How to get started in Civil Engineering....
Discussion
khushy said:
- project managers - the guys who give best advice to the client and manage/protect their "interests" LOL (not very outdoors'y types)
Edited by khushy on Tuesday 1st November 17:59
The money is not bad, but can be demanding of your time on occasions!
Most civil engineering is boring, very little of it is truly challenging, most is dull & routine.
khushy said:
ANY civil engineering degree will count towards chartership - not necessarily a Masters!
PS - obviously - the ability to spell proper might help too
TNT or T.N.T etc etc LOL!
It will count, yes -but with a Beng or lower you need further learning to become a chartered engineer.PS - obviously - the ability to spell proper might help too
TNT or T.N.T etc etc LOL!Edited by khushy on Tuesday 1st November 17:30
http://www.ice.org.uk/educationbase
Civil engineering has been for me a fantastic career so far. Im 30 and started when I was 17, as a trainee site engineer for Balfour Beatty, one of the biggest contractors. Ive always been site based, and started off at the bottom, doing day release HNC, making concrete cubes for testing and bashing in pegs for the setting out of structures etc. I remember the first site which had huge trucks shifting massive amounts of muck to build a sewage treatment works (glamorous eh!) which was essentially below ground level. That was only a £15M project so not huge really, a motorway widening would be £15M per mile nowadays.
Since those early days, I progressed to be solely responsibile for the engineering aspects of different projects, roads, bridges, earthworks, remediation, coastal and marine etc, every one has had different challenges. Working with different people, some good some bad, life as a contractor has never been dull.
Ive now moved onto project management, which has its own challenges of leading a team, passing on knowledge etc. As far as the rewards go the pay is pretty good, as staff you get a company car, pension, training, etc and career progression is always there to work towards.
All in all its a career I fell into, having gained an electrical engineering diploma at college when i left school, but now wouldnt change a thing.
The current climate is tough, the company I currently work for hasnt taken on graduates for years as we are going through a staff reduction programme, and have stopped sponsoring graduates through uni which is disappoining.
I think as a contractor you have to have had hands on experience to gain the respect of your colleagues as well as understanding what your doing. Whereas being an office based consultant you get on with the task in hand without the need for much experience. Both require academic qualifications of minimum HNC up to masters degree in civil engineering.
This sums it up quite well..
"Civil engineers create, improve and protect the environment in which we live. The discipline deals with the designing, constructing and managing our physical and naturally built environment including roads, buildings and bridges. The Crossrail system and the Olympic stadium in London are both examples of exciting projects which could not be completed without civil engineers"
Since those early days, I progressed to be solely responsibile for the engineering aspects of different projects, roads, bridges, earthworks, remediation, coastal and marine etc, every one has had different challenges. Working with different people, some good some bad, life as a contractor has never been dull.
Ive now moved onto project management, which has its own challenges of leading a team, passing on knowledge etc. As far as the rewards go the pay is pretty good, as staff you get a company car, pension, training, etc and career progression is always there to work towards.
All in all its a career I fell into, having gained an electrical engineering diploma at college when i left school, but now wouldnt change a thing.
The current climate is tough, the company I currently work for hasnt taken on graduates for years as we are going through a staff reduction programme, and have stopped sponsoring graduates through uni which is disappoining.
I think as a contractor you have to have had hands on experience to gain the respect of your colleagues as well as understanding what your doing. Whereas being an office based consultant you get on with the task in hand without the need for much experience. Both require academic qualifications of minimum HNC up to masters degree in civil engineering.
This sums it up quite well..
"Civil engineers create, improve and protect the environment in which we live. The discipline deals with the designing, constructing and managing our physical and naturally built environment including roads, buildings and bridges. The Crossrail system and the Olympic stadium in London are both examples of exciting projects which could not be completed without civil engineers"
Edited by B120WNY on Sunday 6th November 22:00
Speaking as a person who isn't qualified as a CE, but who works for a CE consultant and has done for the last 6yrs, I would suggest that a CE degree isn't a prerequisite. However, you can become limited in terms of career ladder options if you're not a 'pure' CE.
However, the industry has had a kicking in the last couple of years due to its reliance on others for requiring jobs to be designed/implemented by CE's. Developers are twitching a bit after a dead spell. We laid people of, haven't hired anyone in ages and haven't had any sort of pay review for a couple of years now. Personally, if you've got a job you can get by on, stick with it. Not sure I'd classify this career as one you put in the 'dream job' box. But then, it may be for you, as you say.
Dr Rick
However, the industry has had a kicking in the last couple of years due to its reliance on others for requiring jobs to be designed/implemented by CE's. Developers are twitching a bit after a dead spell. We laid people of, haven't hired anyone in ages and haven't had any sort of pay review for a couple of years now. Personally, if you've got a job you can get by on, stick with it. Not sure I'd classify this career as one you put in the 'dream job' box. But then, it may be for you, as you say.
Dr Rick
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