Student Stories
Mechanical Engineering Co-Op Story: Nucor Steel
Ben Phillips
Mechanical Engineering
What company did you co-op with and where are they located?
Nucor Steel in Decatur Alabama.
How did you identify and apply for your co-op? Are there any specific resources you used to find the opportunity (i.e. Handshake, career fairs, other recruitment events)?
I found Nucor at a career fair. I used Handshake to find open interview times and scheduled an interview with them.
What was the application process like?
The application process was simple. I just submitted my resume and filled out an online application with them.
Tell us about your co-op experience. What types of tasks and projects did you engage in? Was there a particular project or part of the experience you learned the most from?
I was paired up with a "mentor" for my co-op experience. This was someone who had real engineering experience in the field, and acted as teacher for me. At first, he helped me find projects to work on, but gradually I got to the point where people knew me and would bring projects to me. A lot of my days I spent working on Inventor which is a 3D modeling software similar to Solidworks. I would use Inventor to make drawings for projects which would be sent to fabricators in the area to get made. Some typical projects a mechanical intern would work on were stairs, platforms, and a variety of other mechanical devices. What I learned most from was getting new projects where I had to use shafts and gears, and I had to learn how to size them and actually put them in use.
In what ways did this co-op help you prepare for your next destination after Auburn?
This experience has made me better from a technical standpoint because I'm now proficient with 3D modeling and making drawings. From a social standpoint, I'm more comfortable with talking to people who work in different areas or in higher positions than me. Also, I know what types of jobs I'll really find interesting and enjoyable.
In what ways did your coursework or other experiences at Auburn prepare you for your co-op experience? Are there specific topics or skills you learned from classes that you put into practice on the job?
The coursework in Auburn prepared me well. I would say I used a majority of my classes at some point or another. I would say the biggest ones were machine design, statics, and my project classes. The biggest skill that I put into practice was using 3D design software. Also, being able to make quality drawings is crucial. I wasn't proficient at first, but improved as time went on.
Do you have any advice for other students looking for co-op opportunities like yours?
I would tell students to please do a co-op or at least an internship. There's so many good reasons to do it. You get real experience in the field before you graduate, you get paid (usually well), you make connections in the industry, and so many other good things. Even if you graduate a year late like I will, it's worth it.