Career Advice - A career in Civil Engineering - ICErecruit

A career in civil engineering attracts a broad range of people because civil engineering offers so much as a profession and a career in civil engineering draws on a whole range of artistic and scientific talents.

Read on to learn more about the opportunities offered by a career in civil engineering...

A career in civil engineering - What's it all about?
A career in civil engineering is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. In fact, our society would not function without civil engineers and civil engineering.

A career in civil engineering – what would I do?
A career in civil engineering would see you involved in seeing through civil engineering projects from design stage to construction and completion. During your career, civil engineering projects might include the development and construction of bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, dams, pipelines and major buildings.

One reason that young engineers give for choosing civil engineering is 'variety'. You might be in the office, working on designs at a computer and liaising with the client or you could be on site, leading teams, solving problems and literally being 'hands-on'. This is likely one of the major factors that research shows that a career in civil engineering provides a high degree of job satisfaction.

The role you have on a project depends on the type of organisation you are employed by and what area of civil engineering you work in. Read more about the various types of civil engineering.

A career in civil engineering – Salary potential?
As a graduate, starting salaries compare well with other professions. In addition, a career in civil engineering gives you the chance to change the world in a unique way. There are also international and managerial opportunities, which make a this a very appealing career route.

When you commence your career, you can expect an average starting salary of £22,000 with 25-34 year olds typically earning £29,000.

What you earn as you work your way up the ladder depends on the route your career takes. Those serious about a career in civil engineering will gain professional qualifications which will see a significant rise in salary.

During your career, many jobs, particularly with site-based work, will have extra benefits which will push up the value of your package. This could include a bonus, a company car, life insurance, overtime pay and medical cover.

A career in civil engineering – Would I travel?
During the course of a career in civil engineering, many engineers take the opportunity to travel to places like the Indian sub-continent, South America and regions in Africa. They often work on projects that can transform people's lives. If you have a real sense adventure and a commitment to help those in the greatest need, you could join RedR, an organisation that sends volunteers to disaster areas all over the world.

Even when working for a UK based company you may have opportunities to go overseas to work on individual projects. Click here to see current overseas career opportunities.

A career in civil engineering – Further information
If a career in civil engineering is your chosen career path then you should find some of these sources of further information helpful:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): The official website of the Institution of Civil Engineers, parent to icerecruit.com. Industry news, events, membership information and careers information for civil engineers.
• Where to start your career in civil engineering: An useful article from Prospects, the official graduate careers website for the UK. Covers choosing a civil engineering degree, the skills gained from a degree, related jobs and more.
• A career in civil engineering – consulting: A close up look at what a career in civil engineering as a consultant, what they do, typical salaries, degree requirements and case studies of civil engineering graduates.
• A career in civil engineering – contracting: A close up look at what a career in civil engineering as a contractor, what they do, typical salaries, degree requirements and case studies of civil engineering graduates.
• Careers in Civil Engineering – jobs in construction: An article describing what civil engineers do and how to become one.
• The little book of Civilisation: The Little Book of Civilisation explains how the work of civil engineers touches the lives of people around the world. It has been produced by ICE as a direct response to the membership requirement for raising the profile of the profession. Download a copy.

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