Are you looking for a career that will allow you to build things that last for decades, maybe even centuries? If so, we have the best job for you: civil engineer.
What is a Civil Engineer?
The term “civil engineer” was first used in 1750, by John Smeaton. He wanted to set apart the engineers working on civil projects from those military engineers working on armaments and defenses.
Civil engineers are the ones who take care of all the great buildings, all around the world. But that’s not all they do. They build roads, and highways, and airports, ports, harbors, pipelines, power plants, bridges and so much more. In short, it’s the civil engineer’s job to make our lives easier.
A civil engineer will plan, design, maintain, operate and improve infrastructure, while also protecting the public and the environment. We don’t talk about it all that much, but, as you may have already guessed, it’s probably one of the most important jobs out there right now.
And because it’s such an important job, there is always a huge demand for exceptional civil engineers.
What you need to do in order to become a Civil Engineer
The civil engineer course is not an easy one. Students will be introduced to key subjects such as math, fluids, geology, soil mechanics, architectural design, surveying and materials. It is safe to say that if you don’t really want to become a civil engineer or to work in this field, you should not take the course.
However, if you do decide to follow this path, here are the steps you need to take in order to become a civil engineer:
1. Earn a degree in civil engineering
We spoke about that civil engineering course. Of course, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in order to begin working in this field. Math engineering, statistics, fluid dynamics, and architectural design are just some of the things you will study. You will learn them through a variety of mediums, including lectures, internships, co-ops and field work.
2. An internship will be required
Almost all programs require at least a semester of internship. This experience will help students better understand the field of civil engineering and, of course, to gain some experience by acquiring skills and testing what they learned.
The best part about internships is that they can actually help you secure a job later on. Through an internship, students can network with professionals and gain the trust of employers. As we mentioned at the start of the article, the civil engineer job is one that is extremely demanding. Letting your future employer know that you are a hard worker, a good professional and worthy of trust can be a huge boost that might very well land you a job after graduation.
3. You will have to choose a speciality
Because civil engineering includes a lot of areas of work, most students choose to specialize in a particular area. This is a great choice, as the chances of an individual to be an expert in everything are very low.
So where can you go from here? You might choose to follow:
- Construction engineering;
- Structural engineering;
- Land development;
- Transportation engineering;
- Geotechnical engineering.
And others.
What salary should you expect
Probably the question on everybody’s mind: How much will I earn as a civil engineer?
According to Reed.co.uk, the average civil engineer in Great Britain earns £40,359 per year.
