Introduction
Each domain of engineering caters to a specific segment of society and tends to build the engineered products that yield towards overall welfare of the society. The relevance of each category of engineering and its connection with the general likings of a person, are the two main factors which decide how a particular stream of engineering has to be chosen as an academic discipline. For example, those science stream students who have inclination towards new gadgets choose Electronics Engineering as their major. Similarly, students who have craze towards Gizmos and design of automobiles often strive for Mechanical Engineering. So, it is very clear that for excelling ahead with an engineering major subject, there has to be strong self realization and self estimate regarding one’s affinities and inclination towards relevant majors and their obvious contribution to the society. This basic assumption and the related process of self evaluation formed the basis of all my estimates which led me towards choosing Civil Engineering as my major subject.
Why Civil engineering?
As already discussed, the choice of an engineering major is generally done by evaluating the two main assessments for any student which are those of his inclinations which match with the core of engineering major and the relevance of that branch as a career prospect. So as far as my inclinations and affinities are concerned, I was always fascinated by the general appeal from the leading buildings in the world. My earnest focus (since my early childhood) was more inclined towards design of famous buildings like Empire State Building, The Twin Towers, Burj Khalifa, Taj Mahal, etc. and I always thought and read about their significant features which made them different from others. Hence, it is obvious that Civil is a domain of engineering that will facilitate the development of basic building blocks for building such giant structures. Hence, this is perfect match with my likings and affinities.
On the other hand in terms of relevance as a career prospect, civil engineering leads to some of the most respectable careers in the developing and developed countries, like Architects and Civil structure designers (in both, government and private organizations). I have analyzed that some engineering domains related careers are subjected to seismic fluctuations of the global economy like Electronics, Biomedical, Information Technology, etc. On the other hand, there are these evergreen engineering domains like Civil and Mechanical engineering that have a regular demand as civil works can never be ceased or declined with major shifts in economy.
My perception of Civil Engineering
The Civil Engineering domain has its unique extensions into the surrounding facets like Water projects, pollution and environmental control engineering, sanitation and waste disposal engineering, etc. So, this academic discipline not only caters to construction and development of big infrastructural projects but it also imparts efficiency in careers related to such Civil projects like water, light, waste, and environmental engineering concerns. Thus, this 360* approach in this domain of Civil Engineering gives a holistic approach in assimilating information and expertise about all the interlinked domains as well. These nuances of diversified knowledge vested within pursuing Civil Engineering as an academic major gives the affirmation over my decision to choose it for career ahead.
My choice of Civil Engineering disciplines and plans to gain expertise
There are various sub disciplines in Civil Engineering which have been discussed above. In terms of my choice of the main two disciplines, I have chosen Structural and Geotechnical engineering for my future career prospects as a Civil Engineer. Structural Engineering involves specific expertise on developing various supporting structures, covering structures, base work, and foundation support structures which together form the basic element of any construction project. To gain an expertise in this segment, I will be required to purse specific certification degree in Structural Engineering after my Engineering degree. There are course like MSc in Structural Engineering which when followed by adequate experience in various field projects can result in a successful career in Structural Engineering. Similarly, pursuing government sponsored courses in Geotechnical engineering will give a cutting edge to basic nuance of construction like land development, geological surveys, etc.
These academic disciplines and their corresponding certifications will give the academic rigor to understand the theoretical aspects in each of the disciplines. Then the next step will be gaining a reality driven on-field experience for actual application of those notions. For this, internship with major Civil Engineering companies will give the required stance on practical application, thereby shaping up the desired career prospects in each of the above-state disciplines of Structural engineering and Geotech engineering. Finally, pursuing FE and PE exams can also give the cutting edge to my career, but these exams require a definitive preparation plan for excelling out over the competition.
FE & PE exams planning
My future preparations for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exams in Civil Engineering discipline can be divided into a three point study plan which is discussed below:
Getting a copy of latest NCEES handbook and rigorous practice sessions to gain command over the numerical problems mentioned in the book.
The master study schedule will be followed as such from the FE review manual and following the chapter wise strategy will give a better scheduling for the preparation.
Reviewing the Mathematics part via specific FE syllabus related Maths insight text books will give the required preparation. Similarly, practicing via online tests and sample mock tests will give better test run for actual exam’s pressure on time constraints.
My future preparations for the Fundamentals of Engineering (PE) exams in Civil Engineering discipline can be divided into a three point study plan which is discussed below:
Getting a copy of latest NCEES handbook and gain analytical insight over the given guidelines.
Study material for the exam to be developed using CERM and calculator allowed in the actual exam. Rigorous practice sessions for mastering the numerical segment is must.
Finally, practicing via online tests and sample mock tests will give better test run for actual exam’s pressure on time constraints.
My career plan as a Civil Engineer
The career plan behind choice of Civil Engineering as an academic discipline is to craft a career which should land up either in building design, land development, structural designs, civil project specific profiles like transportation management, resource allocation, geotechnical engineering, etc. Further, government run infrastructure projects are practically the biggest segment which employs Civil Engineers as interns for almost all the aspects from beginning to end. After pursuing a summer internship in any of leading government projects, I will aim for a volunteered internship in structural design development related project. If all goes exactly as per the planned stages in my career plan, I might be able to land into my desired career with my next job application to an available vacancy in the leading infrastructure projects.
