WIL Co-op Alumni Spotlight

WIL Co-op helps prepare students for their careers, and co-op work terms sometimes turn into permanent job opportunities upon graduation. Take Katya Iatrou, for example, a recent co-op graduate who is now a Business Analyst at J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI).

The co-op program helped Katya discover a career she never imagined herself pursuing. “When I began the Industrial Engineering program at Dalhousie, I never envisioned a career path that led to the Information Technology sector,” she says, “My co-op experience with JDI IT exposed me to how important the role of technology is in optimizing and streamlining manufacturing operations.”

Katya spent two co-op terms with the organization as a Business Analyst Intern. “The JDI IT team supports Irving's shipbuilding business with technology initiatives, in their work with the Canadian Government on the National Shipbuilding Strategy,” she says, “As you can imagine, the shipbuilding program is complex, fast-paced, and required me to learn an enormous amount of technical knowledge. Having two co-op terms under my belt helped me build this knowledge early which greatly benefited me as I returned full-time post-grad.”

Katya began working with the organization as a full-time Business Analyst in September 2023. “I anticipated having to spend time after graduation job searching, but I was extremely fortunate to have secured a full-time offer with JDI IT before graduation, an opportunity only available to me through participation in Dalhousie's Co-op Program,” she says, “This opportunity helped make the transition from student to a full-time role much smoother.”

Reflecting on her current career and her past work terms, Katya shared advice for current co-op students. “My biggest advice is to branch out while job searching and explore industries and roles that you may not have envisioned within your career path. A role that requires you to step out of your comfort zone is the best way to challenge yourself and grow both professionally and personally.”