I am a "people person" and love to be out in the field and coordinating projects. This means you will not be able to interact with others in the community after that time. The Indeed Community will enter “read only” mode beginning on Oct. 31, 2020. My assessment of the situation led me to feel that I was being put into difficult positions with very little management training or direct support from my company. Why did I quit engineering? Underwriter and I look at all sorts of documents specially income documents all day long and civil engineers always make good money compared to most other entry level professions. Thus I gravitated back to design for a more stable, calm career - which I am now finding is just boring. Even if you work for a private development company, civil engineers are essentially public servants and are subject to intense regulation. Till then:: By the time you will be busy doing all the above stuff spend some of your time doing charity. Will despising design and staring at a computer screen all day hinder my success within Civil Engineering in a less technical, more project management based role? OP isn't an "entitled asshole," they just strike me as a kid who doesn't know what they really want to do for a living and got their first taste of what a career in engineering might look like. Someone can probably speak on this topic with more authority than I can, but based on my understanding, becoming a psychologist is an unnecessarily long and difficult road. Nice response. Contracting civil engineer 5. To download your data from the Indeed Community, please visit the "Personal Information" section of your profile before Dec. 14, 2020. Job wise I think I would prefer about 30% field, 70% office - and be involved with facility construction, commercial property build outs or projects that involve mechanical equipment installation. Drawings, calcs, modeling are all part of the job. Will despising design and staring at a computer screen all day hinder my success within Civil Engineering in a less technical, more project management based role? Mechanical engineers may … Civil engineers work at the highest level of the planning, design, construction, and operation of multifaceted projects or research. I have seen plenty of young engineers around your age make more than six figure salaries. Asking for more money or a better job is a daunting prospect. I am experiencing a non-technical Civil Engineering environment, and it appears that the non-design engineers are more there to navigate bureaucracy and be glorified paper pushers. I only lasted about 3 months there for a number of reasons, but I took that job hoping that my interest in the work would be renewed. This is privileged problem, no doubt. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the Indeed Career Guide for advice and resources to help you achieve your career goals. Do this by going out to … Please note that all of your Indeed job and candidate information will still be available when you log into your account on desktop or mobile at www.indeed.com. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. I'm discovering that the reality of the "water industry" is not quite in line with my natural skill set, and is regulatory and federally driven, and thus, less fun. What would your ideal job within civil engineering be? Being a very dynamic individual and I welcome diversity with open arms. Something to think about if you do decide to go the therapist route. Since I am a hands on dude, seemed like it made sense at the time. Of the 60 to 80 students that take her freshman civil engineering class, only 10 to 12 are generally women. You’ll still be able to access past conversations on the Indeed Community until Dec. 14, 2020, at which time the Indeed Community product and all content previously posted on it will no longer be available when you visit this site. As a civil engineer, your work influences where people work, relax, learn and live. Site engineer 9. This seemed to be logical and more of the "academic choice" and an overall more balanced/secure life. We look forward to delivering more ways to serve you with the best job search tools in the world. Civil engineering also includes sub-disciplines such as water and waste management systems. I will never be able to work for the government. Overall, you honestly come off as an entitled asshole and you probably won't get a lot of responses here, but you really seem like you do not belong in a civil engineering design firm. Civil engineering is the worst branch in engineering because this is one of 3 core branches considered (including mechanical and electrical) and thus job security is much better in core govts. I am a Sr. Is my time better spent developing management skills in a construction environment? are all highly technical and aim towards the goal of creating a project that is safe, reliable, and economical. You seem highly cynical about Civil Engineering in general and i'm not sure what motivated you to get a job at a design firm if you dislike the essential components of any civil engineering design. While this work has been deeply rewarding, we have decided to say goodbye to the Indeed Community so we can focus on other areas of the business that bring us closer to our mission of helping people get jobs. posted by beandip at 4:56 PM on December 18, 2011 [ 1 favorite ] Over the past 10 years, we’ve built a community experience designed to better serve and connect job seekers everywhere. I don't want to be an engineer anymore either. No shame in leaving if it's not doing it for you. From the sound of things, you're still young, and you have interests that lie elsewhere. To be honest with you - I should have probably studied mechanical engineering, but felt like I was too far along to make a switch . I spent some time travelling around and worked in project management for a GC for over a year. Easily apply to jobs with an Indeed Resume Do I really want to stay in Civil Engineering if I am making these conclusions so quickly? Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations, visit the "Personal Information" section of your profile, COVID-19 and Your Job: Tips and Actions to Consider, COVID-19: Unemployment and Job Loss Support. Fire risk assessor 7. 80% of the time in the field (unless you end up in a management track), probably a fair bit of travel, and you're a certified commercial diver. You can hate being in engineering school and still be a good (and happy) engineer. Civil engineering is the practice of designing and developing infrastructure objects, on a large scale, developing nationwide transport systems or water supply networks, or on a more minor scale, developing roads and buildings, for example. 26 years old with a Civil engineering degree, but I hate engineering and currently feeling depressed bout my career life. My Ideal job within civil engineering I think depends on more factors than just the specific role. Have you looked at the specialized construction companies like Bectel, Fluor, Freyssinet, Figg, Atkins, etc where they end up designing custom equipment for the projects they're given? You are mistaken to think that your are experiencing a "non-technical civil engineering environment." I've been a civil engineer for 9 years now, and I despise it. A civil engineer is responsible for all aspects of building structures – comprising the planning, design, budgeting, construction Civil engineering is a creative career. Hi! City engineers also oversee the execution of their projects, so they must have management skills. Their design is intense and focused, but very interesting from an academic standpoint. The commute and limited career opportunities finally got to me and so I jumped to another, much smaller engineering firm. I feel like answering these questions, rather than the ones you proposed in your question, will help you figure out what your next step should be. Civil Engineers are an integral part of society, without them, we would have no roads, airports, buildings, dams, harbours etc. This didn't feel right. What do you really expect to be doing as a civil engineer? Today’s interview is with Rebecca Clark, a Civil Engineer and project manager at Skanska Koch, a division of the construction / engineering giant Skanska USA that specializes in building infrastructure such as roads, bridges and tunnels. Water engineerJobs where your degree would be useful include: 1. WELCOME TO BHATE GEOSCIENCES. I went into Civil Design Consulting most likely for the wrong reasons - to obtain a PE and try out a different industry. But I knew I wasn't into it on day one at my first job. Based on my experiences both as an engineer and providing career coaching to engineers, here are 6 strategies that you can utilize when faced with a new job that you absolutely hate. ... And probably 90% say, ‘CS5. Construction manager 3. Yet this jack-of-all-trades discipline is an incremental part of creating everything from tall skyscrapers and complex stadiums to bridges, railways and tunnels. It’s very fulfilling knowing you took part in building something tangible that helps society as a whole. Does it get better? It might not be as lucrative, but life is too short to spend so much time doing something that doesn't inspire you. To become a civil engineer you need a bachelor’s degree. Again, sounds like you hate being in a large consulting firm. So, I guess I am looking for more of a career in construction, but in a niche that is stable and professional. Consulting civil engineer 4. Experience for PE isn't only design. Let me tell you my story. Here's our list of companies hiring now. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this one and tell you how you might meet your career goals. Well, you could become a structural inspection commercial diver. Thanks for your comments - much appreciated. What motivated me to do such a crazy thing? Paying my dues if you will. I found the industry to not meet my romance, and instead was introduced to the reality of money management, scheduling, difficult subcontractors and just the details of running a construction business - tough, busy work - but it was probably more in line with my "people person" skill sets. I personally love working with those that do the labor because they can bring amazing insight and creativity to things you've never thought of. I have worked in the past for a geotechnical engineering firm, which might be more up your alley. Mostly because I have been told that I am good with numbers, which I recognize. Civil engineering is the second oldest branch after military engineering. Press J to jump to the feed. I chose Civil because I like carpentry, home building, and designing cool houses. Why did I not work longer and make more money? As you said, you are complete uninterested in "concrete, dirt, underground pipes, tanks, paving, site