It was like looking at a handful of puzzle pieces, and a different batch each day,” she explained. “Visiting the site allowed me to see the full picture and improved my understanding of the work I was doing.”
For Chloe, gaining this kind of hands-on experience has been especially meaningful.
“As a woman in engineering, I am entering a field that is historically male dominated,” she said. “Although things have been changing and improving, I still encounter biases. Being able to gain this site experience now gives me something to build on. It is a way to say I have earned my place here and that I belong.”
Looking back on her experience, one thing that stood out was the importance of taking initiative. “It is really important to put yourself out there and take advantage of the opportunities that come up. Sometimes you need to hunt down the work you want to do.”
At RAM, co-op students are not limited to one type of experience. Whether contributing to tasks in the office or gaining perspective on site, the goal is to help students better understand the full scope of the work. Chloe’s term is one example of how that approach can shape both skills and confidence early in a career.
For students looking to gain hands-on experience and a broader view of the industry, RAM offers the chance to do both.
Interested in learning more about our co-op program? Head over to our careers website to learn more.