Hi fellow engineers! I always had interests in Water Resources and Transportation since I was in college. I had one internship as a H&H engineer and currently I’m half a year into working full time as a H&H engineer. Just recently I am thinking of switching to transportation specifically Traffic engineer. Can anyone in the transportation or traffic industry tell me what is the workload like and how hard it’ll be to grasp everything? I have zero experience with the transportation/traffic department so any advice would be appreciated.

So you're thinking about becoming an engineer? What do you want to know?

I’m a senior licensed engineer in land development (9YOE, which is enough to qualify as senior in my midsize firm).

Our firm historically does not do sanitary lift station designs in-house. Recently some of our other staff developed a pretty detailed spreadsheet to design smaller private lift stations, although I don’t use it. My personal feeling is that if I can’t intelligently discuss every aspect of the design I’m issuing, I shouldn’t be stamping it.

Obviously I can determine the TDH, operating point, etc., but I do not know enough about the comparative merits of various pumps, appropriate types of valves/fittings to use, protective coatings, etc. and would not be comfortable preparing a full design and specifications for a larger or public system. Within my field, there’s a lot of best practices and insider knowledge that just isn’t found by Googling or looking back through school textbooks; my assumption is that wastewater design is like this too, and I wouldn’t expect someone who designs pump systems all day to be able to prepare a full site design without training by experienced folks. In sum, it’s not a core competency for me.

For those of you who know (and learned) how to design these systems, are there any good training resources that could help me understand the nitty gritty and—more importantly—the things that could get me in trouble if missed? I’ve searched to no avail for any training courses offered by vendors, etc.

But ive also never taken it.

Interviewed at a company I really liked. It seemed to go very well. Ever since then they have acted very strange. They tell me they will call me in x days with an update. They never do so I message them and get another excuse. The last thing they told me was that they’re interested in me, and looking to bring me in next quarter (January). They tell me they will call me in x days to at least give me an official offer and then they don’t. Is this worth it? I’m putting up with it because they job is very ideal project, location, and work environment wise. Has anyone dealt with this before? It has been about a month since the last interview. It just seems so odd. If they weren’t interested why not just tell me within the last month lol?

I’m wondering if any Canadian students were able to secure internships in the states & how to go about it. Im looking for a field engineering internship but idk of any companies sponsoring for those positions.

If anyone has any insight on General Contractors that do sponsor I’d love to hear! Or just any civil engineering related company in general.

Hi i am freshman in cs degree. I want to switch to civil engineering because of how easy it is to have a job in ce. How much can you earn as civil engineering and do you think that due this demand for civil engineers will salaries go up? I would like to have a career where i can earn 150-250k

Can a licensed civil (geotech) engineer design/stamp a wood lagging & soldier pile retaining wall in Illinois, or does an SE need to be involved for the structural design of the wood and steel elements?

I need advice, I’m taking engineering graphics in the fall, what applications/software can I utilize to help me prepare for the class. Also any certifications I can obtain online to sure proficient skills and add to my resume it’s pretty empty as of right now

While appying for a job, sometime we have to upload work sample as well. Can some one provide how work sample looks like. Or can briefly describe what and how to write?

Thanks!

Hi all, I recently started a new job and about a month in I got asked to be the designated notetaker for a group that that meets about 2-4 times a month. I didn’t want to take on this role because it feels like intern work that takes away from my other job duties, but I wasn’t sure how to tell my supervisor “no” at the time. I’m assuming I was asked since I am the new EIT in the group.

It’s been a few months now in the notetaker role and I’m already over it. Maybe it’s because everyone in these meetings talk in circles and says a whole lot of nothing. But I already have a few years of experience in civil engineering and am almost ready to take my PE.

How can I tell my supervisor that I no longer want to do this notetaking and would rather focus on work that is beneficial towards getting my PE? Or am I in no place to argue with them? I just feel like an intern/secretary for these people and these meetings/note cleanup takes up more time than I like. I want to do more engineering.

A senior person at another firm messaged me (6 YOE) on Linked-In saying they’ve heard great things about me and wanted to get lunch together to see how “we can do work together.” I wanted to say something like “to be fully transparent I’m not actively looking for a change but I’m happy to talk industry if you want.” Thoughts? I’m flattered they reached out and I want to learn more about the industry and make connections, so I didn’t want to completely decline, but I’m also not interested in changing jobs and I don’t want to waste their time. I hate to sound like I’m saying “I don’t want a job but I’m fine with you buying me lunch and wasting your time on a dead end.” Not sure how to approach it. Thoughts?

Im trying to understand why street profiles are at top of curb. The gutter seems more important, so why don’t we profile gutter?

