Civil Engineering Technicians

Read books and watch videos about civil engineering. YouTube is a good resource for videos.

Participate in an information interview with a civil engineering technician. Ask your shop teacher or a school counselor for help arranging an interview.

One of the best ways to acquire firsthand experience in this field is through part-time or summer work with a construction company. Even if the job is menial, you can still observe surveying teams, site supervisors, building inspectors, skilled craft workers, and civil engineering technicians at work. If such work is not possible, students can organize field trips to various construction sites or to facilities where building materials are manufactured. There are a number of methods to explore a career in civil engineering:

Attend engineering summer camps that are sponsored by colleges, engineering associations, and other organizations. For example, the National Student Leadership Conference offers a nine-day summer exploration program in engineering that allows high school students to explore career paths in civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering. Learn more at https://www.nslcleaders.org.

Participate in engineering competitions to develop your skills and build your network. They are offered by professional associations, youth organizations, and other entities. For example, the Technology Student Association (https://tsaweb.org/competitions-programs) offers 40 competitions for high school students, including those in Computer-Aided Design, Engineering; Structural Design and Engineering; Geospatial Technology; Engineering Design; and Technology Problem Solving.