There are so many career choices out there that sometimes it can be extremely difficult to opt for any individual one in particular. Now, when we are little, we are asked what we want to be and many of us will respond with things like “firefighter”, “police officer”, “ballet dancer”, or “footballer”.
But when it comes down to it, only a select few end up actually going on to take on those roles in society. Others are distracted along the way, as our eyes are opened to jobs and positions we’d never previously heard of or consider. So, if you’re looking for a career path and are feeling a bit lost, why not consider something a little different?
Civil engineering may be a relatively niche field to work within but it could prove perfect for you. Here’s everything you need to know about it!
What Is Civil Engineering?
Now, most of us have heard the term “civil engineering”, but many of us don’t actually know what it pertains to. In short, civil engineering is the creation of all of the institutions and day to day structures that surround us and make our lifestyles possible.
Think of roads, railways, schools, offices, hospitals, or water, and power supply stations. A civil engineer’s role is to design all of these establishments (as well as various others), making our cities, towns, and villages functional and habitable. By becoming a civil engineer, you truly do gain the opportunity to positively impact the world around you.
What Will You Need?
One of the main prerequisites for a career in civil engineering is a civil engineering degree. Now, this is relatively simple to pursue if you don’t yet have any other responsibilities. However, for those of us who do have other responsibilities, such as children, mortgages or tenancies, and pets, things become a little more difficult.
After all, you don’t want to just up and leave when you have others relying on you, or have to sustain your current lifestyle, which may mean being tied into another job. However, achieving a degree is still possible. You just have to bear in mind that you don’t necessarily have to study full time on-campus in order to become qualified. Many colleges and universities now offer part-time alternatives to full-time courses. This means that rather than studying full time for three years, you can study the same course part-time over six years.
You should also consider online courses. These can save you a whole lot of time that would usually be spent commuting to and from your institution and makes the course a whole lot more flexible, slotting in around your current timetable.
Prospects
As well as helping those around you, civil engineering has other desirable prospects as a career choice. It has been estimated that the average civil engineer earns $83,540 annually. Beginners can expect to take home around $53,470 a year, while individuals in the top of the field can rake in as much as $132,880 per calendar year.
As you can see, the role of a civil engineer should be particularly appealing to anyone who wants to help others while leading a comfortable lifestyle themselves. So, start looking further into the field and applying to courses!