Sorry if this isn’t appropriate for the sub, wasn’t sure where else to put this.

So I’m engineer by trade but not a PE. I’m also no longer working as an engineer but as a senior project manager.

Long story short, I work for a company that’s building a network of curbside EV charging stations.

Each site is relatively small (30 feet of trenching, conduit, wiring, and installing the charger). Because these chargers are in the public right of way the drawing sets need to be stamped by a Civil PE.

The engineering firm I have us using charges us $4500 per stamped set which I think is a great price for a turnkey engineering solution.

My boss however thinks after a while they’ll be more or less copying their own work and wants to bring the design in house even though we don’t have any PEs on staff. He wants sets to cost no more than $1000. Is that even possible? He’s an architect who thinks he can stamp the drawings with his professional architect stamp even when I tell him he can’t.

Hello everyone, I am currently about to graduate as a civil engineer from a university in Central America. Due to life events, I was born in the United States and it is a country to which I have been closely linked since I was a child, which is why, since my third year of college, I decided that one of my goals was to be able to work in that country. I am writing this post to find out if anyone has been in my same position, how difficult it will be to get a job as a civil engineer with the studies I have, etc. Thank God, I can afford housing and transportation in any state, what I am looking for the most is to start working and gain experience in the construction labor world in the United States.

My work experience is only about 1 year, in the company I have been in I have done everything, from office work designing, quantifying, bidding, to supervision work on sites such as concrete casting, plasterboard, floor installation, windows, etc., all in a 5-story shopping center. As for my level of English, I understand everything written and spoken almost perfectly, but my writing and communication skills are poor and I am aware that they need to improve.

A year ago, I also tried to look for an internship in the United States, but for obvious reasons, no company was interested in hiring a student who, despite not needing special work permits, does not study at any well-known university or for any other requirement that I did not meet.

I appreciate any comments, whether negative or positive, and I apologize for my spelling or any other writing errors. Thank you.

I guess my username is going to be incorrect soon. I’ve heard from my supervisor (on the down low) that he’s been pushing to get a promotion approved for me. It went to all the higher ups and they all agreed except for one guy. His reason being that it would upset other people on the team who have been there longer without a promotion. The office manager approved it too I guess, which is the most important. I’m still not accepting that it’s true until I get an official notice.

I’m fucking giddy. I didn’t expect this for at least a year and a half, maybe more. Comes with around a 13% raise.

I’m also nervous of the expectations that will come from it and nervous about how other team members will treat me. In particular, there are a few E1s who have been there over a year and a half with no promotion.

Also… I need to pass my FE exam still 🤦

Still confused E1, soon to be confused_E2.

Hello, hope you are all well.

I recently accepted a job offer for an entry level structural engineer position!

It's my first job after graduation. Should I go over and cover my college or my FE exam studies? I don't want to just sit there confused. I want to give a good first impression.

Any tips would be grateful!

Would any current students or recent graduates have suggestions for great summer internship programs for civil engineering? When I say program, I mean for a group of interns and HR or the team organizes group activities/learning sessions etc.

Is this a pipedream in civil engineering? I did an internship in one big consulting ones and I was the one of two interns. It was good learning experience but a bit isolated. Thanks!

Got laid off recently for reasons out of my control and I don't think I'll be able to find a job until January. In the meantime, any recommendations on things to do to help my chances of getting a job?

I have 6 months of structural engineering experience and 1 year at a transportation internship. I'm hoping to get a job anywhere as my intent is to try and learn as much as I can about all the disciplines of engineering. Hoping to to take an online course or something

Hello everyone I hope you’re doing well. I’m feeling very very lost right now and I’m wondering what I can do to help me through it or if I need to leave the industry completely.

I don’t want to out myself but I’ll give some background information regarding my career to this point. I am based out of NYC. I graduated May 2020 with my degree in civil engineering from a SUNY. I wasn’t able to find work immediately and the only work I found was as a seasonal TCI with the NYSDOT. This lasted until late 2021, and during this time I also passed my FE Exam. After this job I joined a multinational corporation doing inspections for them for a perimeter Floodwall at a water treatment facility in NJ. I did that for about a year and a half. Then on that job I came upon a small company that does geotechnical engineering instrumentation, testing, etc. I joined them and have been here since.

