How to Start a Career in Civil Engineering in any Country
Civil
engineers are the pillars of every home we live in, every road we walk on and
every electricity we enjoy in our home and society as a whole.
Civil
engineering is one of the fastest and growing careers in the 21st century. It
contributes closely to 5% of every country's GDP.
Civil
engineers are often spotted working in major sectors of the economy such as
construction, infrastructure, waste management, mining, transportation etc.
Graduates
with a diploma or degree in civil engineering often specialize as environmental
engineers, structural engineers, transportation engineers etc.
Most
often, graduates in civil engineering often start their career life working for
the government or working as professionals in a private company.
But
how then do you prepare yourself to become successful in life as someone who has
studied civil engineering? This blog post would provide you with the ultimate steps
you can take to have a successful career in civil engineering in any country.
Steps on how to Start a Career in Civil Engineering
Step 1: Complete your studies
The
first critical step you must take if you want to start a career in civil
engineering is to complete your studies. To do this, you will need to enrol on
college very early so that you gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a
civil engineer.
Once
you have convinced yourself that you want to take a career in civil
engineering, then the first step you must take is to find a college to enrol in
and get all the necessary education that you need.
Studying
at the university to become a civil engineer is one of the best ways to enter
the civil engineering career path. However, if college doesn’t work for you. Then
you must enrol on an apprenticeship.
Step 2: Build your CV
The
second step towards starting a career in civil engineering is to build your CV.
Building your CV doesn’t have to start after your college graduation, its
starts while you are in school.
Gain
all sorts of soft skills that are vital for a successful career path for a
civil engineer such as ICT, Accounting, communication, project management and
teamwork.
While
in school or after school, engaged yourself in learning some of the above-listed
skills.
Also,
build your CV by doing internship services in companies or firms that provide
the skills you need to become a civil engineer.
Build
your CV by attending many seminars and events planning occasions that are
related to construction.
Step 3: Join Consulting Firms in your Niche
The
third steps towards starting a career in civil engineering are to apply to join
many consultancy firms.
These
consulting forms are most focused on training you to be able to come up with
plans.
Joining
a consulting firm would help you be able to put your theory learn in school
into action by being able to draft or draw construction plans.
Working
at a construction consultancy firm will enable you to be able to draw up any type
of plan in your area of speciality. For example, if you study road construction
or electricity, you will be able to draw a consultancy plan for a road or home
electricity plan.
Step 4: Join a Contractor Firm
After working with a consultancy firm for about 1-3 years, you can now move to the next crucial step which is to apply to a contractor firm.
Working with a contractor firm will help allow you to implement all the plans you have drawn while working with a consultancy firm.
Step 5: Network with Others
You
will need to learn how to communicate, make friends and work with others if you
want to be successful in the civil engineering career path.
Network
with anyone you meet in life that has something or knows someone who works in
your field of interest.
Join
social media network platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp
etc.
While
doing an internship or working at a consultancy firm try to build good
relationships with people in your area of interest.
You
can also network by joining social community events programs that also help in
community services such as clean up, construction of local bridges etc. This
will help expose you to different persons within your community that can highly
recommend you there for better opportunities.
Check Out: How to Become A Road Construction Worker in Any Country
Step 6: Start your Consulting Firm
After
gathering experiences from working at different companies, it's time you also
consider starting your consultancy firm.
This
means that it’s time for you to start taking deals and executing them all by yourself
or by working in collaboration with other-minded persons like you.
Starting
your consultancy firm will give you the upper hand to learn all the other
skills that you properly lack such as time management, project management, team
building etc.
Final Remarks
The
path to becoming a civil engineer is not as difficult as you think. It required
a willing mind and committed heart to become one. Civil engineering is a
promising career path for both young men and women and will continue to be one
of the highest demanded careers in life.
Get
a college degree or diploma, do internships and volunteer services. Apply to
work in consultant and contractor firms to help bring your theory to learn in
school into reality.
If, your dream is to become a civil engineer in future, share with us which sector or specialization in civil engineering you would like to venture into.