Civil engineering : Your skills

Civil engineers are in demand for their technical and subject-specific knowledge and understanding. With a sound grasp of science, maths and technology you can design, create and build structures efficiently, making best use of available resources and techniques. Through realistic construction-based group projects, you gain practical experience of applying your engineering judgement and working successfully with others.

However, the skills and qualities nurtured by studying civil engineering suit many other professional settings equally well. You can offer:

• creativity and an innovative approach to solving problems;
• the ability to analyse and interpret diverse, complex data;
• critical thinking and the ability to evaluate designs, plans and projects;
• effective assessment and management of risk, resources and time;
• highly developed numeracy and computer literacy;
• interpersonal sensitivity, persuasiveness and the ability to work as part of a team;
• clear written and oral communication skills;
• awareness of ethical issues and the wider impact of your work.

Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.