Career Details
Badge

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers design, construct, supervise, operate, and maintain large construction projects and systems, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment. Many civil engineers work in design, construction, research, and education. 

Civil engineers typically do the following: 
  • Analyze survey reports, maps, and other data to plan projects
  • Consider construction costs, government regulations, potential environmental hazards, and other factors in planning stages and risk analysis
  • Compile and submit permit applications to local, state, and federal agencies verifying that projects comply with various regulations
  • Perform or oversee soil testing to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations
  • Test building materials, such as concrete, asphalt, or steel, for use in particular projects
  • Provide cost estimates for materials, equipment, or labor to determine a project’s economic feasibility
  • Use design software to plan and design transportation systems, hydraulic systems, and structures in line with industry and government standards
  • Perform or oversee, surveying operations to establish reference points, grades, and elevations to guide construction
  • Present their findings to the public on topics such as bid proposals, environmental impact statements, or property descriptions
  • Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure

Many civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer. Others work in design, construction, research, and teaching. Civil engineers work with others on projects and may be assisted by civil engineering technicians. 

The federal government employs civil engineers to do many of the same things done in private industry, except that the federally employed civil engineers may also inspect projects to be sure that they comply with regulations. 

Civil engineers work on complex projects, so they usually specialize in one of several areas. 

Construction engineers manage construction projects, ensuring that they are scheduled and built in accordance with the plans and specifications. They are typically responsible for design and safety of temporary structures used during construction. 


Geotechnical engineers work to make sure that foundations are solid. They focus on how structures built by civil engineers, such as buildings and tunnels, interact with the earth (including soil and rock). In addition, they design and plan for slopes, retaining walls, and tunnels. 


Structural engineers design and assess major projects, such as buildings, bridges, or dams, to ensure their strength and durability. 


Transportation engineers plan, design, operate, and maintain everyday systems, such as streets and highways, but they also plan larger projects, such as airports, ports, mass transit systems, and harbors.
Personality & Interest

Not sure if this career is suitable for you?

Take our FREE psychometry test to find out now!

Civil engineers typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems. 

If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a civil engineer, you can take a career test to measure your interests. 

Civil engineers should also possess the following specific qualities: 

Decision-making skills. Civil engineers often balance multiple and frequently conflicting objectives, such as determining the feasibility of plans with regard to financial costs and safety concerns. Urban and regional planners often look to civil engineers for advice on these issues. 


Leadership skills. Civil engineers take ultimate responsibility for the projects or research that they perform. Therefore, they must be able to lead surveyors, construction managers, civil engineering technicians, and others to implement their project plan. 


Math skills. Civil engineers use the principals of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. 


Organizational skills. Only licensed civil engineers can sign the design documents for infrastructure projects. This makes it imperative that civil engineers be able to monitor and evaluate the work at the job site as a project progresses to assure compliance with design documents. 


Problem-solving skills. Civil engineers work at the highest level of planning, design, construction, and operation of multi-faceted projects or research with many variables that require the ability to evaluate and resolve complex problems. 


Writing skills. Civil engineers must be able to communicate with other professionals, such as architects, landscape architects, and urban and regional planners. This means that civil engineers must be able to write reports clearly so that people without an engineering background can follow.
Related Careers

Related Courses



Why Edumetry?
Neutral Entity
We are a neutral party providing unbias opinions and content of courses, not pushing you unnecessary information.
Free Services
All of our services are provided to students free of charge.
Psychometric Test Profile
We are the one-of-its-kind intelligent career test system that recommends courses according to your personality profile.
Support Edumetry

Edumetry exists to encourage education in Malaysia.

If you find our free services helpful, kindly support us by fully making use of all our features:

  • Psychometry Test
  • Course Matching
  • Schedule Campus Tour
  • Speak to a representative
  • Course application

And of course, share Edumetry with your friends!

Your support will help keep Edumetry alive for future generations to come.


I'm Interested
Back To Career Details
Whatsapp Button
Events