Core Skillsets Needed to Thrive in the Engineering Sector

1. Soft Skills
a. Problem Solving Skill
It’s safe to say the entire life of a Civil Engineer is spent solving real time problems, the earlier you
reconcile with these the better. This is the burden we carry and at the same time it is a badge of honor we
should bear proudly. And just as the name suggests, civic responsibilities undergirds the practice of the
civil profession i.e. construction of residential and commercial housing development projects, water
supply systems, efficient road networks, dams, canals, tunnels, etc.
Furthermore, over the course of a Civil Engineers career he/she would be engaged in activities that
require the deployment of his superior professional knowledge in providing economical, safe, sustainable
and ingenious solutions in areas such as remedial works, structural integrity assessment, construction
supervision, design of civil structures, etc. It goes without saying that learning for a civil engineer doesn't
stop in school it is in fact a life-long process because there is no way you can deliver cutting edge
industry ideas by merely stumbling on it, rather you have to constantly bury your head in relevant
literatures and also be on the lookout for the latest trends in the industry. A Civil Engineer is a researcher
and we're lucky to be in the 21st century where learning resources and vast bodies of knowledge are
literally on our finger tips. When all is said and done its only down to how best you utilize these
resources.
b. Time Management Skill/Ability to work under duress - let know one sugarcoat things or fill your ears
with fairy tales because in reality the road that leads down to success in the civil engineering profession is
one lined on both sides with milestones and deadlines. At any given time, a Civil Engineer is tugged from
several ends by demands from personal clients and superiors and with limited resources. Most times it’s a
matter of making efficient trade-offs. Failing to prioritize and effectively dealing with demands will
eventually result in a situation where you have yourself stretched too thin and this will ultimately impair
your output which means you will be making a millimeter progress in many directions when you should
ordinarily make a meter progress on each task. This is where project scheduling and resource allocation
comes in using any of the available project management software’s e.g. Microsoft Project Professional,
Primavera etc.
c. Communication Skill - This works both ways in that it involves keen listening and clear
communication, the importance of which cannot be overstated perhaps more so than in other engineering
field. For a project to be successful you need to have an effective flow of information across the board -
artisan, foreman, carpenters, iron benders, contractor, client and even superiors. In other words, it is
expected of you to articulate the flow of information from top to bottom and vice versa. A lot of failed or
unsuccessful projects can be linked to breach in communication between one or more of the project
stakeholders.
d. Leadership Skill - A civil engineer is a team leader and the work morale for a project depends largely
on the engineer in charge, if he's lax the workforce automatically relaxes. Leadership for a civil engineer
is the ability to work without supervision, assess risks and take initiative. A civil engineer must be willing
to make decision in the face of uncertainties and must have an ever present sense of urgency.
2. Technical Skills
I. Background knowledge on Drafting
II. Good Knowledge of Manual Design of RC and Steel Structures
III. Use of Relevant Structural Analysis and Design Software’s e.g. SAFE, SAP, ETABS, REVIT,
STAADpro, TEKLA, PROTAR, ROBOT, MIDAS, BEAMAX etc. The more the better
IV. Certifications and Training in areas such as PMP, HSE, EIA etc. is also an added advantage.
As can be seen, the name "civil engineering" can often be misleading because in reality it is a
multifaceted discipline with a high premium placed on experience. Many of the above listed skills are
gained over the course of several years and every knowledge gained gives an advantage. Believe me it
sounds like a whole lot or daunting but then Rome was not built in a day it was built one brick at a time,
just be as open minded and hardworking as possible and in time your Rome will be built.

Isaac Omosebi