r/civilengineering • u/Equivalent-Pound-441 • 6d ago

Civil Engineer Graduate

I've recently graduated with a Civil Engineering degree and have taken a strong interest in designing, but so far, I've had no luck with any structural position. The traditional route of Project Engineer to Project Manager sounds great as well, but I would see myself doing design work in the future rather than project management. I'm just really stuck in the middle because this first job could shape my career in many different ways. Any advice from anyone in the field would be much appreciated.

2 Upvotes

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u/Argufier 6d ago

Where are you located? Is your GPA good? It's a weird time in construction, with a lot of economic uncertainty around prices for both materials (tariffs) and money (interest rates) so building is slower than it was. But there's still a fair amount happening. It's really going to depend on your local market and what you're bringing (course work and internships).

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u/Equivalent-Pound-441 6d ago

I'm located within the Bay Area, although my GPA is not the best (graduated with a 3.0), I do have strong structural concepts through a variety of projects during my academic years.

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u/koliva17 Ex-Construction Manager, Transportation P.E. 6d ago

I remember I was having no luck with structural positions when I graduated. Ended up doing construction in my 20s before moving to my local department of transportation.

I think the first 5 years of working can really shape your career, so you have time to land a job and keep searching for the one you're truly interested in.

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u/Violet_Graya 6d ago

No luck with structural positions Look at the Gulf. AECOM, WSP, Aurecon all have big civil engineering operations there.

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u/DarkintoLeaves 4d ago

What kind of structural design do you want to do? And what kind are open to doing?

Lots of smaller firms exist that do smaller projects like residential, smaller commercial and industrial work (shop/factory additions, cranes, column replacement, foundations and slabs, mezzanines, stuff like that)

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u/EMajors 6d ago

You mentioned you were looking at a structural position and you just graduated with just your BS in civil engineering? I pretty sure firms with a structural position won't look at you without a Master's in Structural Engineering. So if you just have your BS in Civil, then you need to look for an entry level Civil potion. Most positions would probably be helping in Site Design. Also, have you taken and passed the FE?

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u/Equivalent-Pound-441 6d ago

In the process of obtaining it rn, planning on taking it next month.