Civil Engineer
What is the work like?
Civil engineers plan, design and manage construction projects. These can range from the relatively small-scale, for example bridge repairs, through to large national schemes, like the building of the new Olympic stadium.
Civil engineering is a broad term covering several specialist areas of engineering, so as a civil engineer you could be employed in any one of the following branches:
- structural – dams, buildings, offshore platforms and pipelines
- transportation – roads, railways, canals and airports
- environmental – water supply networks, drainage and flood barriers
- maritime – ports, harbours and sea defences
- geotechnical – mining, earthworks and construction foundations.
Many of these branches overlap but in all areas, your typical duties would include:
- discussing requirements with the client and other professionals like architects, surveyors and building contractors
- analysing survey, mapping and materials-testing data with computer modelling software
- drawing up blueprints, using computer aided design (CAD) packages
- judging whether projects are workable by assessing materials, costs, time and labour requirements
- assessing the environmental impact and risks connected to projects
- preparing bids for tenders, and reporting to clients, public agencies and planning bodies
- managing, directing and monitoring progress during each phase of a project
- making sure sites meet legal guidelines, and health and safety requirements.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become a civil engineer you would normally need a three-year Bachelor of Engineering degree (BEng) or four-year Masters degree (MEng) in civil engineering. These qualifications are important if you want to gain incorporated or chartered engineer status later in your career (see the training and development section for details). You could take other engineering-related subjects but it may take you longer to fully qualify.
You will need at least five GCSEs (A-C) and two or three A levels, including maths and a science subject (normally physics), or equivalent qualifications to get onto a degree course. Colleges and universities may accept a relevant Access to Higher Education award for entry to certain courses. Please check with them for their exact entry requirements.
Alternatively, you could work your way up to become an engineer if you are already in the industry, for example, working as an engineering technician. By studying part-time or on the job for a BTEC HNC/HND, foundation degree or degree, you could eventually qualify.
You can find more information about careers and relevant courses through the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), ConstructionSkills and Women into Science, Engineering and Construction websites. The Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) has careers and course information for that area.
What further training and development can I do?
You would usually start your professional life as a civil engineer on a company's graduate training scheme. These schemes give you the chance to get involved in projects under the supervision of a mentor, and are designed to develop your technical knowledge and business skills. Over time, you would take on more responsibility. Training schemes often last between one and two years.
Gaining incorporated or chartered status
You could help your career development by working towards incorporated or chartered status. To do this, you should register with your professional industry body and apply to the Engineering Council.
As an incorporated engineer, you would specialise in the day-to-day management of engineering operations. At chartered level, you would have a more strategic role, planning, researching and developing new ideas, and streamlining management methods.
Where can I go for more information?
Bircham NewtonKing's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
Weston House
246 High Holborn
London
WC1B 7EX
Tel: 020 3206 0408
London
SW1X 8BH
Tel: 020 7235 4535
London
SW1P 3AA
Tel: 020 7222 7722
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Income for new graduate engineers is between £19,500 and £23,000 a year.
- Experienced engineers earn between £24,000 and £37,000.
- Chartered engineers can earn around £49,000 year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would work between 35 and 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday.
Your time would be split between the office and working on site. Sitework would be in all weathers and may involve extensive travel, sometimes overseas, depending on the contract.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- excellent maths, science, and IT skills
- the ability to explain design ideas and plans clearly
- the ability to analyse large amounts of data and assess solutions
- confident decision-making ability
- excellent communication skills
- project management skills
- the ability to work within budgets and to deadlines
- good teamworking skills
- a comprehensive knowledge of relevant legal regulations.
What opportunities are there?
Your opportunities are excellent as a qualified civil engineer. Many different organisations employ engineers, including local authorities, building contractors, power companies, environmental agencies and specialist consulting firms. You may also find work overseas with British consulting or contracting firms, working for foreign governments, and oil and mining companies.
With experience and incorporated or chartered status, you could move into senior project management positions, specialise in particular fields or work as a consultant.
You could also work with international development and disaster relief agencies. See Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR UK) for more information.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
Engineering Jobs Network
ICErecruit.com
The Engineer Online
Findanengineer.com (list of structural engineering companies)
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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