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Career &
Professional Development
Advising for CEs in HI
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Department
R Babcock
Topics
Engineering = profession = responsibility = ethics
Companies and agencies
Graduate school
Licensure and exams
Professional organizations
UH Career Services Office
Career tracks, compensation, lifestyle
How to get a job
Engineering as a Profession
Lifelong learning
Improvements to quality of life
Ethics
Highest standards of honesty and integrity
Responsibility to community
Hold paramount public health and safety
Need to enhance the profession-How?
Hawaii CEE Employers
Private Firms
Consultants
Construction companies
State & Local Agencies
State
Counties and Cities – Honolulu only
Federal Departments –www.federaljobsearch.com/Hawaii.asp?rid=11246&did=13499
Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines
EPA, USGS, FBI, DEA, USDOT, etc.
The List
Company name, address, contact person only – see phone book for #
Graduate School – Is it for You?
Pros
Gain a “specialty”
Increase your salary
Shorten time to license
Develop skills of organization, report writing, presentations
Increase professional options
Increase network
Cons
Time out of workforce
More studying
More tests
Graduate School
Master of Science (M.S.)
Plan A (Thesis)
• 31 credits total
• 21 credits coursework (7 courses)
• 9 credits for thesis (3-professor comt)
• 1 credit for seminar (CEE 691)
Plan B (Non-Thesis)
• 31 credits total
• 27 credits coursework (9 courses)
• 3 credits for “major research report” (3-professor comt)
• 1 credit for seminar (CEE 691)
Graduate School
Admission Requirements & Procedures
UH
• Sure entry to CEE with 3.0 or higher and EIT or GRE
• Essentially sure entry with 2.8 and EIT or GRE
• If lower grades – start as unclassified grad student
• Need either GRE or EIT
Other Universities
• Similar to UH
• Need 3 reference letters
• Need GRE
Applications from graduate division
Graduate School Applications
Applicationswww.manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/contenthow-apply
On-line UH application portal
Other forms (assistantship, references)
Graduate division
www.manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/
Additional info about grad school, thesis,
tuition, assistantships
Graduate School – Who Pays?
Full-time students
Faculty research (RAs), TAs
Part-time students
Employer, self
Assistantships (TA & RA)
$1,500/month for 20 hr/wk ($18.75/hr)
Includes tuition waiver
Health benefits
Licensure
Why do it?
To be a true professional
Maximize your flexibility
Higher salary
If you ever want to be a manager or The Boss
First take FE then get experience then take PE
PE Options
MSCE + BSCE + 3 yrs experience
MSCE + 4 yrs experience
BSCE + 4 yrs experience
BTech or BA + 8 yrs experience
12 yrs experience
FE – 6 hrs (CBT). PE exam – 8 hrs
CA is different.
Renewal every 2 yrs (PDHs/CEUs)
ASCE Policy Statement 465The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the concept of the Master's degree or Equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and the practice of civil engineering at a professional level.
ASCE encourages institutions of higher education, governmental units, employers, civil engineers, and other appropriate organizations to endorse, support, and promote the concept of mandatory post-baccalaureate education for the practice of civil engineering at a professional level. The implementation of this effort should occur through establishing appropriate curricula in the formal education experience, appropriate recognition and compensation in the workplace, and congruent standards for licensure
Why?
Research on salaries in other professions
100 years ago MDs and lawyers just had BS, now 7 or more years = higher pay. Engineers get lower esteem and lower pay (also lower than pharmacists, CPAs)
FE Exam Information
Go to State Board of Certification web page:www.cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/engineer/
Download:- Application- Laws and regulations
Application deadlines: - FE: None – this is new- PE: Jan 10 and July 10 of each year
Exam Dates:- FE: Year-round at Pearson VUE test centers- Computer-based-test (CBT) – register in Nov
- PE: April 17, 2015 & October 30, 2015
FE Information
Apply to take exam – submit Hawaii application. Only
after approved can you sit for the exam. Processing time is
unclear.
Register for exam: go to (https://account.ncees.org/login)
to create an account at NCEES. Then pay the exam fee
on-line: $225. Then select REGISTER and follow
instructions
Can take it in Jan-Feb or Apr-May or July-Aug
Honolulu exam site: Pearson PC, 1441 Kapiolani Blvd,
Suite 204.
FE Exam Content
The FE exam is a computer-based test (CBT). It is closed book with an
electronic reference.
Examinees have 6 hours to complete the exam, which contains 110 multiple-
choice questions.
The 6-hour time also includes a tutorial, a 25-min break, and a brief survey at
the conclusion.
