What is an example of the work load a Civil Engineer would on a daily basis? How about a Chemical Engineer? Whats the difference?
I'm asking this question because Civil and Chemical Engineering both caught my eye when choosing what to major in. I know both of these occupations involve a lot of math and scientific knowledge. But is it really something that would interest me on a day to day basis? What would a Civil or Chemical engineer do exactly? #engineering
2 answers
Simon’s Answer
Honestly engineering is so diverse you could start in consulting and then move to an in-house engineer if you didn't like consulting. Government jobs are general longer and larger. I'd concentrate on your specialty at this time, and a little later sort out who you might want to work for. Good engineers, especially project engineers, are in high demand. Good luck.
Alexander’s Answer
I think it is kind of like asking how long is a piece of string. Depending on who you work for (government, private, non-profit) and what type of civil engineering (client, consultancy, contractor) will determine what you do on a daily basis. To give you an idea I'll give you a "typical" day in the life of three civil engineers who work for government, consultancy and a contractor.
Government (Client): You'll like this type of job if you like managing people and finance, like being indoors most of the time, are want a work life balance.
- Reviewing the work the consultant has submitted (reports, drawings)
- Managing the consultant (checking to make sure they are delivering their work on time and are not over budget)
- Attending meeting to discuss upcoming projects, budget meetings and meetings with the community
- You get ultimate choice in which project design you like from the those provided by you consultant
Consultant: You'll like this type of job if you are driven, what to apply everything you learn at university, design cool things (tunnels/bridges/etc.)
- Produce: drawings, reports, presentations
- Design pump stations, dams, roads, bridges, tunnels
- Problem solving, a lot of problem solving.
- Writing proposals (marketing ourselves to current and future clients)
- You get to design lots of different types of projects to show to the client but you ultimately don't choose which design gets built.
Contractor: You'll like this type of work if you hate being stuck inside behind a computer, like working with a variety of people, are practical and don't like theory and more of a people person
- Managing a workforce that is actually building the project (tunnel, road, dam, etc.)
- Ordering supplies (supply chain management) such as steel, concrete, wood,
- Estimating cost of material, how long it will take to build the project
- You don't have any influence on the design of the project, only how it is built.