Reasons to Become a Civil Engineer

Civil engineering is a discipline which plays a key role in society’s infrastructure. Civil engineers are responsible for a wide range of structures, and aren’t just limited to buildings. Think of some of the most famous structures in the world - the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world’s longest cable bridge, or even the Palm Islands, the world’s biggest artificial islands. These highly recognisable structures are the result of extremely hard work and utmost dedication of some of the world’s finest civil engineers. We’ve put together a list of reasons of why you should become a civil engineer.

Leaving Your Mark on the World

Have you ever aspired to leave your mark on the world somehow? As a civil engineer, you have the opportunity to do this. The structure you help create will forever be attached to your name; it will become a monument to you, to show that you were there. After all of the hard work and dedication you put into the project, your reward is having something tangible to show for your efforts - and everyone will know it. This, for many people is reason enough as to why you should become a civil engineer.

Huge Choice of Sectors to Work Within

Working as a civil engineer, you have the choice to work within a wide range of sectors. These can include:

• Energy & Power - This could include working on projects for oil rigs or offshore wind farms
• Bridges – You could be involved in huge projects like the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, or even the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
• Geotechnical – Projects in this sector generally focus on the foundation of structures and the assessment of the quality of soil and rock in the surrounding areas, ensuring the area is safe to build on
• Environmental - Projects in this sector can include identifying issues that may cause potential risk to public health, such as air or water pollution
   

These are just a handful of sectors in which a civil engineer may be involved in, as the role is incredibly versatile, much like the industry of engineering.

Making a Difference to People’s Lives

As well as being involved with everyday structures, a civil engineer can also play a part in safeguarding people’s lives as well as post-disaster clean-up projects. Following a natural disaster, the job of a civil engineer is to assess the damage that has been done and see the kind of implications it has on the area and everything surrounding it. For example, repairing damaged structures and assessing how to prevent further damage would be one of the primary tasks in this role.

Finding Further Career Advice on Engineer Jobs

We know that finding a job in engineering isn’t easy; it’s why we set up our handy Careers Advice section to help you on your journey of finding the perfect career for you.