5 answers
Magali
Student
Mendota, California
3
Questions
Asked
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What does a typical day for a civil engineer look, like about how many breaks (like lunch) does a civil engineer typically have??
Hi my name is Magali, a student at San Jose Job Corps and I'm interested in becoming in civil engineer. Thank you for your answers
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5 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3696
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Magali,
A Day in the Life of a Civil Engineer
The daily routine of a civil engineer can fluctuate depending on their current projects, but it generally consists of a balance between office tasks and field duties. Here's a snapshot of what a day in the life of a civil engineer may entail:
Morning Kickoff: The day typically begins with a civil engineer checking emails, assessing project blueprints, and determining the day's priorities. They might also engage in meetings with team members or clients to discuss the status of the project or upcoming responsibilities.
Site Inspections: Depending on the project phase, a civil engineer might need to visit construction sites to monitor work progress, ensure regulatory compliance, and handle any emerging issues. These site inspections are vital for supervising the execution of design plans and confirming that construction is on schedule.
Design Tasks: Back at the office, civil engineers dedicate time to design infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, buildings, or water systems. They use specialized software to develop detailed plans and computations that adhere to safety standards and environmental regulations.
Team Meetings and Collaboration: Civil engineers frequently work together with architects, contractors, government representatives, and other project stakeholders. Meetings are conducted to discuss project specifications, solve design problems, and coordinate tasks to maintain project momentum.
Lunch Break: Civil engineers typically take a lunch break during the day to rejuvenate and refuel before continuing with their duties.
Project Leadership: Civil engineers oversee projects from inception to completion. This includes crafting schedules, monitoring budgets, coordinating resources, and ensuring that deadlines are achieved. Project management is a key component of a civil engineer's role to ensure successful project outcomes.
Record Keeping and Reporting: Civil engineers also dedicate time throughout the day to document their work, compile reports, and communicate project updates to stakeholders. Transparent communication is crucial to keep everyone involved in the project updated on progress and any alterations that may occur.
Professional Development: Civil engineers regularly participate in continuing education to keep up with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. This could involve attending seminars, workshops, or obtaining advanced certifications to improve their skills and knowledge.
Day's End Summary: At the day's end, civil engineers typically evaluate their progress, update to-do lists for the following day, and make sure any pressing issues are resolved before leaving the office.
Break Time:
On average, a civil engineer usually takes one lunch break during their workday. However, additional short breaks may be taken as necessary to rest or refocus during the day.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE is a professional body that offers valuable resources and information for civil engineers. Their publications and guidelines provide insights into industry standards and best practices.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides extensive data on job outlooks, job duties, and work environments for various professions, including civil engineering. Their reports offer statistical insights into the civil engineering field.
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): ICE is a prestigious professional organization for civil engineers that provides educational resources, training programs, and industry insights. Their publications help understand the roles and responsibilities of civil engineers in different scenarios.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine Frangos
A Day in the Life of a Civil Engineer
The daily routine of a civil engineer can fluctuate depending on their current projects, but it generally consists of a balance between office tasks and field duties. Here's a snapshot of what a day in the life of a civil engineer may entail:
Morning Kickoff: The day typically begins with a civil engineer checking emails, assessing project blueprints, and determining the day's priorities. They might also engage in meetings with team members or clients to discuss the status of the project or upcoming responsibilities.
Site Inspections: Depending on the project phase, a civil engineer might need to visit construction sites to monitor work progress, ensure regulatory compliance, and handle any emerging issues. These site inspections are vital for supervising the execution of design plans and confirming that construction is on schedule.
Design Tasks: Back at the office, civil engineers dedicate time to design infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, buildings, or water systems. They use specialized software to develop detailed plans and computations that adhere to safety standards and environmental regulations.
Team Meetings and Collaboration: Civil engineers frequently work together with architects, contractors, government representatives, and other project stakeholders. Meetings are conducted to discuss project specifications, solve design problems, and coordinate tasks to maintain project momentum.
Lunch Break: Civil engineers typically take a lunch break during the day to rejuvenate and refuel before continuing with their duties.
Project Leadership: Civil engineers oversee projects from inception to completion. This includes crafting schedules, monitoring budgets, coordinating resources, and ensuring that deadlines are achieved. Project management is a key component of a civil engineer's role to ensure successful project outcomes.
Record Keeping and Reporting: Civil engineers also dedicate time throughout the day to document their work, compile reports, and communicate project updates to stakeholders. Transparent communication is crucial to keep everyone involved in the project updated on progress and any alterations that may occur.
Professional Development: Civil engineers regularly participate in continuing education to keep up with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices. This could involve attending seminars, workshops, or obtaining advanced certifications to improve their skills and knowledge.
Day's End Summary: At the day's end, civil engineers typically evaluate their progress, update to-do lists for the following day, and make sure any pressing issues are resolved before leaving the office.
Break Time:
On average, a civil engineer usually takes one lunch break during their workday. However, additional short breaks may be taken as necessary to rest or refocus during the day.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE is a professional body that offers valuable resources and information for civil engineers. Their publications and guidelines provide insights into industry standards and best practices.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides extensive data on job outlooks, job duties, and work environments for various professions, including civil engineering. Their reports offer statistical insights into the civil engineering field.
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE): ICE is a prestigious professional organization for civil engineers that provides educational resources, training programs, and industry insights. Their publications help understand the roles and responsibilities of civil engineers in different scenarios.
GOD BLESS!
