What do future civil engineers want to know about the industry?

Whenever I do STEM outreach, I tell the story as it is.

Over the past two years, I’ve had the honour of visiting schools and universities to offer career guidance in civil engineering.

There’s one thing they all have in common: they ask lots of questions!

What do secondary school students want to know about civil engineering?

I’ve attended several STEM sessions at various schools, mostly in my hometown, Milton Keynes.

Some sessions were speed interviewing and others were career talks.

These gave students interviewing skills and enabled open conversations on careers, engineering, passions, hobbies, apprenticeship schemes, and university.

How do I prepare myself for an interview?

Be yourself and be keen. Most students at this stage have zero work experience, so what most employers are looking for is how excited you are.

What is your favourite project you’ve worked on and why?

A bridge project in Devon. As a civil engineer, working on a bridge is one of the boxes we crave to tick off in our career.

It was my favourite because I had to relocate. I explored and discovered that it indeed deserves to be called the English Riviera.

We were demolishing an old bridge built in 1912 and building a new one, connecting Paignton and Torquay. I know I’ll drive over it with family and friends and say, ‘I helped build it’.

Any general advice about university?

University life is a mix of making mistakes, having fun, and being serious at the same time. You need to find the right balance.

It allows you to understand the importance of learning how to live with others and by yourself, cook, work (part-time), organise, and plan.

I cooked but nothing beats my mum’s homemade meals. I drove over an hour every weekend to grab rice, stew and cassava leaves!

You also foster long-lasting friendships and form new professional and personal habits.

What do university students want to know about civil engineering?

I delivered career talks to civil engineering students at Brunel University and Birmingham City University, my alma mater.

Giving the presentation felt unreal and emotional for me. About five years ago, I sat in the same classroom!

How much do you earn?

It depends if you work for a civil engineering consultancy firm or a site-based contractor. As a baseline currently, you’re looking at around £25-32k after graduating. I earned £28k in my first graduate role, back in 2021.

Would you recommend working in a civil engineering consultancy firm or site-based contractor?

I would prefer to experience both. Depending on their size, some companies can offer both.

I prefer being onsite because I’m more of a practical person and enjoy witnessing structures being built from start to finish.

Do you need a driver's license to secure a placement or work in the industry?

Not the be-all or end-all but having a driving license sometimes gives you an edge depending on the location and nature of the job.

Is achieving a masters' degree important?

My advice would be to do it in something you enjoy and would pursue in the future. Don’t just do it for the sake of it.

Did you get paid during your placement year?

Engineering placements are usually paid. I was fortunate to have an employer who helped with 50% of my rent because I had to relocate from Milton Keynes to Brighton for a year.

During placement interviews, do employers ask about university grades?

I've only been asked that once but be prepared and expect the unexpected.

When is the best time to apply for placement?

As a general rule of thumb, if you start university in September, start applying between then and March.

Does it matter If I apply for a summer or a year-long placement?

Not really, both would give you an introduction to the industry. Just do the best you can, while you’re there.

How should I prepare for a placement interview?

I always prepare myself for an interview by researching the employer: what they do, their values, and their vision. Most importantly, just be your true self.

My theory is that if you prepared well, but didn’t get offered the job, then you probably would’ve disliked it. Everything happens for a reason.

How much do students earn on placements – do they get paid?

They earn between £21-23k a year. At this stage, I’d suggest focusing on the experience!

How relevant are the theoretical concepts gained from university studies (i.e. soil mechanics, structures, etc.)?

Very important! Your degree sets you apart.

You’ll gain experience from mistakes, observing, and working with skilled operatives onsite or in the office.

How important is setting out and where did you learn it?

Knowing how to set out (determine where construction will take place onsite based off the design) would be expected if you become a site-based engineer. Training is provided.

However, if you choose to work for a design consultancy, setting out wouldn’t be needed.

That said, you might incorporate setting out data into your design.

What are the duties of a site civil engineer?

This depends on the project you work on. The fundamentals include:

• setting out
• checking quality assurance of works (determining if they meet the required standards)
• assisting with writing risk assessments and method statements
• putting together health and safety files
• listing and measuring the materials needed for the project in order to allocate resources
• introducing people to the site
• monitoring site waste management plans
• working with skilled operatives and site management teams

Would I need to travel a lot as a civil engineer?

Definitely! How far you travel depends on the region in which the employer has most of their work.

I love travelling as it teaches me about many aspects of industry.

How important is it to become professionally qualified?

It’s a remarkable achievement and one that I encourage civil engineers to pursue because it allows you to be recognised as a competent engineer all over the world.

Also, working towards this professional qualification keeps you informed about current and future challenges within the industry.

I’m currently working on becoming an Incorporated Engineer with the ICE (IEng MICE), and then I will set my sights on Chartered Engineer (CEng MICE).

Prospective civil engineers all have one thing in common. They ask questions and want answers.

And the best way to answer them is to share, make mistakes, and stay curious.

That’s how we grow.