Nokia is connecting the world with support from Waterloo co-op students
By: Christie Zeb (she/her)
Co-op students tackle software development and network optimization challenges to create solutions that drive innovation and operational efficiency.
From the first transistor to the first satellite, Nokia has been at the forefront of shaping our digital landscape for decades. It delivers advanced solutions in network infrastructure, technology services and software with a workforce of more than 90,000 employees across more than 130 countries.
Nokia has a mission to connect the world and turns to Waterloo co-op students to help drive its next wave of transformative technology.
Through its Nokia Canada Student Program, the company actively hires Waterloo co-op students to apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects. Students bring both technical and non-technical skills to their work on projects in internal operations, network optimization, AI and 5G advancements.
“What’s captivating about Waterloo students is the technical expertise they bring along with their fresh perspectives. They tie directly into our need for innovation in an ever-evolving tech industry,” says Linda Krebs (she/her), acting head of early careers Americas and global head of talent acquisition – corporate functions at Nokia.
Linda Krebs, acting head of early careers Americas and global head of talent acquisition – corporate functions, Nokia
Co-op students help Nokia to enhance operations and efficiency
At Nokia, students work across teams, to contribute to projects and develop innovative solutions that drive efficiency. One area where students play a key role is in research and development (R&D).
“A global R&D team is developing optical network automation applications as part of the WaveSuite portfolio and the Ottawa team onboards co-op students into the project every semester,” says Krebs.
Students contribute to research efforts that help shape the company's future and advance global telecommunications infrastructure.
Tim Nie (he/him) (BMath ’24) worked at Nokia as a business operations analyst in his third year as a Waterloo Science co-op student. During his co-op work term, Nie designed a business data matching and analysis solution that improved customer information retrieval and enhanced business reporting accuracy.
In his role, Nie provided support with business analytics tools, troubleshooting issues and optimizing report performance to strengthen his team’s reporting capabilities. He appreciated that his team always offered support and encouraged his creative thinking.
“My supervisor played a crucial role in helping me develop the essential soft skills necessary for future workplace success,” says Nie.
Tim Nie, BMath '24
I explored and implemented additional features in Power BI that had not been previously utilized by the team, which resulted in more dynamic and insightful reports. This streamlined reporting process provided deeper insights into business trends and customer behaviour, contributing to more informed decision-making.
Mingzhou Yue, BSc '24
During his co-op work term, Mingzhou Yue (he/him) (BSc ’24) worked with Nokia’s IP routing group as a software developer. Yue worked on improving the efficiency of a software project. He built a tool to automate and speed up the code merging process and collaborated with colleagues to identify and filter out outdated software connections. The tool helped to reduce manual effort and improve compile time.
“People were always willing to lend a helping hand whenever co-ops were in need. It allowed us to focus on technical innovations,” says Yue.
After graduating, Yue joined Nokia as a full-time software developer and continues to bring his expertise and passion for innovation to the team.
Mentorship and community initiatives support talent development
The Nokia Canada Student Program is dedicated to fostering the growth of emerging talent. When co-op students begin their work terms, mentors and supervisors onboard the students by guiding them through projects and expectations. Supervisors use surveys and one-on-one chats to understand students’ strengths and interests before assigning suitable projects to them.
“Nokia consistently prioritizes the learning and development of our Waterloo co-op students. Feedback from students often highlights the mentorship and growth opportunities they receive, fostering both their professional and personal development," says James Dunn (he/him), co-op account manager at the University of Waterloo. As Nokia’s account manager, Dunn helps Nokia hiring managers connect with Waterloo co-op student talent to meet their hiring needs.
Nokia extends this commitment to development through various initiatives. The company encourages to engage in employee resource groups (ERGs), participate in fireside chats, speaker panels and attend workshops designed to sharpen their career skills. These resources help ensure students are prepared to excel during and after their co-op terms.
Beyond professional development, students who work at Nokia often get involved in social activities to help them unwind and develop interpersonal skills. Students can collaborate with the Campus Talent Attraction team to become student ambassadors. As ambassadors, they can showcase their leadership skills as they organize social events, help to build community and represent their peers.
“During my co-op term, I was involved in organizing student activities and joined Nokia’s Toastmasters team, which helped me improve my public speaking skills,” says Nie.
Nokia is drawn to Waterloo co-op students for their technical skills and innovation mindset. These skills support the company’s effort to drive technological advancements that shape the future of connectivity.
Waterloo’s computer science and engineering programs teach skills that align with what we do, making their students a great fit for our work. These students bring exceptional talent, fresh ideas and a strong work ethic, proving to be valuable assets in both the short and long term.