Nature of work
A consulting civil engineer liaises with clients to plan, manage, design and supervise the construction of projects. He/she works in different settings and, with experience, he/she can run projects as a project manager. He/she undertakes technical and feasibility studies and site investigations, develops detailed designs, assesses the potential risks of specific projects .As well as he/she undertakes risk management in specialist roles, supervises tendering procedures and gathers between managing and supervising. Also, he/she visits contractors on site and advises on civil engineering issues, oversees the work of junior staff. In addition, he/she communicates and liaises effectively with colleagues and architects, subcontractors, contractor civil engineers, consultants, co-workers and clients. Moreover, he/she should think creatively and logically to resolve designs and worsening problems, manages budgets and other project resources. He/she leads teams of other engineers, perhaps from other organizations or firms. He/she reviews and approves project drawings, uses computer-aided design (CAD) packages for designing projects, undertakes complex and repetitive calculations. Environment of work
The average working week is 42 hours and may include some unsocial hours, depending on his/her particular specialty and project requirements. He/she may also have to work in some weekends and occasionally long hours. The job does not only involve a lot of office-based activities, but also requires frequent visits to sites, particularly for new graduates. Some roles need more attendance on site than others. The site could be far from the office and conditions could be cold, messy and unpleasant. It may be possible to set up his/her own consultancy firm after gaining years of professional experience. Dress is formal with clients, while less formal but smart dress may be worn in the office when he is not meeting clients. Protective clothing is worn on site. The nature of the working day can vary widely from a heavy workload with many activities to free periods. There is a high level of responsibility involved in the work and it can be very demanding. However, the considerable variety in this work means that there is a great deal of job satisfaction. Overnight and weekend stays may be required for site examination. Professional life
A consulting civil engineer can work on a variety of projects while gaining experience and working towards chartered status. Once he/she has achieved chartered status, he/she can handle further responsibilities and manage larger projects. These responsibilities may include marketing or business development, especially in small consultancies. Scope for gaining experience in different areas is usually related to his/her employer rather than the actual size of the company. This means it is essential to fully research the industry and the approach of individual companies. To develop his/her career quickly geographical mobility is useful. Having experience make working abroad possible by employing in a large, multinational company. Generally, graduates begin at fresh graduate engineer level. Promoting to senior engineer level is possible, followed by principal engineer level with further experience. Job titles for more senior positions will vary between employers. Progress may be possible beyond these roles. He/she may find that his/her career prospects are negatively affected if he/she doesn't gain chartered status.Range of typical starting salaries: 40000 SYP.
Getting the job
This area of work is open to civil/structural engineering graduates. Relevant summer work experience can be very useful to job and networking opportunities. Degree courses that provide a year in industry can also be very helpful in developing contacts. The engineering world is an active community which provides a variety of opportunities for new entrants to network and build on their knowledge of the industry. Skills
A candidate needs to show evidence of the following:- technical competence;
- strong numeracy and IT skills;
- excellent communication and team working skills;
- ability to work according to budgets and deadlines;
- knowledge of relevant legislation;
- attention to detail, combined with the ability to oversee large projects;
- negotiation and leadership skills;
- a creative approach to problem-solving;
- a flexible approach.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:- The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
- www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
- Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.