Would you major in Civil Engineering in 2014? 1

[Jon1415]

I don't want to make a post complaining about my own personal experience in the profession since I graduated in 2009.

I would like to know from the more experienced civil engineers if they would choose the major in 2014. Do you think there are brighter opportunities outside of civil engineering for people who are still early in their careers?

 

[rb1957]

do you mean enginering as opposed to more "trendy" vocations, like accounting, MBAing, dot-com, app writing, ...

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[msquared48]

Yup(pie)

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[Jon1415]

Well, I'm mostly looking for feedback from civil engineers. Primarily because I feel that civil has been impacted a little differently than many of the other engineering disciplines.

 

[Jon1415]

Oops I accidentally posted that last message before finishing

I mean, if you had to choose a career field that offers the brightest opportunities and job security in your lifetime. I'm not really talking about any specific trendy occupations, it could be as simple as becoming a plumber. Since, we know that the master plumbers with their own business can make a lot of money and the job seems to offer at least a little bit of satisfaction (can't say I've ever been a plumber though)

If it were up to me, I would not choose civil engineering as a way to build useful skills that are in demand. If I took the major, it would be out of sheer interest in learning since I found all the topics interesting. But I wouldn't count on gaining any transferable skills in the process

 

[Jon1415]

And i'm talking about taking the major in 2014. As opposed to 1974, 1983 or 1992, which may have been a different era for the profession. sorry for the triple post

 

[Jon1415]

Funny you should mention that GrandpaDave. Although, I'm not sure if you are serious. I worked my first 3 years out of school as a graduate engineer at a local government (civil service). I very much enjoyed working there but could not bring myself to commit for life. With the benefits getting better every year, I decided to leave my comfortable job to return to graduate school.

Are you serious about the civil service type job?

 

[GrandpaDave]

No... "My tongue was stuck in my cheek." I'd never work for the local, state or federal governments.
However, if you do join the public sector you are general fixed for life. In the private sector today,
companies are not offering pension plan so you have to start early planning for retirement. Also, you
are not set for life in case the company has hard times... even if you are a top engineer. Be prepared to move.
I was lucky, in 45+ years I was only RIF'ed (laid-off) 2 times... and come to think of it only moved 3 times!

Regards,
G-pa Dave

 

[swall]

You are set for life as long as the government employer does not run out of money.

 

[ajh1]

Would I do something different than engineering? No
Looking back on a 40 year career if I did it over again I might look at either a field position in civil engineer (I've been strictly an office worker) or something in the industrial/manufacturing engineering sector. Of course I've been a construction junkie since about the time I was 5 so any other field would not satisfy me the way that engineering does.
That's not to say that civil engineering is necessarily the most profitable career these days, even within the engineering community, but you got to do what you love doing.

 

[rb1957]

i doubt any field of engineering is really profitable. we do it 'cause we like it (like ajh's post), not 'cause we think we'll get rich.

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[Jon1415]

Thank you for your input

I didn't mean to ask if it was the most lucrative career. I meant is it a good choice for having a good all-around career experience. This means developing valuable skills that can be transferred between workplaces, being involved on interesting and challenging projects, meeting and interacting with good natured people, having a decent work/life balance, AND yes, making enough money for you and your family to live a decent quality of life.

 

[Jon1415]

I'm just not convinced that it is a good field for young people to get into, from 2008 on wards. While some people have been able to make, it seems more like a gamble from my own experience.

 

[rb1957]

ok, a different tangent ... why do you think it's not a good field ? have you answered your own question ? I mean, wouldn't you value your doubts based on your experience above some unknown others with experience to the contray ?

sounds like you've had at best a mixed experience ... what was good ? what bad ??

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

 

[dicksewerrat]

I hope there is a shortage of engineers in the sewer and water rehab area. I want to keep working till I can't travel anymore. And I only travel to get me PDH's to keep my licenses up to date. But I've only been working since 1966.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[beej67]

If I was a graduating high school senior, and did not have a scholarship to a university, I would skip college entirely and learn to write code.



Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[Jon1415]

rb1957 - You're right, eventually I'm going to have to go with my gut feeling. Some people have shared my experience; others have had an experience to the contrary.

Now I don't want to complain or seek personal advice, I do that elsewhere

But this has been my experience so far

My perceived pros
-Potential to work on interesting and engaging projects
-Decent pay, benefits and work/life balance at my last municipal job
-Good job security in public sector (but not so much for private)

My perceived cons
-Very few job opportunities upon graduation(BSCE) in 2009
-Very few job opportunities upon graduation(MSCE) in 2014 (but maybe not as bad as 2009)
-High likelihood of getting pigeonholed or purple squirreled. I feel like this is happening to me right now, only 3 years into the career, as well as in 2009. i.e. my public experience doesn't translate to private experience. My water experience doesn't translate to structures or transportation... etc. etc. They can find the perfect candidate with the exact experience they need.
-Very few entry/junior level positions; those that exist are actually filled by more experienced candidates who do not require training but will work for the same price
-Potential for low pay, long hours, and underappreciated work. No matter how rewarding the work is, sometimes it just isn't worth it
-Long periods of time sitting at a computer(8-10 hrs/day); personally I put a $$ tag on my own health and vitality

Not to mention, I have friends who have "half-assed" (their own words) it through non-engineering school and were still greeted by great jobs in their profession upon graduation.

 

[Jon1415]

dicksewerrat - I've had the pleasure of watching some of the CCTV sewer videos at my last job. I've seen rat colonies in abandoned sewer laterals, gigantic grease blobs and sewers from the 1800s that were 2/3 full of sediment. Hopefully there will be W/S R&R work for years to come

 

[Jon1415]

beej67 - That is the kind of alternative that I'm talking about. I would probably go that route myself and then go to college when I've made some money or get someone else to pay for it.

 

[Jon1415]

ajh1 - can I ask why you prefer the field? I prefer the field myself but there seems to be less opportunities for fieldwork