In summary, the variety of job duties today is so wide for civil engineers that no new civil engineering graduate should worry about finding a job that would match her or his interest, educational background, and level of experience. Civil engineering activities range from the rehabilitation of older cities to the development of new transportation networks to the construction of orbiting space stations. The young engineer should expect to get only "a piece of the action." However, with more experience the engineer's responsibilities will be extended.
Since the new civil engineering graduate has only a limited amount of professional experience, the responsibility given on the first few assignments will be somewhat limited. However, most employers attempt to develop the young engineer professionally as rapidly as possible. Rapid professional development of the engineer makes that individual much more valuable to any employer. The engineer becomes much more valuable when able to accept responsibility for major engineering decisions.
Usually of necessity, the beginning engineer will start her or his career making decisions which can be based on academic experience rather than professional experience. The beginning engineer may find herself or himself in charge of a surveying party. As we have said, a recent graduate may be assigned the responsibility for material testing as a field inspector on a construction site. The recent graduate may be assigned to estimate the costs for materials and labor on small or medium construction contracts. If the new engineer accepts a position with a private consulting firm, more responsibilities may be given sooner than if he or she elects employment with a governmental agency. Ultimately, however, the engineer working for a governmental agency may be called upon to make much more important decisions. In most instances, the new engineer will work closely with and under the supervision of a more experienced engineer. The engineer working with a consulting firm usually will be employed on some facet of the design or planning of a facility such as a bridge, a building, a highway, or a water supply or pollution control facility.
A recent graduate who goes to work with a city or county government will deal almost at once with the public. In these types of positions, the civil engineer must deal with technical aspects of problems but also must confront social and political situations. For example, he or she may be called upon to give technical assistance to a zoning commission in a city or county and will be required to predict the social and environmental effects of proposed activities, as well as to evaluate the technical efforts involved. The young engineer may be assigned the task of being a liaison between the governmental agency and a contractor who holds a contract to perform an engineering task for the city or county. Obviously, these engineers will be working with elected officials who are charged by the public with the responsibility of providing services and facilities. The young engineer may be assigned to meet with neighborhood groups to explain the governmental agency's position with respect to some decision on an engineering improvement or project.
More often, the engineer with little experience will be assigned the tasks of gathering and assembling the engineering data needed to allow a more experienced professional to make a major technical decision or complete a complex design. Carrying out all of these minor assignments will help the young engineer to gain the experience necessary to make major decisions at a later time.
When the engineer has gained experience, he or she can expect added responsibilities and should be dissatisfied if not assigned more important tasks. Of course, he or she can also expect to receive added compensation and recognition from the employer.
For the professional civil engineer, the ability and willingness to accept increasing amounts of responsibility is one of the most important aspects of her or his professional career. The civil engineer is constantly dealing with matters that directly affect the health and safety of the general public. Obviously, incompetence in such a position of responsibility cannot be tolerated. On the other hand, when an individual accepts such responsibilities, he or she should be amply and appropriately rewarded and compensated. Wages and salaries, as well as other forms of compensation, should be based upon the individual's performance of job assignments and fulfillment of responsibilities.
