Civil engineers play a large role in planning and designing infrastructure and construction projects, such as water supply systems, bridges, sewage treatment, dams, and others. If you’ve recently graduated from school or you’re looking for a career change, you may be in the job market for a civil engineering position.
Civil engineers must possess certain skills and knowledge of the engineering industry to land the job they want. As a civil engineering staffing agency, Austin Nichols Technical wants to help place you in a job you are qualified for and would enjoy. All civil engineering candidates need to know some valuable things as they apply and interview for jobs.
1. Local Trends in the Engineering Job Market
Although there was a dip in the engineering market in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global civil engineering market size has since increased. By the end of 2021, the market is expected to reach 8.29 trillion dollars. This is up from 7.74 trillion dollars in 2020.
This growth in the engineering market means that there has been an increased number of projects related to infrastructure, construction, and industrial work. Since civil engineers play a key role in these industries, we expect civil engineering jobs to become more widespread and needed between 2021 and 2028.
One of the reasons civil engineering positions are in high demand is because of an increase in industrialization and urbanization worldwide. With a constant need for newer technology, more modern construction projects, and new machinery, civil engineers are needed to design, plan, and calculate all aspects of these projects correctly.
2. New Technology in Civil Engineering
As new technology emerges, there are many upcoming trends that civil engineers will take part in developing and producing. Job candidates searching for positions will be able to work with exciting technological advances developed by world-class companies.
- Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Although VR and AR are not necessarily newer technologies, they are being used in new ways in the engineering industry. These advances are being used by many engineering teams for visualizing the end results of projects. VR allows for a full user experience where engineers can step into and visualize construction plans. AR uses a combination of graphics and real-world images to give helpful information like design specifications and safety warnings.
- Building Information Modeling (BIM): BIM allows civil engineers to create virtual designs, electricity networks, or bridge constructions. This intelligent 3D modeling technology makes the design process more cost-effective and efficient.
- Drones: Civil engineers can use drones to help with the design, development, and surveillance of projects. Rather than putting workers in dangerous scenarios, drones can carry out safety inspections and progress reporting, as well as collect data from hazardous construction areas in a short amount of time.
- 3D Printing: This new technology is predicted to have the largest impact on the civil engineering industry. Engineers can turn their designs into scale models before starting construction. They can also print real building components used in the construction process.
- Self-Healing Concrete: Cement is a large contributor to carbon emissions into the atmosphere, especially when it cracks due to water or chemical exposure. Researchers have been developing a newer formula that allows concrete to germinate and produce limestone, sealing the crack before oxygen and water corrode the material.
- Modular Buildings: Engineers have designed a way to construct sections—also known as modules—of buildings off-site, usually by assembly line. These sections are then transported to the construction site and assembled using a crane. Modular buildings are more cost-effective, reduce waste from construction, and are easier to produce than traditional buildings.
- Kinetic Roads and Footfalls: Civil engineers are designing a special rubber paving that would be used on roads to convert kinetic energy from moving vehicles into electricity. Similar technology could also be used for walkways with heavy foot traffic since human footfalls produce energy in the ground that can be stored and converted.
3. How to Network and Build Professional Relationships
If you want to land a job in a company leading the engineering industry and producing new technology, it’s important to build professional relationships. Networking with other people within the industry gives you connections that you can use to land certain job positions.
Many engineering firms are using new approaches to find civil engineering candidates. Take advantage of social media platforms like LinkedIn, where you can follow top-performing companies, keep your resume and skills list updated, and reach out and network with recruiters or other engineers.
Making connections is vital in the engineering world since many jobs require a very specific skill set. By networking and making an impression on people, you’ll have a higher chance of landing a job you’ll love.
4. Available Resources to Civil Engineering Job Candidates
Many resources are available to job-seeking candidates, including civil engineering staffing agencies that can help you find the perfect position for you. Civil engineering recruiters can make your job search a lot easier by pairing you with a company that’s looking for your skillset and expertise.
Austin Nichols is here to help make your civil engineering job search stress-free. We work with job candidates through every step of the hiring process. Our recruiters specialize in placing candidates in many industries in the Kansas City area, including engineering, manufacturing, and construction. Contact us today at 816-471-5575 to learn more.
