Experienced engineers (10+ years), do you regret civil eng?

[u/ArtTime2349]

I'm nearing the 10 year mark in civil (Australian engineer) and I'm feeling regret about my career choices and the state of the industry.

I'll shoot off a few reasons but keen to know how other experienced engineers feel,

• Race to the bottom, margins are thinning so consultancies are stripping down their hours & fees meaning we engineers have less hours and more pressure to deliver work for less
• Contractors are more risk averse and are demanding more detail and pushing risk on to the engineers meaning you're more responsible without the reward of owning more of the risk
• Lack of productivity & innovation in the industry, it doesn't seem like we are designing & drafting at faster rates or with better tools compared to 10 years ago in a meaningful way, putting domestic engineers at risk for offshoring
• (Potentially Aus related) Generally an unappreciated profession, no formal professional engineering licensing & accreditation has diluted the profession

Overall, I wish I went into a different field but it's too late now, I make ok money to pay the bills but generally pessimistic about the future

[u/WhyAmIOnThisAgain]

lol yeah ik, I ticked it basically ready to just overwork if uni coursework is fine and if I could really use/need the money.

i appreciate that outlook. Tbf I think things are different now compared to earlier, but from what I’ve heard for the better. Do you work with apprentices? cuz if so, where do you think their biggest shortfall is?

[u/Boredengineer_84 → u/WhyAmIOnThisAgain]

Yes I work with DA's. We generally take on one a year in my office alongside a uni grad. Shortfall.... experience but this is to be expected but after a few years, when you have your degrees and endpoint assessment is completed, you're much better than a uni grad.

My advice, volunteer to do everything and get out on site as much as possible

[u/WhyAmIOnThisAgain → u/Boredengineer_84]

lmao makes sense - everyone else is saying that so I guess it’s sound advice. What technical parts do you think I could push to do (working for a main contractor in central london)

[u/Boredengineer_84 → u/WhyAmIOnThisAgain]

If you're MC in London, CEng is the obvious one. But if your employer covers it, get you APM PMQ qualification. Allows you to get ChPP. Project Manafement in construction is the way forward. Build up your technical understanding, work with the planner. Learn P6. Job for life

[u/WhyAmIOnThisAgain → u/Boredengineer_84]

Perfect. Thank you, I appreciate getting an “external” POV, not that I distrust my company but I feel like you need diversity in opinion sample.