Heh, apologies, my Friday was kinda hectic, so I entirely spaced on this.

Like everyone else said, I think it's important to have some values set for an organization to follow. Getting a better understanding of a groups goals makes it far easier for the group to work effectively, and I feel our  core values help us establish that.



Hard working is, of course, a positive attribute in any workplace. One of the things I've valued most about this co-op so far is the challenge of the work I've been provided. I've been tasked with interesting problems, and had to put a good bit of research into solving them. Most of the time at my last co-op, my tasks could be solved with a flowchart. Computer has a virus > Run Virus Scan > Virus Scan doesn't work > Reinstall Operating System. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

Collaborative is another big change for me. By simple nature of the field, IT work tends to be a bit more solitary. At previous positions, I would work on a problem, then pass it along if I couldn't solve it. There was little discussion aside from "Hey, can you give this one a try?" Meetings at my last co-op were closer to presentations, with my supervisor sitting us down at the table and explaining to us what we needed to do this week. I much prefer this kind of environment, where I work with the Trigon guys to solve problems, and am not only invited, but expected to contribute to meetings.

Innovative was, much like Kristen said, one of the first things I noticed here. The environment is completely different than any past experience I've had, and even when I'm solving relatively simple issues, it always feels like I'm contributing to something bigger. The cross-department teams are something I've never seen before, but they're one of those idea that once you've experienced them, you kind of wonder why no one has done them before.

And finally, Commitment. This is a more personal thing than the others, I feel. The group here has done a fantastic job of making us feel welcome, and after only a few weeks, I really feel like part of this organization. That goes a long way to encouraging me to be commited to my work. At my last co-op, most of my appointments were single-serving clients. I'd work with them once, then never see them again. Unfortunately, this lead to a lot of my clients treating me like I was disposable. It was not at all uncommon to have users get upset with me for taking more than five minutes to clear their machines of five years worth of viruses, and when I might have three different users yelling at me at the sametime, it was quickly draining on my entusiasm. Most people here, I see almost daily, whether or not they're having computer issues, which gives me an opportunity to get to know them. As a result, I feel a greater desire to fix problems as soon as possible and keep my reputation up amongst my co-workers.