Are you interested in a career that’s always in high demand? Do you want to make a difference in the world and help shape society? If so, civil engineering may be the perfect choice for you!
Civil engineers are responsible for designing and constructing some of the most important structures in our society. They play a vital role in shaping our world, from public projects such as bridges and roads to hidden structures like sewers and pipelines.
And as the world continues to modernize and expand, the future of civil engineering looks brighter than ever.
If you’re interested in advancing your career in this lucrative field, read our complete civil engineering career guide for 2022.
Civil engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with designing, constructing, and maintaining public works such as roads, bridges, sewage systems, dams, and canals. Civil engineers are also responsible for creating plans and blueprints for these structures.
A career in civil engineering can be both challenging and rewarding. As a civil engineer, you can achieve significant personal or financial rewards and get the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.
Career opportunities in civil engineering have a steady growth rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from the USA has predicted an 8% job growth rate for all civil engineering occupations between 2020 and 2030.
This means that civil engineering is a pretty stable career, the demand for civil engineers is always high, and the job market is expected to grow steadily in the future.
In addition, civil engineering offers many opportunities for advancement. With experience, you can move up the ranks to become a project manager or even a civil engineer supervisor.
There are many exciting career opportunities in civil engineering. Those with civil engineering degrees can choose from a wide range of career options in the federal, state, or municipal departments and work on building public roads, railways, buildings, and many more public structures.
Civil engineers can work in private real estate companies for building commercial and residential buildings.
Here are five of the most in-demand civil engineering careers:
1. Structural engineers
2. Construction engineers
3. Environmental engineers
4. Transportation engineers
5. Geotechnical engineers
Structural engineers are responsible for designing, analyzing, and assessing the construction of buildings and other structures.
They ensure that these structures are safe, stable, strong, and durable. Also, their role is to make sure that these structures can withstand environmental factors, such as earthquakes, storms, floods, etc.
They also must be well aware of all kinds of materials used in the construction and the properties of those materials.
Construction engineers are responsible for managing and overseeing the construction of buildings, bridges, dams, and other structures from the planning phase to the development phase.
They make sure that these projects are completed on time and within budget. They also provide essential support to the project managers for all approved projects.
Construction engineers need to have many skills for their role, but math and science are exceptionally crucial.
Environmental engineers are responsible for protecting the environment by designing and overseeing projects that improve air quality, water quality, and land management.
They work in many industries, such as manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and energy production.
To do their job effectively, environmental engineers need to understand chemistry, biology, technology, hydrology, and other related studies.
Some of their responsibilities include achieving environmental sustainability, purification of air and water, treating chemical waste and contamination, dealing with climate change, and many more environmental problems.
Transportation engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the construction of transportation systems, such as highways, railways, airports, seaports, and mass transit systems.
They need to have a strong understanding of engineering principles and think strategically to create efficient transportation systems that meet the needs of the public.
Their roles also include providing safe, efficient, comfortable, and economical means for transportation that are compatible with the environment.
Geotechnical engineers provide solutions to geology-related problems. They are primarily responsible for designing foundations for civil engineering projects, such as tunnels, mines, pipelines, and more. They also work on issues that occur during the construction phase, such as landslides and soil erosion.
Their responsibilities also require a strong understanding of the physical and chemical properties of soil and rocks to prevent a failure of construction projects.
Geotechnical engineering is vital for assessing all risks associated with site conditions.
As a civil engineer, you may work in one of these speciality areas or work in multiple areas. Your specific role can be pretty complex and will mostly depend on your area of expertise. Still, some common duties include designing infrastructure projects, overseeing the construction of these projects, and conducting research.
Here are some of the duties of a civil engineer:
– Designing and overseeing the construction of buildings, bridges, dams, and other structures.
– Designing and overseeing the construction of transportation systems, such as highways, railways, airports, seaports, and mass transit systems.
– Assessing the environmental impact of civil engineering projects.
– Conducting research on new methods such as BIM technology for constructing infrastructure projects.
– Analyzing the properties of the building materials, such as wood, steel, concrete, asphalt, etc.
– Using design software such as Allplan to plan and design the construction projects.
– Providing support to project managers during the construction phase of projects.
– Managing and coordinating the work of other engineers, technicians, and workers on civil engineering projects.
– Preparing cost estimates for civil engineering projects.
– Repairing and maintenance of private and public infrastructure.
– Writing reports on the progress of civil engineering projects.
– Presenting findings to clients, government officials, and the general public.
In order to be a successful civil engineer, you need to have the following skills:
– Strong math and science skills – Civil engineers should master the principles of trigonometry, calculus, and other advanced topics to analyze and design their work.
– Critical thinking and problem-solving skills – They often work on complex problems requiring the highest level of planning and evaluation. So they must have these skills to provide safe and cost-effective solutions.
– Strong communication and interpersonal skills – Civil engineers are also responsible for presenting their reports and findings to many audiences with different backgrounds. So they need to have good communications skills to “translate” the technical info into easy-to-understand notions.
– Organizational and project management skills – Civil engineers should monitor, organize and evaluate all on-site work to ensure compliance with the approved design documents. Also, they often manage multiple projects at once, so they need to allocate resources and balance time properly.
– Leadership and decision-making skills – Civil engineers should lead planners, surveyors, and other technicians to implement the project plan successfully. During their leadership, they should also make good decisions based on their experience and best industry practices.
If you’re interested in becoming a civil engineer, there are several steps you need to take:
As society continues to grow and develop, the need for civil engineers will also continue to increase. Civil engineering is a lucrative career option that offers many opportunities for advancement and building a better tomorrow.
So those who are interested in becoming successful civil engineers and advancing their careers can apply today for a job at Breon, exclusively for the Swiss market.
We always have room for experienced professionals who share our vision and want to put their talents into making the world a more efficient place, one building at a time.
We work with cutting-edge civil engineering technologies, such as BIM technology, advanced 3D design software such as Allplan, and the latest industry practices that ensure successful construction projects for our clients.
So do you think you have what it takes to bring your civil engineering career to the next level?
Apply for a job at Breon today!
References:
https://onlinemasters.ohio.edu/blog/civil-engineering-resource-and-career-guide/
https://www.raise.me/careers/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers/
https://www.constructionplacements.com/civil-engineering-career-guide/
