Civil Engineering Career Guide and Counseling

Question: How susceptible is civil engineering to outsourcing/offshoring? I'd like to know from experts in this field- I've noticed a few websites that claim to provide civil engineering services to many countries remotely. How much will this affect civil engineers locally?

Answer: Many civil engineering projects are small and have no particular special requirements. Local regulations are mostly just a cover for job-protection schemes - the laws of physics were the same everywhere on the planet, the last time I checked. If a local region tries to be protectionist, it will fail in the long run. In the global economy, the customers will just build their projects some place else. The answer is not to fight low-tech work being outsourced, but to grow the capacity to be an "outsourcee" yourself for high-tech (and high-value) work worldwide.

Question: How I can study Civil Engineering subjects from internet without having own books? Everytime it is not possible to carry books. How I can study civil engineering subjects over internet? Actually it is not possible everywhere to carry books. But sometime particularly some topic is necessary to know due to out of mind. Surface idea can help also for that topic.. Is there any website to get e-books or documents on Civil Engineering?

Answer: Dear Anirban, it is not possible , you may get surface knowledge from internet but for deep and solid fundamental study you have relay on good books. May be many on same topic by different authors. Some time we have to follow different books for same chapter.You will never get reading pleasure over net.

Question: What civil engineering software can be used for analyzing and designing the raft foundation? i am looking an user friendly civil engineering software which can be designed and analyzed the raft foundation. the software must in British Standard (BS). Please help me... your answer is very much appreciated.

Answer: I heard GEOTAC Office software can do such a thing you need, i don't know this software using BS or not, sorry. Hope it help. http://www.elpla.com/

Question: What civil engineering firm has travel oppurtunities? I am about to graduate with a degree in civil engineering, and I would really like to get a job where I could travel and work in the field. I wouldn't mind working around the country or world, but most companies have only desk jobs. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: keweitt-----and their various entities...I like the sound of their jobs from their recruiters and people I graduated with who work for them. They move to a new project about every 18 months....my friend has worked for them 2 yrs and has been on a job in the rockies drilling tunnels and is now in DC working construction.....any large contracting company would love to have a civil who is willing to relocate regularly. My first employer moved me around to various jobs..put me up in nice condos at the new project (I stayed in the same condos in KC as the cheifs) and paid my utilities, travel, and generous per deiums.

Question: What kind of questions should I ask about civil engineering? Im looking to get into civil engineering but I dont know where to start. What type of questions should I be asking about civil engineering?

Answer: Civil engineering is a very broad field. Civil engineers work in a variety of settings. Some civils are geotechnical engineers. They analyze soil samples and provide information regarding the soil suitability for building structures and using the soil as fill. Structural engineers are civil engineers who design foundations and structures such as bridges and buildings. I'm a civil engineer who designs subdivisions. I design the water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, drainage facilities and pavement. Civil engineers sell engineering products for manufacturers. Civil engineers are generally the lowest paid of all of the engineers. We usually have the highest rate of professional licenses because we impact the public most often. Civil engineers work for the government as traffic and transportation engineers, drainage engineers and provide plan review and approvals. There's a lot you can do with a civil engineering degree and there is a shortage of engineers nationwide. Some engineers work in construction. Many spend part of the day outdoors. Email me if you want more information at ladybug777_2@yahoo.com

Question: What are the biggest Civil Engineering companies in Australia? I am hopefully about to graduate with a BE (Civil) from New Zealand and I am wanting to work in Australia (preferably for an engineering consultancy firm.) I don't know much about Australian engineering companies, and I was wondering what companies are generally seen as the biggest/best over there. I am keen to work in Sydney, but I imagine most big companies would have offices all over the country. I appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Answer: There are many civil engineering companies. I found civil engineering site AIMIL Ltd. Its one of the leading civil engineering instruments industry. For more details on it you can check out the link given below.

Question: How is the work prospect of civil engineering? Now, i'm on the 3rd grade in the senior high school. At this present, I have to choose what subject i will take to the university. I choose CIVIL ENGINEERING, So, i need some information about it.

Answer: The job market for Civil Engineers in the U.S. is dismal. Don't let the administration and staff at universities tell you different because they are there to sell you classes and degrees so they will always tell you there is a high demand for Civil Engineers even though that most of the companies I spoke to at my university's career fair last week said they don't have any open positions and they are not hiring.

Question: What are the top 100 civil engineering universities in the United States? I've seen US News' list of top general engineering programs but I would like to know the top civil engineering schools. Thanks.

Answer: Here are some that have excellent programs in Civil Engineering in no particular order. UC-Berkeley Georgia Tech University of Wisconsin-Madison Texas A&M University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign Auburn University University of Florida Cal Poly University of Washington Clemson Purdue MIT University of Texas Carnegie Mellon Stanford Vanderbilt University Penn State There are probably a couple more out there I didn't list. What part of the country are you looking at? I based this list off of the students and grads I have met from those schools.

Question: Where can I find civil engineering job vacancy in the middle east? I am a female African Citizen, born in Saudi Arabia. I want to take up a contract job in civil engineering in the Middle east. Where can I find vacancies and what do I typically need to apply?