work..." and i gotta be straight that's a large portion of what civil engineering is all about. CAD technician 3. Hello, this may come as a whine post, but this may also serve a purpose for those who still study it, and it'd also be interesting to hear why people love/hate their career in engineering. Nuclear engineer 8. Building control surveyor 2. Maybe try getting a job with a government? That is what this video is about. What if your employer says no? I am interested in the aesthetic aspects of construction and the craftsmanship that comes with it. Jobs directly related to your degree include: 1. Here are several steps you can take to find the help you need when leaving a job. Not for namesake, but to make someone else happy. Small companies with big opportunities to learn are the way way go. Here are some steps to consider taking whether you're searching for a job, need gig work quickly or have been asked to work from home. I must have enjoyed more of the construction hustle than I thought. Basically, I am discovering that I actually do not want to do any analysis, calculations, technical report writing, and I feel a strong resentment to CAD work. I’m Richard, a third year engineering student from Manila, Philippines. Should I just quit and become a scuba dive instructor or boat builder? Civil engineers combine a strong technical background to what other teams bring in order to develop an amazing design. Civil engineering has promising job prospects with faster-than-average job growth. I'm still figuring that piece out myself, but if you have some idea of what you'd like to do, you should do it. Headquartered in Birmingham since 1975, BHATE is a recognized leader in the geotechnical, environmental, geophysical and construction materials engineering fields. Depends on the company you go to next. Regardless of your job title, or what kind of engineer you are, at some point in your career, you will likely engage in a salary negotiation. I spent almost 40 hours a week in front of a computer screen, and I'll be real, a lot of that time in those last couple of years was spent dicking around on the internet because I just didn't care anymore. I think that's a bit harsh. I felt like it would elevate me and help me even in a non design role. Government jobs will be incredibly outdated in the next 10 years in terms of work life balance and flexibility. Is your end goal to do work that only PEs can do? He spent 16 years working in computer design and enjoyed the technical work immensely. It took you three years to realize something that took me a decade to figure out. I was getting very good experience, albeit stressful and aggressive, I would say. Civil engineering jobs encompass the design, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure including skyscrapers, roads, tunnels, bridges and dams. Dearth of Quality Counseling. Create a new resume or upload an existing one. If you don't like it now, getting your PE isn't going to make it any better. What do you ultimately want to do? I am experiencing a non-technical Civil Engineering environment, and it appears that the non-design engineers are more there to navigate bureaucracy and be glorified paper pushers. It would be sweet to have my PE, but maybe I should focus instead on an MBA of real estates license and not put myself through boredom just to have a couple letters to show. Earning your bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or civil engineering technology will help you land a relevant internship as well as a position as as Engineer in Training (EIT) after college. I've worked in … Civilax.com. Civil Engineering Salary is Not Too Shabby. Environmental consultant 5. If not, do you think you would have liked it more with a better employer, or in a different role within PM? Philippines About Blog Civilax.com is designed for Civil Engineering Professionals, … Always worked for smaller companies too, always learning a lot. Engineers, as trained in engineering school, are bound to think logically. I also work in private industry and I love it. Patent attorney 7. And I have realized that I hate engineering and yet I am still in engineering school. I graduated in Civil Engineering from a top university three years ago. If you are interested in design, you can definitely hone in on one thing and make a career out of it, but i can guarantee it will involve eventual mastery of various software's and you will spend a lot of time in-front of a computer. I'd either go for a smaller firm where you're more hands-on with the projects you're assigned or specialized contracting. (please say yes). As our daily lives shift with the spread of COVID-19, you may require the support of unemployment benefits. I just don't really understand what you want to do if you don't like the design work you've been given so far, and don't like the administrative role either. College students may not have a sense for how to build their resume … Using that with your technical background and really produce great things. