Co-op helps Computer Science grad crack code to career success

Walking out of his final university exam last December was a bittersweet moment for recent Computer Science graduate Kelvin Odinamadu (BSc ’25).

He’d achieved a major milestone, but hadn’t landed his dream job yet despite several high-stakes interviews.

Just four months later he reached his goal, becoming a full-time Senior Site Reliability Engineer at RBC.

The high-impact position draws on the breadth of his Brock co-op experiences.

During his first co-op term at the Ministry of Transportation, Odinamadu built foundational skills and gained government experience, but found he craved a faster pace.

From there, he pivoted to the manufacturing sector, joining Haver & Boecker as a Web App Developer, where he was responsible for entire project lifecycles. The high-pressure role taught him how to problem-solve independently and earned him a co-op award nomination for exceeding expectations.

But, he still felt something was missing.

“I wanted to build real products from scratch and be mentored along the way,” Odinamadu said.

He made an unconventional move by accepting an unpaid internship at a tech startup for his third placement.

“Not only did I learn full-stack development in a product-focused environment, but I also started side projects that helped me in my final-year courses and future interviews,” he said.

His final co-op at RBC came with new challenges. While wrapping up his last in-person course, he also juggled internal networking, coffee chats and what he describes as the ever-present weight of imposter syndrome.

Odinamadu credits his co-op experiences with building his résumé and helping him discover what he wanted to do after graduation.

“Co-op was the turning point,” he said. “It let me explore government, manufacturing, startups and finance. I figured out what I enjoy and where I want to head next.”

Though not everyone initially saw his potential as a Site Reliability Engineer, Odinamadu stayed focused on his goal and kept moving forward.

“If one door closes, you build your own and open it,” he said.

That mindset, along with support from Student Talent Development Specialist Marta Oberman and Brock’s Co-op, Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) team, helped him shift his perspective and sharpen his interview skills.

“Marta taught me that interviewing is less about being smart and more about positioning,” he said. “It’s about sending the right signals.”

Kristen Wall, Manager of Student Talent Development, Co-op Education, views Odinamadu’s experience as a reflection of the team’s broader mission.

“Kelvin’s journey demonstrates our team’s dedication to helping students identify their unique strengths and understand how those skills align with their career goals,” she said. “Through personalized guidance in articulating their value and telling their stories, we support students’ growth and success throughout their co-op journey and beyond.”

Odinamadu’s advice for students exploring careers in cloud computing or reliability engineering is to be open-minded, take initiative and seek out real-world experience even if it’s unpaid.

“Look beyond grades. Build real, useful products. Go to meetups. Talk to alumni. Reach out on LinkedIn,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who push you to grow.”

He also encourages students to build strong support networks and embrace collaboration over competition.

“Great things come from grit and an open mindset,” Odinamadu said. “Good luck to all the incoming and current co-op students. I hope you make Brock proud wherever you go.”


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