How recruitment experts can help civil engineers climb the career ladder

Having joined their dream profession, many Civil Engineers find that moving jobs to climb the career ladder is not as simple as they thought. However, our specialist recruitment experts have built a reputation for helping candidates find new roles that take them to the next level.

By having a deep understanding of a niche like civil engineering, consultants help candidates align their education and experience to their future goals. They then match them to job openings to which they’re most suited, maximising the chances of being hired to the satisfaction of the individual and their new company.

Enjoyment and satisfaction should always be a fundamental part of your career path, but first, you’ll have plenty of questions to ask yourself. Civil engineering offers plenty of opportunities to shape the world that you see around you and help make modern life more enjoyable and appealing to the eye for your community. However, your role should be as rewarding to your professional development as it is to your personal job satisfaction.

Conrad Consulting has played a substantial role in shaping many Civil Engineers’ lives. It’s a specialist recruiter that matches a candidate’s skill set with the best possible future. Whether you’re looking to move up in your current sector, or transition to something different, our experts can help.

Roadblocks in civil engineering career paths

One of the main problems with a civil engineering career is the fast pace of change that employees must keep up with. While they stay on top of things in their current role, they can be left behind developments in other sectors through no fault of their own.

Nick Grayston, Director at Conrad Consulting, believes that the biggest problem is lack of training or exposure to the latest software and industry changes. He said:

With so much pressure to meet deadlines, little time is set aside for training and development. This is something that affects people of all levels and all career paths.

With plenty of different avenues and disciplines for Civil Engineers to explore, it’s easy to see how, despite having the engineering skills, there may be some gaps in knowledge. But Conrad Consulting encourages candidates to keep abreast of new technologies and work practices and try to fill any skills gaps that they can.

Another issue might be the salary. It’s not uncommon for engineers to spend a year or more in one discipline but then find it hard to transition to another because they may have to take a pay cut. And worse, some employers might look to save even more cash by taking on raw graduates rather than skilled engineers from another sector.

Without the help of recruitment specialists, the odds mount up for Civil Engineers looking to move disciplines, because nine times out of 10, employers will prefer to select those who have already experienced the job. The competition can be tough, but progression in your chosen field isn’t impossible once your skill set has been best presented to your future employers.

Supporting candidates comes easy with intrinsic knowledge of the inner workings of the job market for Civil Engineers. For example, Conrad Consulting’s recruitment model is based on a number of different factors including facilitating the transitional process.

Nick Grayston explained:

For those looking to transition, they may need to make a compromise and look at companies that have a project workload which would allow them to work in a hybrid role initially, meaning they can still be a cost-effective resource while learning a new discipline.

As I have knowledge of the entire market, and which specific companies could facilitate this, I can support the job search process and present engineers who are model candidates for the roles.

With so much experience in the Civil Engineer employment market, here are the top tips to follow to progress your career in civil engineering, according to Nick Grayston:

• Take on as much responsibility as possible and show your commitment to progression.
• Ensure you are using the latest design packages, software and technology.
• Keep up your continuing professional development because companies love to see that you’re striving towards success and sharpening your skill set.
• Make sure your employer offers you the chance to complete internal/external training and seminars.
• Network with industry peers when given the opportunity. Be present and active on social media, particularly LinkedIn where you can connect with those who can help you progress in your career.

Even though there are many challenges for those in civil engineering, there are also just as many perks, so don’t let the competition and hurdles put you off. As a final note, Nick Grayston said:

It's a profession that can change the outlook of people’s lives. There is a huge emphasis on social responsibility within engineering. The successful delivery of a project can have a huge reach within the community, which makes for a satisfying career choice; one which we are always happy to facilitate.

To help secure your next civil engineering role, contact Conrad Consulting as a first step today.

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