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median pay for civil engineers in 2017 was $84,770 per year. Civil Engineering Salary. Sorry about the huge text but couldn't fit my lifestory in it, one more thing I'd like to add is, I enjoy listening to people's problem so I tried looking into being a psychologist which I find very enjoyable but I dread the fact I heard that it comes with a huge workload of paper that you need to fill etc. For resume advice from professional coaches and resume writers, you can also visit our Resume Review services. Thanks! You learned some skills, you can do something different with them if you'd like. Thanks for that advice Elizabeth, appreciate it. Re-reading my post does seem entitled. I've been working in structural consulting since I graduated, which was my goal. You hate your civil engineering job:: If you are not independent and none else is dependent on your job then you can think about quitting it once you have found something apt for you. When I was about to graduate in high school, I was looking forward to take the Accountancy course in college. So yes, different company and maybe less direct client interaction would be a better fit. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil … I just feel like the construction industry seems to run on stress and aggression. Joe started Retire by 40 in 2010 to figure out how to retire early. And I guess to add - I chose civil because I was naturally really good at math, and people told me that Civil Engineers needed good people skills. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. My experience so far seems to be incredibly tedious, and centered around documentation/data/records management, and feels incredibly administrative. Follow those interests and figure out how to make a living from them. Engineering geologist 4. I'll probably end up working for another small to midsize construction firm, hopefully building cool things like luxury homes or wineries. I was drawn to design because of the PE and an interest in the water industry, and knowing its huge importance and impacts to industry. I am a very hands on, technical person who likes machines and equipment. That environment i don't think really exists; documents, drawings, regulations, and CAD etc. If you hate consulting work, probably. When I took the test 70% of my experience was structural inspection with a bit of design and construction management. The high tech construction environment was fast paced and intense, with very difficult clients. I was in those same shoes for a decade before I quit being an engineer, and OP figured it out in three years. No administrative bs outside of submitting my hours and checking some shops. City engineers are civil engineers who are employed by city governments. Notice of changes to the Indeed Community. Over time, any enthusiasm for what I was doing just disappeared in the bureaucracy and administrative bullshit. Me-mail me if you'd like to talk. Building services engineer 2. 1. However, you seem like a motivated or masochistic individual considering the fact you made it through 4 years of college in civil without having any interest in dirt, soil, pavement, or water. I spent over 9 years at that job, figuring "hey, it's just a job and at least it's paying the bills." A project management position in civil is going to involve all those things you called non-technical and don't like. I really enjoyed studying the material in college and being an engineer was what I thought I wanted. I would love to talk with some old timer Civil PE's and hear their perspectives. I still have some freedoms right now to take risks and make changes, so I am trying to get a feel for what options I have. I was thrown into a PM role, with tough clients. Depending on your specialism, you could be: planning with the client; analysing surveys, testing, and mapping data using computer modelling software The design tasks my coworkers give me are very directionless, and to be honest I feel a bit insecure. Well, I am in the same spot (kind of) as OP. Geotechnical engineer 6. After this time you'll be able to download your community data by submitting a request via the process described in our Privacy Policy. Create a new resume or upload an existing one. Quantity surveyor 8. What prompted you to choose civil engineering in the first place (and stay with it for ~7 years)? Civil engineering: Building and maintaining infrastructure. (Original post by ihatePE) oh my days, ok so I joined the engineering group chat for the uni and was greeted by a hoard of mech engs, EEE, aero eng saying civil is the worst and basically circle jerking to their branch, which I know is inevitable but cmon, grow up a little. It seems like many of the people are here only to fill the need to hurdle bureaucratic requirements. As a civil engineer, you get to see your designs come to life, from paper or software to the real deal. My experiences outside of Civil Design have been successful. There is a certain point where you can shift towards the more strictly managerial or business related side of things, but that takes years of experience, a PE, and probably a masters degree. What does a civil engineer do? Find out how engineering was not how he expected it to be. I think I am more interested in the financial and business aspects but I enjoy being in a technical environment. I studied Civil Engineering in University but realized only after the 3rd year that I hate the job that comes with it but I figured it was too late to change now and my family kept telling me how it gets good money and stable job and that no one really likes their job anyway. Get to know people at the company on a personal level. jobs, mistakes are overlooked mostly, holidays are more and thus you get a life other than job, you get pensions or allowances after retirement. A geotechnical engineer spends a lot of time to and from sites due to the unique nature of every site's properties. Design engineer 6. Conversely, master's level counselors and therapists do pretty much the same job as psychologists without having to go all the way to the PhD level. Civil engineers are the unsung heroes of the engineering world. I will probably end up starting a commercial construction firm or going for my MBA. They design roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects and ensure they adhere to budgetary and environmental requirements. Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways.. Civil engineering is traditionally broken into a number of sub-disciplines. Well, I got what I asked for and now I am working for a large design firm overseeing the planning/design/construction of a large public works project. I go out for field surveys a few times a month. Civil engineers are responsible for building things like tunnels and highways, while mechanical engineers focus on mechanical products. I guess I expected to at least be involved in meetings, help the mechanical engineers, go out in the field to take measurements, calling up contractors to argue about RFI's - but that so far is not the reality. By the time I was a junior I just decided to stick it out for practical reasons, once I realized my dreams were not the reality of civil engineering. Structural engineer 10. I wanted to work towards my PE to develop a real career with direction, purpose and practicality. However, my job experience was not working towards a PE, so I decided to make a jump back into design consulting and work towards a PE. No freedoms, salary ceiling, and no risk/reward. Oops. Is it worth sticking it out to get my PE if I end up never performing any design tasks? This skill could be really handy in law school, since legal analysis, according to Tsu, follows a very logical progression i.e., start with A, add B, with exception C, put it through process D, apply rule E, and you will get the likely answer Z. Civil engineers also often manage several projects at the same time, and thus must be able to balance time needs and to effectively allocate resources. Given this, why do you want to work towards a PE? Generally, as long as you're using engineering judgement, the experience counts. Roo in Mundelein, Illinois - I'm a senior engineer and I don't know any young engineers making more than six figures. Let me know what you guys think - sorry about the semi rant. It seemed like the "next step", and moving me toward professionalism and a stable career. I think a young office in an urban city would be important for me for social reasons. What if you lose your job? Civil engineers design and manage construction projects, from bridges and buildings, to transport links and sports stadiums. "I am a "people person" and love to be out in the field and coordinating projects." I said this in my other post already, but I enjoyed studying the material, but when it came to actually being an engineer for 40 hours a week, I felt like I was faking it, or at least faking my enthusiasm for the work. Unless I am mistaken, smaller firms with great pay and real work life balance are hard to come by in this industry - seems like the margins are tight and the principles grab all the money. Since civil engineering is a unique blend of disciplines, it’s best to find a school which offers a program specifically tailored to that field. Do I really want to stay in Civil Engineering if I am making these conclusions so quickly? Myke was working as a structural engineer and then quit it all to go on his own path. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the civilengineering community. Did you enjoy your time in project management? It wasn't. If you think that creativity can only be found in an arts career, … However, the job became too stressful and Joe retired from his engineering career to become a stay-at-home dad/blogger at 38. I think I would have been better off with an employer that spent time developing my management skills. I do think you're probably better suited to the contractor side of things, rather than designer side. Many employers are hiring now to fill urgent talent needs. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to connect with you on the Indeed Community. Problem-solving skills. This is spot on except for that last paragraph. I don't' feel energized by concrete, dirt, underground pipes, tanks, paving, site work, and feel especially uninterested in the chemical processes of wastewater. As an engineer you are going to be faced with new tools and techniques constantly as the technology and science advances. Civil Engineering is not a bad degree. While working here, I have realized that I might not be cut out for typical Civil Engineering design tasks and sitting behind a computer all day. Hi there, I graduated from Cal Poly SLO in Civil Engineering and now have a job working for small consulting firm. Easily apply to jobs with an Indeed Resume. Try structural or geotechnical design before you totally give up on it. If it isn't' narrowly focused design work, my first impression is that Civil Engineers are drowning in documents, drawings, specifications, regulations, asset management, and going to meetings. I did enjoy aspects of my time in project management. Or does it just feel like the expected next step? Civil Engineer Job Description.