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Who is a Civil Engineer?
We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us ~ Winston Churchill
Individuals in the civil engineering career deal with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways. Civil engineer jobs take place in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.
Individuals in the civil engineering career path are required to complete their engineering course either in a bachelor's or master's programme. B.Tech and M.Tech. are the most popular degrees for pursuing engineering. Here, in this article, we will describe civil engineering career, civil engineering salary, civil engineering course, how to become a civil engineer, civil engineer career path, is civil engineering a good career.
Civil Engineer in a Nutshell
A career as a civil engineer is of great importance for the infrastructural growth of the country. It is one of the most popular professions and there is great professional as well as personal growth in this civil engineering career path. There is job satisfaction in this civil engineering career path, but it also comes with a lot of stress, as there are multiple projects that need to be handled and have to be completed on time. Students should pursue physics, chemistry and mathematics in their 10+2 to become civil engineers.
Quick Facts for Civil Engineer
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Industry
Infrastructure
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Average Salary in India
₹425000
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
An individual from any section or gender can make a career as civil engineer. It does not matter which gender he or she belongs to when it comes to becoming a civil engineer. Women who go for civil engineering jobs are no more limited to desk work of designing and planning. A civil engineering job for women can be in a construction site as well which is the very essence of civil engineering in the first place.
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Any special needs
Yes
When it comes to career as civil engineer, the jobs require an individual to be physically fit for a better and efficient way of working. However, there is no hard and fast rule that it is compulsory to be physically fit in order to do civil engineering. As long as the disability does not come in the way of one’s work they are good to go for civil engineering jobs.
Table of Contents for Civil Engineer
What is the role of Civil Engineer?
The civil engineering career requires the individual to conceive, design, build, supervise, operate, construct and maintain infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. From building roads to bridges, preparing the public transport layout to the construction of the irrigation canals, everything is being done by the individuals in the civil engineering career path. Students can pursue B.Tech in Civil Engineering or BE Civil Engineering to become a civil engineers. If you want to know how to become a civil engineer, then read the entire article.
Analysis
A civil engineering job requires the engineer to analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, and other topographical or geologic data to plan projects. The factors mentioned above are necessary to make an apt decision required for the project.
Planning
Individuals in the civil engineering career plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems and structures, following construction and government standards, using design software and drawing tools. The planning phase marks the initiation of the project.
Computation
Once the planning phase is completed the civil engineering job requires the engineer to compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, and material stress factors to determine design specifications. Based on the design specifications necessary materials are chosen.
Inspection
Individuals in the civil engineering career inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards. At each step, inspection is performed to ensure the quality of work.
Directing
A civil engineering job requires the engineer to direct construction, operations, and maintenance activities at the project site. Management and maintenance of various operations also fall under the responsibility of a civil engineer.
Estimating
Individuals in the civil engineering career estimate quantities and cost of materials, equipment, or labor to determine project feasibility. All necessary decisions made by the civil engineer are performed keeping feasibility insight.
Prepare reports
A careers in civil engineering requires the engineer to prepare or present public reports, such as bid proposals, deeds, environmental impact statements, and property and right-of-way descriptions. These reports are necessary to assist in the decision-making process.
Types of a Civil Engineer
Here, we have discussed the types of jobs for civil engineers in this section.
Geotechnical engineer: As a geotechnical engineer, one is required to perform underground mining and geotechnical engineering activities which include designing, development, and test duties and responsibilities. The geotechnical engineers are required to perform daily interface activities and assist with planning and execution of underground mining activities, analyze and recommend the incorporation of technological advancements in techniques, principles, theories, equipment, and utilization, and collaborate with project engineers and management to determine technical requirements and performance objectives of assigned projects.
Highway engineer: Highway engineer are responsible for inspection of roadway construction activities and coordination of construction inspection, quality assurance inspections of roadway, highway, bridge projects, up to and/or including asphalt, paving, earthwork and landscape, steel, concrete, striping & signage, drainage, traffic control, road widening, coordination with contractors, other inspectors, surveyors and materials testers as well as documentation of the project progress. A highway engineer is responsible for maintaining accurate daily reports of construction site activity, and field measurements for progress compensations, and can produce required reports on progress, safety, quality, schedule, and budget status.
Structural engineer: The structural engineers are required to perform seismic and structural engineering duties in planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of building structures and facilities, including the design of steel structures and reinforced concrete elements; perform structural evaluations on existing buildings and provide retrofit schemes; analyze the dynamic behaviour of buildings and construction teams to establish their needs. Individuals in the civil engineer career path are also responsible for superstructure analysis, design, detailing, and coordination as well as analysis, design, and detailing for concrete substructures, podium levels, and foundations.
Mining engineer: Mining engineers are responsible for ensuring contractors work safely and stay on task and review all completed work and invoices. Individuals in the civil engineer career path are also required to develop mine plans to deliver raw materials for the plant that meet set quality standards and work with the quarry superintendent to ensure the mine plans are followed to avoid any disruptions plant and adjust accordingly as needed.
