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Career Advice - A career in Structural Engineering - ICErecruit

A career in structural engineering attracts those who wish to rise to the challenge of a creative profession and the many career challenges that accompany this.

If your choose to pursue a career in structural engineering you will turn dreams into reality and have an impact on every aspect of our lives. Every single building, every piece of the built environment has got structure in it, ranging from where we live in houses and apartments, through to where we travel, railway stations and bridges and all other commercial, industrial and leisure buildings.

Read on to learn more about the opportunities offered by a career in structural engineering…

A career in structural engineering - What's it all about?
A career in structural engineering is all about working, often in a team, to develop the constructions that shape the world.

Structural engineers make a difference; they are people who enjoy innovation, a challenge, opportunities, responsibility and excitement in a varied career.

A career in structural engineering – what would I do?
A career in structural engineering would see you involved in seeing through structural engineering projects from design stage to construction and completion.

A structural engineer will first conceive a structure; considering strength, form and function. Then they will choose appropriate materials - such as steel, concrete, brick or timber - calculating and checking to ensure that the construction will remain safe and serviceable for the length of its intended lifetime.

Structural engineers often specialise in one area of work, such as bridges and tunnels, buildings, or large constructions such as oil installations. If a building appears to be collapsing or subsiding, a structural engineer will suggest methods of improving the foundations and keeping the structure intact.

As a structural engineer you can also choose what type of career you wish to pursue. You may wish to concentrate on design and work for a consultant, or focus on the construction process and work for a contractor, or perhaps have a mixture of both.

It is the engineer’s job to analyse plans for new projects, taking into account factors such as how weight will be distributed, and where stresses and strains will occur in the structure. Structural engineers also decide which materials to use when planning the detailed design of a structure, depending on the various factors that arise during the design process.

A career in structural engineering – Salary potential?
As a graduate, starting salaries compare well with other professions.

raduate trainees currently command salaries in the region of £18,000 to £22,000, but with a few years’ experience, you can expect to earn around £25,000. Senior engineers’ salaries generally range from £37,000 to £45,000.

Those serious about a career in structural 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 structural engineering – Would I travel?
There is huge opportunity and choice for young engineers starting out in a career in structural engineering. Structural engineering is a worldwide profession and membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers provides a passport and qualification which will allow you to work almost anywhere in 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 structural engineering – Further information
If a career in structural engineering is your chosen career path then you should find some of these sources of further information helpful:
  • Institution of Structural Engineers: The official website of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Industry news, events, membership information and careers information for structural engineers.
  • Where to start your career in structural engineering: A useful article from Prospects, the official graduate careers website for the UK. Covers choosing a structural engineering degree, the skills gained from a degree, related jobs and more.
  • Careers in Structural Engineering – jobs in construction: An article describing what structural engineers do and how to become one. Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) (link to www.ecitb.org.uk) The centre of excellence for advice, information and skills development for the engineering construction industry.

Note: ICErecruit is not responsible for the content of the 3rd party Web sites listed on any page of ICErecruit. All of the above links open in a new window.