Case Study: Civil Engineer - Stewart

What do you do?

I am a civil engineer who concentrates on the actual construction of buildings,
rather than their design. Management and business issues take up most of
my day.

What is your background?

I decided to go into civil engineering because I have always loved building
things, even as a child. Of course, at that time I didn't know that engineers
were the ones who built buildings. A close family friend, who was an
engineer, introduced me to engineering.

I studied civil engineering at university, during which time I worked in an engineering firm to learn more about the
industry. After I received my degree, I continued my education and got my Master's.

The engineering company I worked at all through university took me on as a full-time employee after I completed my
Master's degree.

What characteristics do you need to be successful in your job?

Technical engineering skills are the foundation of everything we do. Even civil engineers who, like me, concentrate on
the managerial, or business, side of the profession need to have these skills.

It is also important to be well-organised because construction projects are complicated affairs and you can easily fall
behind schedule.

People skills are also a must since civil engineers have to work closely with architects, contractors, tradespeople and
clients.

Finally, you must have a great deal of determination. There can be arguments and conflicts on construction sites, so
you have to be able to stand up for yourself.

What other jobs could you do using the skills from this job?
Civil engineers become experts in how to organise people, resources and schedules. These organisational skills could
be used in many kinds of businesses, not just those related to construction.

What changes will there be in the future?

Civil engineers will continue to use computers to make the design process more efficient.

The way in which structures are actually built, however, will probably not change much. Robots will not replace
people. Each project is different, and therefore requires the input of a team of adaptable, thinking human beings.

What are the biggest challenges in your job?

The challenge of this career is meeting the time and cost constraints. Clients want their job done as quickly as
possible and with minimal costs.

Are there many opportunities to enter this career?

Yes, there are opportunities if you want to get into engineering. First, you must get a qualification in civil engineering.
Then you can join a firm to carry on with your training.

Working in a civil engineering firm during your holidays while at university should help you to get a good job.

© CASCAID 2021 1
 What do you like about your job?
What I really like about my job is the fact that every day when you go to work, different things are happening on the
job site. At the beginning of the project, you get to see such things as the excavation happening, and towards the end
you get to see such things as the concrete and steel being placed. And this keeps things interesting.

Also, there's the mix of working in the office and outside, which also keeps things interesting.

But what I really enjoy is the satisfaction of seeing a job completed. I like to stand back at the end of a project and see
just what I've done.

What do you dislike about your job?

What I dislike about my job is that there is a need for flexible hours. In fact, work sometimes needs to be completed
at weekends to stay on schedule.

What advice would you give to someone interested in your career?

Get experience prior to graduation from university. I worked for an engineering firm during university and this led to
my first job.

A day in the life

7:00 am - 8:00 am

Arriving at work; completing important paperwork; checking the day's schedule.

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Making phone calls to tradespeople; meeting with construction manager to make sure that the day's scheduled work
is ready to begin.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Meeting with client, architect, and other engineers to discuss job progress and any legal, physical or financial
problems that have come up.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Lunch.

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Touring the construction site; talking to construction manager and tradespeople; resolving any conflicts that may
have come up.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Completing paperwork; reading mail; checking the following day's activities on the schedule.

© CASCAID 2021 2