What is the workplace/work environment of Civil Engineer like?
Individuals in the civil engineering career path work in a variety of locations and conditions. It is common for civil engineer to split their time between working in an office and working outdoors at construction sites. In civil engineering jobs, an individual has to monitor operations or solve problems onsite. Most work full time. If you want to know how to become a civil engineer, then read the entire article.
Does Civil Engineer require travelling?
Likely
Generally, in the career as a civil engineer, jobs are divided into two types of site engineers: consulting engineers and contracting engineers. Individuals in the civil engineer career path are responsible for the design work of projects and work predominantly in an office. Contractors then take the designs and implement them during construction. Contractors work on-site, managing the construction of the structure. Consulting civil engineers are not required to travel whereas contracting engineers need to travel to the site of construction which might not always be in the same city as they stay in.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time, Hourly Basis, On Call, Work From Home
In career as civil engineer, jobs are generally 9-5 ones but they may have to work on weekends or extra hours if they have a project deadline to meet.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
When it comes to the nature of employment in the career as civil engineer then it can be both contractual as well as permanent in nature. For example, if a civil engineer works for the government then they are recruited as permanent employees who are handed different projects as and when they are done with one. On the other hand, if a civil engineer is hired by a company for instance in order to make a building for them then his or her job is contractual in nature. The site engineer’s job ends as soon as he or she finishes the project in hand.
Work Place
Individuals in the civil engineering career typically work on a project-to-project basis, and may therefore need to work extra hours to ensure that the projects meet their deadlines.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
A career as civil engineer comprises the building and maintenance of various physically and naturally built environments. Therefore, if a site engineer is working on the construction of a mall in an urban location then he or she is required to work in an urban location. But, if a site engineer is working on the construction of a bridge in a rural location then he or she is required to stay and work in a rural location.
Time Pressure
Likely
In a career as civil engineer, one is required to work full-time. However, one who is positioned for a senior post might feel some time pressure because of his or her duties. Apart from this, an architect rarely faces any time pressure. When individuals who opt for a career as a civil engineer are working in the field, experiencing raw weather conditions and surviving external factors can result in a little time pressure.
Overtime Details
Individuals in the civil engineer career path spend most of their time in the office, they are required to travel to their job sites. And travelling sometimes causes them to work for long hours under stressful conditions. The chances of individual working overtime are considered 50-50 in the career of a civil engineer.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Ideally in a career as civil engineer, a job requires an individual to work for around 40 hours a week.
How to become a Civil Engineer?
Steps to become a Civil Engineer
If you are thinking of how to become a civil engineer in India, then you can read the entire article to know all the details to become a civil engineer. In this article, we have described the steps that you need to follow if you want to become a civil engineer. The steps are mentioned below:
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Civil Engineer?
In order to make a career as a civil engineer, one must possess some skills. We will be discussing how to become a civil engineer. Some skills required by a civil engineer are mentioned below.
Decision-making skills: Decision-making is the selection of two or more distinct possible outcomes. In the broader problem-solving process, decision-making includes identifying many different alternatives. Decisions should be made either by an insightful or rational process or through a blend of all of the above. In the career as a civil engineer, candidates frequently address numerous and often overlapping priorities, like evaluating design feasibility in terms of financial expenses and security issues. Urban and regional planners almost always seek guidance on such issues from professional civil engineers.
Leadership: Leadership skills can help boost current work performance and advance professional growth in a career as a civil engineer. Professionals can maintain the responsibility to empower in any position or services industry only with the correct strategy. Individuals who opt for a career as civil engineers generally take responsibility for the programs or the work they are carrying out. This is also why, they would have to be responsible to advance surveyors, construction managers, technicians in civil engineering and many others to implement their project management plan.
Mathematical skill: If you are wondering how to become a civil engineer, then you should focus on this particular skills. The career as a civil engineer can not be pursued if someone does not comprehend the relevant mathematical concepts. Important analytical methods and principles can indeed be implemented to fix the problem and it seems more worthwhile. Mathematical processes are useful to so many other occupations and can increase personal performance. To become a civilian engineer, it is essential to be able to apply concepts including fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Organisational skills: Maintaining organisational skills enable employees to conduct their roles and responsibility as per their position in their career as civil engineer. Keeping the work atmosphere in the organization thus not just enables team members to work effectively and also helps to support the goals and objectives of the career job of an employee. The design specifications for construction projects could only be approved by certified civil engineers. It makes it necessary that civil engineers be able to track and assess the function at the construction site as a project moves forward to guarantee adherence to engineering drawings.
Problem-solving ability: Problem-solving is beneficial for both employees and companies because it allows everyone to maintain control of the work environment. Problem-solving ability refers to the ability to deal with complicated or unanticipated situations, and also complex financial difficulties. Institutions depend on people who could really analyse all sorts of conflicts and implement alternative solutions in a proper way. Individuals in the civil engineer career path work at the top standard of multidisciplinary assignment or research planning, design, construction, and operation with several other factors that involve the ability to analyze and fix complicated situations.