The FE exam uses both the International System of Units (SI) and the US
Customary System (USCS).
18 topics: math, Probability/Satistics, Computational tools, Ethics, Eng Econ,
Statics, Dynamics, Mech of Matls, Materials, Fluid Mech,
Hyraulics/Hydrology, Structural analysis, Structural design, Geotech,
Transportation, Environmental, Construction, Surveying
You must prepare – review. Buy a book, take a review class
Nothing to fear but fear itself
Professional Organizations
American Society of Civil Engineers
Engineers Without Borders
Society of Women Engineers
Specialty groupsWater Environment Association
American Water Works Association
International Association on Water Quality
Structural Engineer Organization
Institute of Transportation Engineers
ASCE Student Chapter – Why?
Fun
Networking
Opportunities for additional skills development including teamwork, leadership, presentations, etc.
Looks good on resume
Easy to join, cheap ($10/sem. or $20/yr) + free national membership + free monthly lunch meetings
Community service, social, annual regional conference in spring
Career Services Office
Career counseling
Resume & cover letter review
Practice interviews
Job skills workshops
On-campus employer interviews
Library – job listings
Career Paths
Non-technical career track
THE BOSS (CEO), Chief Operating Officer
(COO), and Vice Presidents
• Business, financial, interpersonal skills are highly
developed and refined
• Typically, these engineers do not require strong
technical skills. Some have MBAs. Some are not
engineers
Career Paths
Technical career trackChief Engineer/Vice President (several levels below CEO)
• Strong technical skills and very detail oriented – Technically the most well rounded engineer in the firm
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Business or financial skills are not a key requirement
Project Manager (PM) and Project Engineer (PE)• Manages the technical, manpower, and financial aspects of several projects
• Technical, communication, and interpersonal skills vary with experience
Senior Engineer• Works for a PM
• Depending on project size, leads project design teams for a RM
Design Engineer• A licensed engineer
Associate Engineer• Ability to work independently
Junior Engineer (rookies)
Compensation
A whole package
Salary (what are normal working hours?)
Overtime pay?, Bonuses?
Benefits (med, dental, vision, 401K, profit sharing)
Memberships, travel to conferences, grad school, PE
study material, exam fees, etc.
Vacation
Expectations
Responsibility tied to salary; higher=more expected
Compensation
Salary growth
Remember, for the first two years, they are paying you to learn the business. You only become productive after that.
Salaries increase fast compared to other jobs
• Starting $45,000 to $60,000
• In 2-3 years with license - $60,000 to $70,000
• In 6-7 years $80,000+
• In 10-15 years $100,000
Choice of track (tech vs non-tech)
Management track has greater salaries
Very different responsibilities and skills required
Lifestyle Issues
There is more to life than salary
Salary is important
Other things more important – need to be happy and have fun
Need to consider what you are learning
What type of experience
What skills acquiring
Good mentoring? What type of program in place?
Need to work for and with good people
What type of training will you get?
Choose a company where there are other young engineers
How to Prepare for First Job
Building your resume
Education, experience, coursework, projects
Needed skills
Learning – broad-based
Communication (writing, speaking, listening)
Good service
Networking - ASCE
Do homework on companies
What if have I poor grades? Get in via the back door
Attitudes
Commitment
Confidence
Consideration of others
Curiosity
Entrepreneurship
Fairness
High expectations
Honesty
Integrity
Intuition
Judgment
Optimism
Persistence
Positiveness
Respect
Self esteem
Sensitivity
Thoughtfulness
Thoroughness
Tolerance
How to Prepare
Broad based technical education
Become a good listener
Be a student of effective communication
Observe what makes good service
Read about the industry to gain knowledge
Take ownership of your employability
Long-term, think leadership, not management
Internships
Many available now – see handout and
bulletin board by CEE office
A good way to find out about different
specialties, to get experience, to network
and get a job
Good on resume
What to look for in Employers
Good reputation
What they do – what you will work on?
Actual mentoring program?
What are the opportunities for you learn and
grow?
Compensation package
What to Do at First Job
LEARN - soak-up everything about the work
Develop people skills
Observe leaders
Learn about good client service
Learn AutoCAD
Find your niche
Prepare for PE exam
Acknowledge mistakes, fix them fast, learn from them and others
Stay active in ASCE – good for you and for company
Take advantage of opportunities, volunteer, be visible
Ask questions, talk to people, network, get mentored
Be the “Go-to guy” not “Mr. Anonymous”
Keep eyes open for other opportunities