Building your career often comes with a variety of challenges. Whether it’s transitioning to a new position or staying on top of the latest industry trends, navigating your career path is not always a straight road.
Finding your footing can be especially difficult in an ever-changing profession. The breadth of required knowledge is constantly expanding. And the next generation will have to know far more than those working in the industry today.
But becoming a successful civil engineer is not only about being technically proficient. Professional skills, a diverse array of experiences and the ability to embrace change are critical. By focusing on these aspects, you, your teams and your projects will see success.
This is where ASCE’s Career by Design can help.
ASCE’s online community for younger civil engineers provides the tools, tips and resources needed for career advancement. And much of that is real-life advice from young engineers.
So, here are five career development essentials culled from ASCE Career by Design:
One Experience Can Make All the Difference
Civil engineering is all around us. It’s in the roads we drive on and in the clean water we drink. That means a civil engineer can’t just learn within the walls of a classroom. You have to go out into the real world and do real things. For Sandra Chance, this meant working with NASA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She was able to get hands-on experience that helped kick-start her career.
Two Lives to Balance
We’ve all heard how important it is to balance our work and home life. Exactly what that balance is differs for each of us. Some may find it easier than others. But in the end, everyone has obligations that tip the scale. Civil engineers are no different. From managing project tasks to helping with your child’s homework, it can be a difficult balancing act. Difficult but not impossible. Kelly Farabee is a full-time traffic specialist and a full-time mom of four. She’s hoping her experiences can help fellow ASCE members find balance between work and life.
Learn more about Kelly’s experiences.
Three Tricks for Mastering Time Management
Time is money. So that means lost time is just as alarming as lost money. With the chaos of the world around us, it’s easy to lose track of time. But time is something that civil engineers must constantly be mindful of. Time could mean project deadlines or commitments. And managing it can be even more overwhelming for a young engineer. Michael Tocco discovered this feeling first-hand. But as his career has progressed, he’s come up with three tricks for mastering time management.
Four Tips for Giving a Successful Presentation
Technical knowledge and skills are crucial for civil engineers to possess. But in recent years, soft skills are growing in importance. Soft skills enable you to interact effectively with your team – a fundamental aspect in such a collaborative profession. Being able to give a successful presentation, for example, can really highlight an individual’s confidence and professionalism. For some, public speaking is a challenge. With that in mind, Katherine Miller shares four simple steps to giving a successful presentation.
Five Ways to Effectively Work From Home
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major shift across several industries. The new normal of 2020 means working from home and socially distancing. For many, it can be difficult to stay productive and stay connected with colleagues. Losing the face-to-face interaction can weigh heavily on teams, especially in the civil engineering community. Paul Lee passes on some advice from one of his mentors on how to effectively work from home.
