just curious...
just curious...
(OP)
Hello all! I am new to the civil world (start my 1st job Monday!) and just wanted to pick a few of your brains. My new job will mainly be municipal services, but I'm curious to know what those of you have to say about the private side of things. Are there things you really (and don't really) like about your jobs? Any pointers for a rookie engineer? Also, if I decide to go into the construction side of engineering, will it be more beneficial to attain my PE first? Better yet, is a PE even needed for that type of work? Sorry for the long post!





RE: just curious...
Get a hobby, play the guitar, join a soccar team. Being out of college is great!
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!
RE: just curious...
Welcome to the wonderful 'civil' world of engineering. I have been in both the private sector and public sector of civil engineering and actually get more satisfaction in the public side. One benefit I have found in the public side is that you get to design a project, go through the bidding and contract award, actually get to see the project built, and then get to live with it good or bad. I think you learn a lot more about the construction side of engineering when you see how the design doesn't always fit the "real" world conditions. It makes me pay more attention to how things are actually constructed.
The private sector has its advantages too, such as much better pay, the prospect for working on more complex projects and many times a wider variety of projects. A few of the aspects of the private sector that drove me to the public sector as a mid-grade engineer were 1) too many bosses that wanted their project done "NOW" at the expense of the other bosses; 2) being responsible for a project that some salesman developed the scope and budget for and obviously didn't have a clue as to how much effort it would really take; and 3)having to work mandatory overtime, which we weren't compensated for yet the client was charged for it. Don't get me wrong, I didn't mind working overtime when the project required it, but to charge the client 1-1/2 times for the overtime when they aren't even paying the staff is just wrong.
Sorry, this is starting to sound like a rant.
Definitely get your PE regardless of where your career takes you. Obtaining your PE is the best way to tell your boss or future bosses that you are serious about your career.
Best of Luck in where ever life leads you.
RE: just curious...
That's what I think and sometimes I'm right
RE: just curious...
RE: just curious...
RE: just curious...
Consider the next four years a paid education. You are now going to learn about "the real world," and how things get done. Keep your eyes and ears open and soak up as much as you can.
Be willing to do a lot of the (unpleasant) tasks that you are asked to do. You will be surprised how much it pays off in the future. As I said, a paid education. If you graduated from engineering school, you have done a lot of things that others either didn't have the ability to do, or were unwilling to do. You will be asked to do things that others either can't or wont do. That is when you will begin to prove that you are a professional.
Just my $.02. Been in the "dirt moving" business for about 25 years now.
RE: just curious...
RE: just curious...
One thing that I've noticed in the differences between private and public career paths is that more and varied challenges exist in the private sector. Often engineering functions in the public sector are set in established policy and procedure with little ability or incentive to "stretch". In the private sector, problem solving and decisions are dictated case by case and generally are reflective of the encountered conditions and expected result (not always...but usually).
In either, work your %#$$ off and get as much as you can from it.