Answer: Just join this group for jobs career in gulf, middle east countries http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/jobs-career-listing/ You can also check this site www.gulf.jobs-career-listing.com

Question: What are the best civil engineering schools in California? I am a community college student who has taken all the math and physics and I want to know which schools to apply to. Who are the best CSUs? I know Cal-Poly SLO and San Jose State are pretty good. Who else? Who are the best UCs? I know Berkeley, Davis, and UCLA have good civil engineering programs. Who else? I can't afford private schools, so, I probably won't look at any.

Answer: Cal Poly SLO as well as pomona are very good at engineering...I have heard great things about these two schools. Of course, Berkeley and UCLA have great programs, but if you can't afford it Cal Poly would be the way to go. CPSLO and CPP are highly ranked schools, especially in engineering and architecture. Stay away from chico and humboldt, they are party schools...San Diego is ranked well too, but it is a party school as well. Fullerton is one of the top ranked public universities overall

Question: How hard is it to go from a non engineer major to getting a Masters in Civil Engineering? I have a BS in Business, but I work for a City municipality doing purely Civil Engineering project management and design. How hard is it to go back and get my Masters in Civil Engineering and sit for the EIT?

Answer: well as we where told in college the difference bet master & undergraduate is that u take more sophisticated basic sciences like math & Physics but for CE it's mainly about math , bec. we generally don't go deep with it & our physics is about the natural forces & materials. so u may face a problem only with math

Question: Would I be qualified to become an urban planner with a civil engineering degree? I'm at odds whether I should get into the planning program, or the civil engineering program. Which one opens more doors for me? And would I still be able to become an urban planner with the degree in civil engineering? Thanks in advance.

Answer: Yes. You can easily apply for multiple sectors in businesses and industry with a civil engineering degree. Here’s a list of the connecting industries and prospective employers for civil engineering degree holders CIVIL * Structural * Urban and Community Planning * Construction * Environmental * Water Resources * Transportation and Pipeline * Geotechnical * Photogrammetry, Surveying and Mapping * Materials EMPLOYERS * Construction industry * Engineering or architectural firms * Utility companies * Oil companies * Telecommunications businesses * Manufacturing companies * Consulting firms * Railroads * State and federal government agencies Hope this helps.

Question: What additional qualification do I need to have along civil engineering degree to have an edge over others? I will be completing my civil engineering course in about 3 years. So are there additional course or qualifications that would make me out of the crowd and help me get placement in a reputed company

Answer: Congrats on getting your education--but you're right: You'll need more to get "the edge." I highly recommend getting a part-time job or summer employment in your field. Actual time spent in a civil engineering environment--or on a survey crew---or even in a different field's engineering office---will go far to give your future employer a good impression of you. This kind of extra effort says several things to your future employer: It shows that you understand a little about what you're getting into. It can also demonstrate that you have a nice track record for actually showing up to work every day! Besides---you'll get the added benefit of learning what you do (and don't) like about your chosen profession (type of tasks, size of office, etc.)--and that may help you be more discerning in your future job search. Hope this helps and good luck with your career!

Question: How is the job market for Civil Engineering graduates right now? What is the outlook for the next year or so? I heard things are slowing down a lot and Civil Engineering graduates are not in as high of demand as they were a couple of years ago.

Answer: Good. Yes work is starting to slow down. However firms are looking for young engineers. Remember your salary is low. You need to get your foot in the door and start getting reading ready to take your PE exam. Remember to take your Engineer in training (EIT)exam before you graduate. yes the timing sucks, near exams, but you need to take care of it asap. You will never remember all the material from college as well. Cheers and good luck!

Question: What are the main differences between Civil Engineering and Architecture? I'm a junior in high school. I know I want to major in one of these two areas. I love math and science, but I like the designing of the building more too. What are the big differences between the two? Should I look for a college that offers both? If a college only offers Civil Engineering, not Architecture, would that still be a viable profession afterwards? Thanks for your help.

Answer: Architecture is more the art of the design while civil engineering is the strength of the design, the most successful architects are Civil Engineers. I am a structural engineer (Civil Engineer), I would say that architects make my life hell, a lot of them have a vision and it doesn’t matter how much it cost to get there, they will. They have no understanding of what is possible and what is not. With that out of the way, both degrees will be 4 years of undergraduate studies, if you go for architecture, you will most likely need grad school to get a decent job. Both have their difficulties. Civil engineering will be math intense and you will have to learn that you have very little freedom as to what you really can do based on codes. Architecture, you can really do whatever you want as far as design, then send it to the structural department and say “Make it work�

Question: What is a science experiment that has to do with civil engineering? I want experiments that are not on the internet so don't give me any links! I am just looking for a fun project that has to do with civil engineering. I am in 8th grade if that helps.

Answer: Try measuring the breaking strength of concrete in load bearing vs thickness. You can get the concrete from home depot and use hobby materials to build the molds. Basically make a concrete brick that's around 12" long, 2" wide and .5" thick then make a second one that is 12" long, by 2" wide, by 1" thick. Support each on its end and then see how much weight each can support before they break.