Laura Said:

How can I gain Civil Engineering Experience while working full time? (PE)?

We Answered:

No, you definitely can't take the exam first!! But the good news is your work experience does NOT necessarily have to be under a P.E. When I applied for my P.E. license in Calif. back in the early 1990's, none of my qualifying work experience was under a P.E. In fact there were not even any P.E.s employed in any of the places where I worked. My 4 P.E. references were mostly college professors and industry people who knew me personally and knew of my professional accomplishments and background but whom I had bever actually worked for and reported to, at least insofar as the qualifying experience claimed in my application. [Most were professors I had worked for or taught for while I was a grad student many years prior]

That being said, the work experience you claim on your application must be 'qualifying experience' which involves making engineering decisions, using engineering judgement and carrying out the responsibilities of an engineer. It does not necessarily mean designing things. Engineers are typically expected and required to perform a great many kinds of tasks other than, or in addition to, design work that also require the same level of advanced training, technical expertise and professional judgement that a professional engineer is expected and required to have. Think of words like 'analyze', 'evaluate', 'manage', 'create', 'advise,' etc. I'm sure many more come to mind.

So, in the job you have now, did they hire you BECAUSE you are a Civil engineer grad? Since it is a construction firm, most probably they did. If so, your task is to figure out what you actually do there that could not reasonably be done by (or entrusted to) someone without your level of engineering training and then to refine and distill your actual experience in such a way that you are focusing in on (just!) the engineering content of your work. Even if you are (or think you are!) just doing something stupid like counting gravel and filling out paperwork, there is probably a definite reason why they are having an engineer like you doing this instead of someone at minimum wage who has no knowledge or training whatsoever in 'gravel' and who, unlike a Civil engineer(!) has no appreciation whatsoever of just how complicated 'gravel' really is from an engineering standpoint. So, just figure out what all that is and write it down for the engineering license board.

Please understand, in no way am I suggesting for you to misrepresent or overstate your work experience in any way, because that will just come back to haunt you later on. What I AM suggesting is for you to try and distill out, as best you can, the 'gold' in your otherwise drab work experience that could reasonably be deemed to be valuable qualifying experience by the engineering licensing board.

Good luck in any event!

Jay Said:

Looking for work experience placement (Civil engineering)?

We Answered:

www.careers.civil-service.gov.uk
try this, hope it helps

Judith Said:

civil work experience?

We Answered:

By "work experience", do you mean some kind of internship or co-op? Also, the type and size of the firm matters.

Chances are, no matter where you go, the first day (possibly up to a week) will be orientation. You'll be shown around the office, introduced to coworkers, and set up at your work station. You may have an ID badge made, parking permit issued, and time sheet generated. They might have you sitting down and reading through manuals (bad company!) or have someone working with you directly until you're ready to fly solo (good company!).

If this is a kind of internship, don't expect to be designing the replacement to the Golden Gate Bridge, and don't be offended if the tasks they give you seem trivial. They might have you running copies, organizing files, checking calculations - things that might seem beneath a man of your stature. Just keep in mind, if you weren't doing it, they'd be doing it. Everybody has "busy work" they have to do, and you cannot expect to be given important tasks until you show professionalism at accomplishing the trivial ones.

My last piece of advice is, if possible, obtain a list of the employees with whom you will be working. Memorize their names. On the first day, match names to faces, then greet people every day by name. They will be impressed.

***Edit***
No suit unless you were specifically told otherwise. Most engineering firms are fairly laid back compared to other professional occupations. Dress is typically nice long khakis, decent brown/black shoes, and a nice button shirt, but not necessarily a tie. A tie couldn't hurt, but I'd go with some kind of patterned button shirt that could be worth with or without a tie. I typically wear some kind of nice striped shirt or solid color, and bring a tie in case I get a sudden call from the suits downtown. At my work, even jeans are fine, but that's not an OK assumption to make for your first day.

It'll be OK. Folks are used to interns coming and going, and they will most likely be welcoming, warm, helpful, and forgiving of little nuances like dress code on the first day.

Samuel Said:

civil engineering Firm work experience?

We Answered:

wear something professional, shirt, trousers and I would bring a tie just in case. 1st day, they'll probably just show you around the office, introduce you to people, mainly those you'll be working/learning with. Don't expect to be doing any important or actual work. You'll probably be given minor calcs to do or told to go read through standards. What company is it?

Lois Said:

MS(structural engineering)-Prior work experience required?

We Answered:

With a couple of Masters (Applied Science and MBA) on my cv. I should give some of my experience and advice. The work and experience in working for a contractor will enhance your MS. training. Believe it or not the experience in field practicalities strengthen the theory and make the answers come to life.
Besides if I remember the start of my career correctly the money's a little better in the construction side.