Are you looking to learn more about what skills are required or recommended for civil engineering? This article details in-demand skills for civil engineering, how to gain relevant skills, and what opportunities are available to expand these skills.
Technical Skills
- Design
- Building
- Construction
- Compliance Knowledge
- Computer Aided Design (CAD): Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Bentley MicroStation, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
- Analytical or Scientific Software: Procore Software, The MathWorks MATLAB
Employability Skills
- Active Listening
- Problem Solving – using Mathematics and Scientific Rules and Methods
- Critical Thinking
- Systems Analysis
- Time Management
Gaining Skills
In addition to pursuing a degree in civil engineering, you can gain skills beyond your academic coursework and projects. First, start by identifying the technical and employability skills you would like to develop. Civil engineering encompasses a wide variety of skills based on industry area. See below for industry areas where you might consider building skills.
Civil engineers can choose to work in public agencies at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. Public agencies look for civil engineers with skills in problem solving, leadership, and who is interested in public service and a wide range of work experiences.
In education, civil engineers are working in academic and dedicated to shaping future generations of engineers. Often, civil engineers in this industry are exercising their teaching, leadership, mentoring, research, and publishing skills. Additionally, collaboration and familiarity with the grant process are valuable skills to build as it is common for academics to engage with other faculty, industry representatives, and government officials on various projects and to obtain grant funding for their academic institution.
As a civil engineer in consulting, you have opportunities to design and implement civil engineering solutions for a range of projects and clients. Consulting firms range in size from fewer than 10 people to more than 1,000. In the consulting space, civil engineers can benefit from gaining in project management, design, forensics, software development, construction, field work, and people skills. At larger firms, it is also beneficial for civil engineers to be familiar with business management and development.
Civil engineers in industry bring technical expertise and innovation to facilitate more successful and cost-effective operations, processes, and products. Within industry, civil engineers work in a diversity of setting such as manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, public facilities and utilities, and goods and services. Civil engineers benefit from building skills and knowledge in industrial plant management, leadership, construction, design, problem solving, cost efficiency, environmental site assessments, and feasibility studies.
When working in construction, civil engineers have the opportunity to build a sustainable future, ensuring safety and excellence in the built environment. Civil engineers may work for a contractor, owner, developer, or program manager to create the built environment, transforming engineering and architectural design drawings from paper to reality. Those looking to work in construction might build skills in project management, design, collaboration, team building, and sustainability.
Now that you have explored a few industries within civil engineering and related skills, it is important to identify ways in which you can gain these skills.
- Participate in internships or volunteer opportunities
- Become a member of a student organization or project team
- Shadow experienced civil engineers
- Work under a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.)
- Take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (P.E.) Exam and obtain Professional Engineer licensure
This article references information that can be found on onetonline.org, Indeed.com, and asce.org.
