Job Description
Civil engineers are responsible for creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we all live. It is an extremely important role which involves planning, designing and managing construction projects.
These projects can range in size from small-scale jobs such as bridge repairs to national schemes such as the creation of a new sports stadium. Now that the construction industry is getting back on its feet, there are numerous openings for qualified civil engineers. Read on to discover if it is the right role for you.
View and Apply for Civil Engineer Jobs | View more Engineer Job Descriptions
What Will I Be Doing?
If you decide to become a civil engineer, you will be working on the construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities which include roads, bridges, airports, railways, harbours and much more. Other possible projects including the planning, design and building/management of power plants, irrigation projects and water & sewage systems.
As a civil engineer you can advise on projects or else you can be a construction engineer who turns plans into real structures and ensures their maintenance once the job has been completed. Here is a quick overview of what to expect:
- Undertaking feasibility and technical studies along with investigations of sites.
- Assessment of the risks associated with a particular project along with the potential environmental impact.
- Ensuring sites meet all legal, health and safety recommendations.
- Managing, directing and monitoring the progress of each project as it happens.
- Creating blueprints with the assistance of computer aided design packages.
- Discussing project requirements with other professionals such as architects and clients.
- Undertaking complex calculations.
If you work as an ‘incorporated’ engineer, most of your work would involve daily management of engineering operations. If you work as a ‘chartered’ engineer, the role would be of a strategic nature and would include planning, research and implementation of new ideas.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
If you become a civil engineer, the role may require you to work away from home for significant periods of time. If you are a relatively new graduate, your employer will probably ask you to embark on regular visits to sites. If you work with a large consultancy company, overseas work may be available.
Although it is normal for civil engineers to work traditional office hours, there is a possibility you will need to work extremely long days and even weekends when projects are coming close to deadline day. If you are in charge of site inspections, you may be required to stay away from home overnight and at weekends and site managers and engineers could be on call 24/7.
What Is The Career Path Of A Civil Engineer?
If you wish to become a civil engineer you need to begin by earning a high Honours grade in maths and a science subject with physics the preferred choice. This will make it easier to get into a college that offers a Bachelor of Engineering Degree. This is usually a 3-year course but you can improve your employment prospects by studying for another year and gaining a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering.
These qualifications are particularly important if you are hoping to become a chartered engineer later on in your career. If you are already in the industry as an engineering technician you can work your way into a civil engineering role by studying part time while gaining valuable experience.
It is normal for a graduate civil engineer to begin working on a company’s graduate training scheme. These schemes are a fantastic opportunity to get involved in important projects under the supervision of a mentor and should help you develop your business skills and technical knowledge. Most training schemes of this nature will take 1-2 years.
If you have enough experience and wish to become a chartered civil engineer, you will need to earn your Masters in Civil Engineering as mentioned above. This particular qualification needs to be accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Alternatively, you could take on four years of vocational training with an ICE-accredited employer. It is possible to eventually be promoted to senior engineer level while the title of ‘Principal’ engineer is coveted by almost all those who embark on a civil engineer career – show all Civil Engineer Jobs
Civil Engineer Salary
A survey released in 2013 showed that chartered engineers earned more than non-titled engineers; €100,000 more over the course of their respective careers. In fact, a chartered civil engineer could earn twice as much as a structural engineer.
A water engineer for example could earn €20,000 per annum as a graduate but this quickly rises to over €40,000 for those who reach ‘Project Engineer’ status and have 3-5 years’ experience. A Senior Engineer with 6-10 years’ experience may earn over €50,000 a year while a Principal or Chartered Engineer with more than 10 years’ experience could earn over €70,000 a year.
For a more detailed list of salaries and benefits in the engineering sector click here
What Are The Plus Points?
Once you become a qualified civil engineer, you will have a vast number of opportunities to work on new and exciting projects. The list of organisations in need of high quality civil engineers includes power companies, building contractors, specialist consulting firms and local authorities.
It is even possible to benefit from overseas work as you could be employed by oil and mining companies, foreign governments or Irish contracting/consulting firms based abroad. There are a lot of sectors to choose from so it’s likely you will find one that is suitable for you. Finally, there are a huge range of promotion opportunities and once you reach the top of the ladder, the financial rewards are significant.
What Are The Downsides?
It is an extremely competitive industry and you will have to compete against numerous candidates with similar educational qualifications as yourself. A huge amount of study is required since you not only need the technical know-how to succeed; you also have to keep up to date with ever-changing legal regulations. As a civil engineer, long hours will become a reality the closer to a project’s deadline you get and you will also have to spend time away from friends and family as you may be on call on a particular site.
Am I The Right Candidate For The Role?
Employers hiring civil engineers are looking for candidates with the ability to work within a team environment; they also want people who are commercially aware and have the following skills:
- An ability to think methodically in order to produce the best results when planning, designing and managing projects.
- Excellent technical and mathematical skills with an emphasis on physics.
- The capacity to maintain an overview of projects while still attending to other technical matters.
- The ability to delegate along with having great leadership, negotiating and supervisory skills.
- A capacity to meet deadlines and work within budgets.
If you possess all of the above skills and are willing to work long and hard to complete projects, you may find the role of civil engineer to be a great career move.
IrishJobs.ie has been helping people find the job they want for over 20 years. Our team is delighted to share our job hunting tips and advice with you.