Writing skills: Writing skills assist the industry throughout many aspects of career as a civil engineer. It opens up a whole new avenue and helps workers to achieve their goals and objectives and develop careers. Strong writing skills are important to make it simpler and therefore more descriptive, and easier to create a positive image. Civil engineers need to be capable of connecting with other practitioners, including architects, landscape architects, and urban and regional administrators. This implies that civil engineers should be capable of writing documents accurately so that people could understand without even a background in engineering.
Popular Online Engineering Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Civil Engineer?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt who want to establish a career as Civil Engineers. If you want to know how to become a civil engineer, then read the entire article.
Internship Availability
Internships are a good way of gaining a foothold in a career as a civil engineer. It gives the individual the necessary exposure to the industry and the work environment, so in a way, they are prepared for the pressure which comes along with the career. Internships give a brief overview of what the job is like and individuals are prepared beforehand Internships are also beneficial for making contacts, which can later help in getting jobs. There is a great learning curve and interns can pick up the tricks of the trade during internships. When it comes to the field of civil engineering, internships are very important since they give real-world experience.
Career Path Progression for Civil Engineer
Junior Civil Engineer: A junior civil engineer prepares blueprints and documentation of the specification and the entire project. He or she also assists the senior civil engineers in various projects.
Senior Civil Engineer: A senior civil engineer is responsible for designing and building of the various projects, such as railways, roads, sewerage systems, airports, dams, bridges, pipelines, and buildings. He or she researches and prepares the plan for the project.
Civil Engineer Jobs and Salaries
Junior Civil Engineer
- Average Salary 250000
Job Description
A junior civil engineer performs routine and other entry-level engineering duties under the supervision of a senior civil engineer or the team. He or she may use the computer-assisted drafting to create drawings for project elements.
Salary Description
A junior civil engineer salary in India ranges between Rs. 1.2 Lakhs to Rs. 4.2 Lakhs. The average salary of a junior civil engineer is Rs. 2.5 LPA. The salary varies based on numerous factors such as location, skills, and the organisation or company.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Civil Engineer
- Average Salary 600000
Job Description
A senior civil engineer prepares the architectural designs and drawings based on the project requirements. He or she studies and reviews the plans, drawings and the documents which are related to the construction projects. He or she determines the budget and decides the scope of the projects.
Salary Description
The average senior civil engineer salary in India is Rs. 6 Lakhs per annum. A senior civil engineer salary in India depends on the experience, skills and the organisation in which they are working.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Civil Engineer?
In a career as a civil engineer, individuals with ample experience may move into senior positions, such as project managers or functional managers of design, construction, operation, or maintenance. The civil engineering career path has a lot to offer if one puts in enough hard work. However, civil engineering careers would first need to obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) license, because only licensed engineers can assume responsibilities for public projects.
Every year close to 1.5 million engineers graduate, and the construction industry is expected to employ a whopping 80 million workers by 2020 as per India Today. India needs approximately four million civil engineers in the next ten years to fulfil the booming potential of the real estate space and planned infrastructure. Therefore, a civil engineering career has a lot to offer in the country. In this article, we have discussed how to become a civil engineer.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Civil Engineer
Que. Is civil engineering a good career?
Ans.Any basic engineering field is good for your career as civil engineer. Specifically, civil engineering also has the advantage of getting a government job in almost every sector. Civil Engineering is a professional engineering discipline and the oldest which deals with the constructed environment.
Que. What are the fees for civil engineering?
Ans.Admission in most colleges offering Civil Engineering course is done though any of the entrance tests conducted at national and state level. Average tuition fee for this course ranges between Rs 2 to 4 lacs in most of the public institutes and Rs 3 to 6 lakhs in private colleges.
Que. What is the main subject of civil engineering?
Ans.The core subjects of civil Engineering course include subjects like surveying-land and surveying, material science and engineering, coastal engineering.
Que. Is Civil Engineering easy to get a job?
Ans.Civil engineers are required in many fields and a specialisation can get you a really good job not only in India but abroad too. Geotechnical engineers, highway engineers, offshore structural engineers are some areas where with experience it is easy to find a job.
Que. What is the future in civil engineering?
Ans.Employment in the career as civil engineer is projected to grow six per cent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. There are several types of civil engineering jobs that are projected to open up in the coming times.
Que. Which are the top colleges for a civil engineering degree?
Ans.Some of the top colleges for civil engineering degree are IIT Kharagpur (Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur), IIT Delhi (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi), IIT Hyderabad ((Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad), NIT Trichy (National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli), Delhi Technological University New Delhi (DTU), College of Engineering Pune, Dr. BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, PES (People’s Education Society) University Bangalore, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).
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Did you know?
Fact 1
Civil engineers probably understand that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was kept from collapse thanks to some ingenuitive geotechnical engineering.
Fact 2
In the 18th century, the term “civil engineering” came into use to describe engineering work that was performed by civilians for nonmilitary purposes.
Fact 3
The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse.
Fact 4
The first civil engineering degree to be awarded to a woman was granted by Cornell University to Nora Stanton Blatch in 1905.
