Expert: Jeanette A - 1/8/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Tyler Duckett at Ketchikan high school in Alaska, I'm wondering if you can help me figure out some questions?
-What kind of tasks do you do on a daily basis?
-What are the 5 most important work habits or skills at your job?
-what's your work environment?
-What kind of training or education is needed for this occupation?
-what kind of certification is required for your job?
-Where can I go to get this training/education?
-are there any high school classes i should be taking right now?
-what academic skills do you need for this job?
-what are some benefits you get with your job?
-what qualities will make a person successful in this career?
-what do you like best about your job?
-what do you dislike about your job?
-how much time do you spend with people?
-what careers have you had in the past that you really liked?

i would really appreciate you answering my questions, thank you very much.
Tyler

Answer
Hey Tyler,

Sorry for the late response but I will try answer these, I have copied and pasted from previous questions which I have answered.

-What kind of tasks do you do on a daily basis?
This depends on what type of work you do. Whether it is design in an office or out on-site. A civil engineer basically deals with design, construction and maintenance of physical/natural environments. This includes a wide variety of works such as; bridges, roads/highways, dams, buildings, drainage structures etc. They can be in either organisations:
-Consultants
-Contractors
-Public Service

-What are the 5 most important work habits or skills at your job?
1. Co-operation in a team environment
2. Time management
3. Asking questions when you're unsure about a given task
4. Finishing tasks at the given deadline, or asking beforehand if you feel you need extra time
5. Showing initiative to learn and grow

-what's your work environment?
Work environments as aforementioned differ depending whether you opt to be in an office or to work on-site. I myself worked in a large design consultancy, a building which consisted of 11 levels with approximately 100 employees on each floor.

-What kind of training or education is needed for this occupation?
In order to work as a Civil Engineer you must first hold a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering (usually four years). Some choose to continue their studies with a Masters Degree (usually 1 or 2 years) in addition to their Bachelor Degree. After completing a certified degree the engineer must satisfy a range of requirements (including work experience and exam requirements) before being certified. Once certified, the engineer is designated the title of Professional Engineer (in the United States, Canada and South Africa), Chartered Engineer (in most Commonwealth countries), Chartered Professional Engineer (in Australia and New Zealand), or European Engineer (in much of the European Union).

-what kind of certification is required for your job?
Refer to previous question.

-Where can I go to get this training/education?
At a university where you wish which offers a Bachelor in Civil Engineering

-are there any high school classes i should be taking right now?
Yes, you may take up some classes...however, they will not hinder your chances to do civil engineering. I did not do physics, chemistry or engineering studies, I learnt them all throughout my degree (this again differs depending where you are in the world). Subjects you can take up include:
- Mathematics 2Unit+
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Engineering Studies
Another point worth bringing up is English. You would be surprised as to how many engineers lack in communication and literacy skills. Brush these skills up as they will be rewarding in the near future for a degree in this field.

-what academic skills do you need for this job?
You need to be proficient in Physics and Mathematics. I also believe English is another academic skill which you need as its the only source of communication, you can't communicate in numbers only...it doesn't work.

-what are some benefits you get with your job?
Working as a team to come up with a solution to a problem. Then once that solution has been decided upon, to make it come to life; designing process and then the construction process. Other benefits include a higher appreciation for the built up environment around you which you use daily that many have no clue about and many take for granted. I still get people asking me what civil engineering is about, and many think the builders have designed and are building for example high-rises and buildings.

-what qualities will make a person successful in this career?
Personally I feel the stronger you can communicate your ideas the more successful you will become. Also, having good interpersonal skills will reward your career. Obviously a smart (not hard) worker will also be successful, what I mean by that is don't be too "irish", in engineering there is always a shortcut as engineers have been classed lazy, but rather this is how efficient they can be with their time management.

-what do you like best about your job?
Constantly being challenged to think outside the box. Every project has its own challenge and being able to think in a logical and efficient manner to solve the task whilst being restricted to the Engineering Trilogy of Cost, Time and Quality.

-what do you dislike about your job?
Working with people who are very reclusive and those who do not co-operate and function as a team. Makes everyone's job more difficult.

-how much time do you spend with people?
Well it is predominately group work, you go and do your individual tasks alone, but you might need to ask a question, or you have noticed problems with the design...it is not a job you do solo. Every step you will be dealing with someone be it the boss or a co-worker.

-what careers have you had in the past that you really liked?
Initially I wanted to do architecture when I was about 16, and during that year (2000) I did work experience with Lucent Bell Technologies which is a telecommuniation engineering company. This is how I discovered engineering and decided to advance my dream of architecture into something more challenging and satisfying.

I hope this helps. Goodluck!

Warm Regards,
Jeanette