How to get started in Civil Engineering....

[Shay HTFC]

I was eating my dinner tonight and decided that I should do something about starting my current dream of working in civil engineering.

I regrettably graduated in computer science and I'm pretty sick of working in this area already and thinking of just having a purely computing based future makes be pretty scared to say the least.
My father was a civil engineer and since I was a kid I've always been interested in big bridges and buildings and the like and think the time has come to see if I can get involved in the profession.

For anyone in the know, would an Engineering degree from the Open University be worthwhile? Doing some home-study could be quite an attractive proposition for me right now - if it helps get on the ladder as an engineer, even better.

If its any help, my dream involves big building sites in foreign climes. I just need to find the best way to get there..

[vonuber]

Honest answer? Don't bother.

Regards

Von Uber BEng Msc CEng MICE.

[Cock Womble 7]

In the Yellow Pages, under "Boring" it used to say "See Civil Engineers".

[otherman]

If you want to get into big building sites, rather than design, then the academic route may not be the way. Check out the uk construction companies and see what qualies they want for site management.

[ATTAK Z]

I worked for these guys for a few years .... good company to work for

http://www.naco.nl/english/vacancies/vancaniesopen...

[Shay HTFC]

That bad, huh.

Project Management always looked quite interesting to me.
What is the actual chance of working on large scale foreign building projects? If that sort of stuff is the stuff of dreams and the reality is project managing MaccyDs pre-fab builds, then I might think again.

And yes, I'm aware I sound like some naive 16 year old right now .

[vonuber]

Shay HTFC said:

That bad, huh.

Project Management always looked quite interesting to me.
What is the actual chance of working on large scale foreign building projects? If that sort of stuff is the stuff of dreams and the reality is project managing MaccyDs pre-fab builds, then I might think again.

And yes, I'm aware I sound like some naive 16 year old right now .

Depends what you mean by working on them. I have designed bits of the Shard for example, but megaprojects are fairly few and far between. The basic run of the mill stuff can be interesting though; every job is different.

[Chris Peacock]

Buy a shovel.

[GroundEffect]

Lego.

[vonuber]

Oh, and if you want to get anywhere (i.e get chartered, it opens more doors) you'll be looking at a masters degree (so 4 years) then at least 4 years as a inimum work experince; count on 5 to 6.

[sleep envy]

Shay HTFC said:

Project Management always looked quite interesting to me.

you need putting out of your misery

[khushy]

vonuber said:

Honest answer? Don't bother.

Regards

Von Uber BEng Msc CEng MICE.

working in civil engineering can be the most rewarding career you can imagine - building stuff, travelling the world, blowing st up, tunnels, dams, pipelines, blokes, pies, beer, concrete, massive machinery - a PH'ers dream??

Sadly, in this country, unless you are at the top of your game (and I am not talking about qualifications) the pay is lousy, the hours suck arse and the average mortality age (in contracting) is 65!!!!

That being said I think its a fantastic industry with "real" people, big sexy projects and rewards you just cannot describe - my advice (if you are serious) go for it.

Get yourself back to Uni - gain a civil engineering degree, by that time the market will be different and jobs a plenty and get yourself into contracting NOT consultancy (just IMHO) and out on site - thats where the fun really is!!!

BUT only if you have the right personality and money is not your main driver in life!

khushy

[khushy]

Cock Womble 7 said:

In the Yellow Pages, under "Boring" it used to say "See Civil Engineers".

nope - "boring engineers" are actually Tunnelling Engineers LOL!

[khushy]

Shay HTFC said:

That bad, huh.

Project Management always looked quite interesting to me.
What is the actual chance of working on large scale foreign building projects? If that sort of stuff is the stuff of dreams and the reality is project managing MaccyDs pre-fab builds, then I might think again.

And yes, I'm aware I sound like some naive 16 year old right now .

large scale building projects are not civil engineering!

ce = roads, bridges, dams, power stations, tunnels - MANS STUFF!!!

[khushy]

vonuber said:

Oh, and if you want to get anywhere (i.e get chartered, it opens more doors) you'll be looking at a masters degree (so 4 years) then at least 4 years as a inimum work experince; count on 5 to 6.

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!

Edited by khushy on Tuesday 1st November 17:30

[khushy]

in very basic terms - this is what you need to know . . .

• contractor - the guys who manage the building of a project out on site, have a lot of fun, eat a lot of pies, talk a lot of st, drink some beer and make about 1% on turnover!
• consulting engineer - the guys who think they have designed the project correctly (i.e. it can be built LOL) who dont like being outdoors, but enjoy process, box-ticking, tea and scones on a friday afternoon - they understand CPA & structural analysis?!?!?
• client - the guys who had what seemed like a great idea, who pay the bills and get completely shafted once the project has finished, by the contractor and his/her claims team
• project managers - the guys who give best advice to the client and manage/protect their "interests" LOL (not very outdoors'y types)
• quantity surveyors - the guys who count bags of concrete and bricks for a living (make nice tea and coffee and have big ties, smart suits and shiny shoes)
• sub-contractor - the guys who actually do the work out on site, put up with as much st as the main contractor can dish out, have even more fun, eat a lot of pies + chips, talk the most amount of st possible, drink far too much beer and make about 20% on turnover!!!!!

"choose wisely"

Edited by khushy on Tuesday 1st November 17:59

[sleep envy]

you're starting to sound like a construction recruitment consultant

[khushy]

sleep envy said:

you're starting to sound like a construction recruitment consultant

[ATTAK Z]

Civil Engineering on site is fun providing that you partake in hot sunny climes where alcohol is allowed ... my view

[Wax1234]

I work at a civil engineering company, thankfully not as an engineer though as it does seem a bit dull....