Pros and Cons of of being a Civil Engineer | (civil engineering is worth it?)

Explorist
12 Aug 201710:00

Summary

TLDRCivil engineering is a dynamic field with high demand, offering excellent pay potential and diverse specializations. Civil engineers play a crucial role in community development, designing and overseeing large-scale projects. Despite the rewarding career, it comes with significant job pressures, long hours, and increased scrutiny. They often work outdoors and face the risk of work accidents, making it a challenging yet respected profession.

Takeaways

  • 🏗 Civil engineering is a prominent career field with a focus on designing and constructing physical structures like bridges, roads, dams, and buildings.
  • 🌐 Civil engineers are always in high demand due to the constant need for infrastructure development.
  • 💼 Excellent pay potential with civil engineers earning a median salary of $83,550 in 2016 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • 🔍 Wide range of specializations available within civil engineering, including structural, construction, geotechnical, water resources, and transportation.
  • 🌆 Civil engineers have the opportunity to work on a macroscopic scale, dealing with large structures and applying physics laws.
  • 🌍 Travel opportunities are common as civil engineers often work on different sites and travel to new places.
  • 👥 Collaborative work environment with civil engineers working closely with contractors, architects, electrical engineers, and construction workers.
  • 🎨 Civil engineers combine technical competence with creativity in designing structures that are both functional and aesthetically appealing.
  • 🏙️ Central figures in community development, civil engineers contribute to the growth and prosperity of communities through infrastructure.
  • 🏆 Civil engineering is a respected profession, with engineers playing a crucial role in the progress and functionality of communities.
  • 🚧 High job pressure due to the significant scale and budget of projects, which can lead to significant losses if failures occur.
  • 👷‍♂️ Work environment and hours can be challenging, with many civil engineers working more than 40 hours a week and often on-site.
  • 🔎 Increased scrutiny due to many projects being government-funded, leading to regular reviews and audits.
  • ⚠️ High rate of work accidents in the construction industry, which can add stress to the job.

Q & A

  • What is civil engineering?

    -Civil engineering is a discipline that involves the design and construction of physically built structures such as bridges, roads, dams, canals, and large residential and commercial buildings.

  • Why is there a continuous demand for civil engineers?

    -Society is always expanding, and the demand for the construction of infrastructure like dams, bridges, and buildings is infinite, ensuring a continuous need for civil engineers.

  • What is the typical median salary for civil engineers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics?

    -According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineers earn a median salary of $83,540 as of 2016.

  • What are the main areas of focus for civil engineers?

    -The main areas of focus for civil engineers include structural engineering, construction, geotechnical engineering, Water Resources, and transportation.

  • How does civil engineering differ from other engineering fields in terms of scale?

    -Civil engineers work on a macroscopic scale, dealing with large structures and applying the laws of physics, unlike other engineers such as chemical or biological engineers who often work on a microscopic scale.

  • What kind of traveling opportunities do civil engineers have?

    -Civil engineers get opportunities to work on different sites and travel to new places, as much of their work time is spent outdoors at work sites.

  • What are some of the creative challenges civil engineers face?

    -Civil engineers have the unique ability to combine strong technical competence with creative designing, balancing functional value with aesthetic appeal in communities.

  • Why are civil engineers considered important in community development?

    -Civil engineers are central figures in community development, providing the basis of city infrastructure such as buildings and roads, and optimizing the performance and efficiency of community systems.

  • What are some of the job pressures civil engineers face?

    -Civil engineers face significant job pressures due to the importance and scale of the projects they manage, which can lead to significant losses or calamities if failures occur.

  • How does the work environment and hours affect civil engineers?

    -Civil engineers often work in the field wearing hard hats and helmets, not in a tie and suit job. They sometimes work more than 40 hours a week, and a significant amount of time is spent on the road or in remote areas.

  • Why might civil engineering projects be under increased scrutiny?

    -Many civil engineering projects are government-funded or government-run, leading to increased scrutiny from reviewers and auditors overseeing government spending.

  • What is the rate of work accidents in the construction industry?

    -The construction industry, where civil engineers often work, has a high rate of work accidents and a poor reputation for coping with problems such as meeting deadlines, cost, and quality targets.

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Ähnliche Tags
Civil EngineeringJob DemandHigh PayCareer OpportunitiesDesign ConstructionCommunity DevelopmentProfessional PressureOutdoor WorkGovernment ProjectsIndustry Risks
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