Engineering Management Institute

Career Goals and Challenges

TCEP 211: How Civil Engineers Can Be Successful on the Job

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Successful on the JobIn this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I answer a few questions that I received from a consulting engineer a few years out of school about how to be successful on the job, get up to speed with design practices, learn codes, gain field practice, and organize resources and knowledge. 

Successful on the Job

Tips to Be Successful on the Job and Learn Quickly in Your First Year:

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TCEP 210: The Civil Engineering Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities

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Civil Engineering WorkforceIn this episode, I talk to Matthew Low, P.E., Senior Vice President at Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc., about challenges and opportunities in the civil engineering workforce, and how engineers can overcome these challenges to excel in their careers.

Engineering Quotes:

Civil Engineering Workforce

Civil Engineering Workforce

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Matthew:

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TCEP 209: 3 Key Career Themes to Grow Your Civil Engineering Career

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career themesIn this episode, I talk to Trudi Williams, PE, Vice President, and Regional Director of one of the premier civil, structural, and environmental engineering firms in Southwest Florida, CONSOR Engineers, about three key career themes that you can use to grow your civil engineering career or firm.

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Trudi:

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TCEP 205: Becoming a More Creative and Innovative Engineer (By Using Basic Brain Knowledge)

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creative and innovativeIn this episode, I talk to Stu Walesh, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE, F.NSPE, about how using basic brain knowledge to be more creative and innovative can help engineers become a better version of themselves.

Engineering Quotes:

creative and innovative

creative and innovative

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Stu:

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TCEP 194: Civil Engineering Expert or Jack-of-All-Trades?

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Civil Engineering Expert

In this episode, I answer a question that I get asked often about whether it is better to be a civil engineering expert or generally knowledgeable in multiple disciplines.

Civil Engineering Expert

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode:

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TCEP 174: How One Goal Helped This Engineer to Rise Above His Expectations

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goal

In this episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I talk to Tramone Smith, P.E., BCEE, MSCE from WGK in Mississippi, about his path to partnership in his firm. Tramone is a really unique professional in that he had one goal only in his career, which had absolutely nothing to do with partnership or ownership in the firm, but it ended up getting him there and helped him to rise above his expectations.

Engineering Quotes:

goal

goal

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Tramone:

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TCEP 156: Work-Life Balance Strategies for Civil Engineers

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Work-Life Balance Strategies

Having a healthy work-life balance is a difficult challenge even in the best of times, but it is becoming more and more necessary during these times of economic stagnation and uncertainty. That is why, in this week’s episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, Ken Mika, P.E. M.ASCE, a project engineer and office leader for Geosyntec’s Green Bay, Wisconsin office will provide some great work-life balance strategies that you can use to help you along the way.

Engineering Quotes:

Work-Life Balance Strategies

Work-Life Balance Strategies

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Ken:

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TCEP 154: Navigating the Annual Review Process as a Civil Engineering Professional

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Annual Review

For many engineers, a face-to-face performance review is the most stressful work conversation they’ll have all year, and for managers, the discussion can be just as tense. In this week’s episode of The Civil Engineering Podcast, I provide practical tips on how engineers and managers can prepare for and get the most out of their annual performance reviews.

Engineering Quotes:

annual review

annual review

3 Steps To Prepare for the Annual Performance Review:

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TCEP 145: What High School Students and Undergraduates Should Know About Civil Engineering

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high school students

In this episode I talk about what high school students and young adults should know about a career in civil engineering. This episode is intended to be a resource that you can share with high school students and their parents to inform them about the profession of civil engineering. You can also view this episode on our YouTube channel.

Engineering Quotes:

high school students

high school students

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode: 

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TCEP 140: A Near Death Experience, the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and How Civil Engineers Can Help Reduce the Spread of Pandemics

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Coronavirus

In this episode, we focus on a topic that is on everyone’s minds — the coronavirus and how it should be a wake-up call to civil engineers. And we’re discussing this with Michael Paddock, PE, PS, a licensed civil engineer and surveyor. Twenty years ago, Mike was told he had three to six months to live and since then, through Engineers Without Borders (EWB), he’s helped to grow communities around the world. He also talks about his work managing mega civil engineering projects, and the one thing you must be able to handle to do so.

Engineering Quotes:

Coronavirus

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Michael:

  • Can you tell us about how you went from civil engineering to dedicating your time to Engineers Without Borders?
  • How old were you when you got the news about your stage 4 cancer?
  • When you get this news from the doctor, how did you proceed over the coming months?
  • You recently wrote an article for ASCE entitled, “Coronavirus a Wake-Up Call for Civil Engineers.” Can you tell us about the article?
  • How did you find out about EWB and what moved you towards them?
  • EWB is a membership organization. Could you please explain to us how it works?
  • Did finding out that you had cancer change your life philosophy?
  • What is it like to manage mega-projects?
  • What are some of the skills needed to be able to work on mega-projects?
  • In terms of getting good at managing mega-projects, is on the job experience the main way to get good?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About the Coronavirus and How We as Civil Engineers Can Make an Impact

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