Civil Engineering Jobs in Government
Civil engineering jobs in government may divert you from your technical background into roles that are more managerial in nature. That said, keeping your technical skills up to date will certainly help you advance to higher positions.
These jobs may involve designing, supervising, and constructing public works like roads, tunnels, buildings, bridges, airports, water works, sewage systems, dams, etc.
Civil engineering careers with the government may start from positions like project manager or assistant manager and take you on to such top jobs as city engineer or director of public works.
Civil Engineering Jobs in Industry
Civil engineering jobs can be found in various industries and with various companies, including real estate, manufacturing, hospitality, etc. You can find a job in a start-up venture or with a Fortune 500 company; almost every industry employs civil engineers.
A recently graduated civil engineer can use an assistant engineer job as a stepping stone. Civil engineers within a company can be classified as project engineers, implementation engineers, business development managers, operations managers, and senior managers.
Civil Engineering Jobs in Construction
Civil engineers who want to make a career in construction should be prepared to face hard-core fieldwork. Civil engineering jobs in construction demand knowledge in marketing, risk management, quality control, contracting, etc.
A recently graduated civil engineer can start as a field engineer, estimator, or inspector. More advanced positions include project engineer, superintendent, construction executive, and even vice president or owner of a firm.
Civil Engineering Jobs in Consulting
Top construction consulting firms hire civil engineers for various projects requiring technical expertise. A career progression here may take you from being a project team member to a management executive.
If you join a small firm, you may rapidly climb the ladder to a top management position. However, a large firm offers three broad career tracks:
- Technical
- Management
- Business Development
Civil Engineering Jobs in Academia
If you have an inclination towards teaching, a career in academics is a good choice. To find civil engineering jobs in academia, you would need a advance degree such as a doctorate.
An assistant professorship or associate professorship may be the first step towards an academic career in civil engineering. You can advance to become a tenured professor, head of department, or even chancellor.
Conclusion
Each of these civil engineering career paths has its own unique advantages. It is for you to choose which one suits you the best. Ultimately, a multidisciplinary background would be helpful for those seeking top-notch civil engineering jobs, while an engineer with an MBA or IT expertise can almost always command good pay packages.