James Constantine Frangos
Ray von Dohren
Retired sanitary engineer
12
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ray’s Answer
After I was in the profession about five years, I only took a lunch break. Days moved very fast for me and breaks during the day were not necessary. When I was working for a small firm, some days would end at 2am and start again at 8am. This wasn’t often, but because the owners were good people and generous, we could take time off at a later date if we needed it. So, you see, from Nick’s answer and mine, work can be structured or not depending on where you are and what you are doing. One of my favorite projects was a six days a week job working 7 to 7 on the week days and four hours on Saturday. I loved it. I was resident engineer on this project. It was all over the place task-wise from record keeping to taking tricycles off manhole covers. We re-buried an ancient piece of Native American skull at one point with full ceremony. (During construction we ran into a Miwok burial site.) At one point I had to negotiate with the railroad and union to allow our workers to work during a strike.
Civil engineers do lots of neat stuff. I’ve had a rich rewarding career. Part of that was being able to do…lots of neat stuff.
Civil engineers do lots of neat stuff. I’ve had a rich rewarding career. Part of that was being able to do…lots of neat stuff.
Harry Kaszycki
Network Performance Engineer
8
Answers
Solomon, Kansas
Updated
Harry’s Answer
You may want to consider starting by working as a surveyor for a civil engineering firm
Nick Carlson
structural engineer
8
Answers
Rockaway, New Jersey
Updated
Nick’s Answer
Civil engineering is a varied field, and the kinds of day-to-day activities vary based on what kind of job they have.
These are the kinds of things you can expect to do at least sometimes as a civil engineer:
- Talking to clients or salespeople about what they want to build
- Making concept sketches and models to present your ideas
- Doing calculations to refine a design to make sure it works the way you expect it to and ensure it meets all requirements and standards
- Meeting with other engineers working on the same project and coordinating your ideas (for example, if you're designing a commercial building, you'll be talking to electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and architects as well as other civil engineers)
- Writing calculations and reports, and reviewing other engineers' calculations and reports
- Checking the work of technicians and contractors who are turning your designs into drawings and finished products
- Traveling to remote work sites and doing inspections
- Attending conferences and continuing education classes
- Taking care of paperwork that proves you're eligible to practice engineering
Most engineers work a typical 40-hour week, though this depends on the company and the position. Daily shifts tend to be earlier than other jobs to match construction schedules; some engineers work from 8 AM to 4 PM or 7 AM to 3 PM. They get all the usual breaks and lunches that full-time employees are required to receive.
These are the kinds of things you can expect to do at least sometimes as a civil engineer:
- Talking to clients or salespeople about what they want to build
- Making concept sketches and models to present your ideas
- Doing calculations to refine a design to make sure it works the way you expect it to and ensure it meets all requirements and standards
- Meeting with other engineers working on the same project and coordinating your ideas (for example, if you're designing a commercial building, you'll be talking to electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and architects as well as other civil engineers)
- Writing calculations and reports, and reviewing other engineers' calculations and reports
- Checking the work of technicians and contractors who are turning your designs into drawings and finished products
- Traveling to remote work sites and doing inspections
- Attending conferences and continuing education classes
- Taking care of paperwork that proves you're eligible to practice engineering
Most engineers work a typical 40-hour week, though this depends on the company and the position. Daily shifts tend to be earlier than other jobs to match construction schedules; some engineers work from 8 AM to 4 PM or 7 AM to 3 PM. They get all the usual breaks and lunches that full-time employees are required to receive.
Luke Garrett
M&A Consulting
46
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Luke’s Answer
I typically worked 40 hours per week. My clients were mainly government agencies (think departments of transportation, city governments, etc.).
I both managed and designed many of the projects I worked on. A typical day was something like this below:
-Review my own gameplan for the day. Typically I had left myself checkpoint notes the day before to remember what to focus on for the next day.
-Meet with my boss and other colleagues to discuss a path forward and split up work
-If it's a type of project that I've worked on before, then I'd have a good idea of where to do with the design and spend most of the rest of the day designing using civil drafting and design software as well as Excel.
-If it's a type of project that I haven't worked on before, then I'd check in more frequently with a senior engineer or my boss for their opinions. I'd also need to read relevant codes and standards to understand what each one dictates in my project situation.
-If I hit a roadblock then I'd jump to other projects so I'm continuously making progress.
-If it was a day where I had to do a field visit then I'd either do a full day in the field or partial and then work the rest in the office.
Most of what I learned was on the job. College will train your problem solving skills and teach you the basic theories and equations you might use in professional practice.
I both managed and designed many of the projects I worked on. A typical day was something like this below:
-Review my own gameplan for the day. Typically I had left myself checkpoint notes the day before to remember what to focus on for the next day.
-Meet with my boss and other colleagues to discuss a path forward and split up work
-If it's a type of project that I've worked on before, then I'd have a good idea of where to do with the design and spend most of the rest of the day designing using civil drafting and design software as well as Excel.
-If it's a type of project that I haven't worked on before, then I'd check in more frequently with a senior engineer or my boss for their opinions. I'd also need to read relevant codes and standards to understand what each one dictates in my project situation.
-If I hit a roadblock then I'd jump to other projects so I'm continuously making progress.
-If it was a day where I had to do a field visit then I'd either do a full day in the field or partial and then work the rest in the office.
Most of what I learned was on the job. College will train your problem solving skills and teach you the basic theories and equations you might use in professional practice.