Lately I’ve been feeling very jaded though. I have to use my own personal vehicle to go to different construction sites around the tri state area (typically NJ, NY, and CT). I get payed mileage but I’m also putting tons and tons of wear and tear on my car driving through some really bad dirt and stone roads, all while carrying company equipment that as far as I know I’m liable for and making my car a pigsty with all the dirt and garbage that accumulates. The office is very far from me and it’s a nearly 4 hour round trip commute (mostly bumper to bumper traffic) if I do office work which makes me not want to do design work, I waste too much of my day. Furthermore, sometimes I’m not told about what my field work will be until 5pm the day before, it makes it super hard to plan out my days in advance and puts strain on some of my relationships with people. It gives me a lot of anxiety not having a level of stability, and frankly I’m pretty depressed. I don’t have the energy to do the things I’d like to since I don’t know if one day I have to wake up at 3am for a job or 5am.

I’ve tried applying to some jobs but they all see my field experience and want to only hire me for field work. I want to sell my car as insurance and costs of maintenance are high, etc. I want to get into design work either in geotechnical or go back to an entry level position for water engineering or transportation. I can’t seem to get a good lead going for anything like that though. I’m wondering if someone can offer some help or guidance and I can also share a current resume if need be. If anyone has leads for work in NYC I would really appreciate it. I want to take the train to work and no longer have to drive.

I’m almost 2 years out of school. Used to tell myself I had a case of imposter syndrome. Now I’m wondering if I just have such low confidence I need therapy or something. Does anyone else get REALLY down on themselves when getting feedback at work?

Feel like my coworkers have been critiquing very minor things that I do - they will note specific wording I used during a presentation, tell me I badly worded an email, or missed something on the drawings. No one ever tells me these things BEFORE they happen or gives me a thorough review when I ask for it. Always after it goes to the client - “you should have done it this way”.

Anyways, I’ve been feeling really down and starting to just not even want to do certain tasks because I’m tired of getting criticized when I try by best and get no feedback until it’s too late. Are these normal experiences that get better with time? Or is it just me?

My SO got the news that they failed the EIT again today and I’m not sure how many this has been for them. I know they come on to this subreddit so I’ve come on here anon.

I want to help somehow but I’m not sure how. I myself have a STEM degree that is involved with math and some science, so I can understand some of the subjects being studied in the exam from what I’ve seen.

I have let them study as much as they ask for it without interruption and have turn down outings in order for them to focus on studying and relaxation if need be from their busy schedule.

Is there anything more I can do to help support them and somehow help them pass? Thank you in advance!

Just failed the FE Civil for the third time and my diagnostics average scores have steadily decreased, even though I studied more this time. It may be about time for me to face reality and start thinking of other possible careers.

I think this time I have to just face reality.

Hey all, got a concern that’s been bugging me. I’ll be possibly leaving my current geotechnical firm to go union with operating engineers (local 12) and want to know what I’m getting myself into. Would I be making a mistake? Or is it a some what smart decision? For some background, my current company that brought me up got me all the necessary certs from ACI and NAQTC as well as nuke gauge certs to become a materials tester. I managed to snag me a few special inspection certs as well. I’ve been doing inspections/testing for almost 4 years now and I think its time to move on and spread my wings a bit. I guess I’m just concerned with the stories I’ve heard about the union and how I’ll get paid GREAT but might run into some pretty terrible slow times. I know every company is different when it comes to getting bids for projects and what not, but its still a nagging thought in my head that I might be getting myself into something I wont be able to back out on. Any union inspectors or testers out there that can provide some input? I’m curious to see if your experiences make or break my decision to unionize. Also, just to be transparent, all work is done in my local jurisdiction and I wouldn’t be traveling the U.S. for projects. Thanks!

Hey Reddit,

I’m facing a bit of a dilemma and could really use some advice.

I’ve been working at my current company for about five years. It’s a mid-sized firm (around 100 employees), and I joined them before I graduated with my bachelor’s. Over the years, they’ve been amazing—both personally and professionally. My team, part of the highway department, is incredibly supportive, and I genuinely enjoy the work, mostly focused on plan development. My current title is Engineering Intern (EI), and I have my certification. I’m also gearing up to take my PE exam soon.

However, about a week ago, I noticed a job posting for a similar role (Roadway Engineer) at AtkinsRéalis. I had actually applied to them back in college but didn’t get the position. This time, I applied on a whim, not expecting much, and now they’ve reached out for an interview, scheduled for next week.

Now, I’m torn. On one hand, I’m comfortable where I am—my team has always backed me up, even when I considered leaving in the past (they gave me a raise). I don’t want to give the impression that I’m constantly looking to leave, especially since this job has been a solid stepping stone. On the other hand, the chance to work at AtkinsRéalis could be a valuable opportunity, but I feel anxious about making the leap and potentially starting over somewhere new.

If I end up being offered the job, should I take the risk and go for it, or should I stay where I’m already established?

Would love to hear your thoughts on whether taking this potential new role is worth the risk. Thanks!