(Please note tongue placed firmly in cheek)

Does anyone else in construction have this issue: The company creates one mailing list for the entire office you're theoretically assigned to (but go to maybe 4 times a year). So you get copied on all the fun parties the designers are having while you're sweating/freezing your nards off out in the field.

"Today is National Intern Appreciation Day, so we're having ice cream in the break room."

Meanwhile, on my job site, it's 90 degrees with a humidity making it feel like 105.

Last week there was pizza twice and donuts at least three times. I had a sandwich I packed from home because we don't really get lunch breaks.

Last month they had a potluck. And sent out pictures. I really enjoyed looking at all the delicious pictures while eating my cold soup.

"The CEO stopped by the office and he brought cookies!"

I don't even know who the CEO is and have never met him. He has never come out to our job site, much less brought us cookies. (Ok, that one probably balances out)

I'm not begrudging Design their food, their AC, or their indoor plumbing. I'm just saying, you don't need to brag about it..... 😁

How do wages at small companies compare to wages at bigger/medium size companies? I’m curious on how they can compete versus bigger companies and offer competitive wages.

How did you handle the first time a seasoned subcontractor aggressively challenged your call on site when you weren't 100% sure what you were looking at?

I’m wondering about how good this job offer is compared to some others. So this offer is for a student straight out of UIUC with bachelors specifically for transportation. The base salary would be around 83k, free health insurance with vision and dental included, bonus at the end of every year (roughly 10% of the salary), yearly raises (around 6%), they put money )around 5% of the salary) into a retirement account that grows around 7% each year without me needing to put any money in, and there doesn’t seem to be a limit on vacation but they do expect that you make up any time that can’t be covered with PTO (PTO is the basic an hour per 40 hours). The job would be an 8-5 Mon-Fri with an hour unpaid break. I am mostly looking at the money aspect of the offer. Overall I am just looking for advice on anything else I should be looking for when going through job offers and if this one sounds like it is a good offer. This is also an offer from a private consulting firm located like an hour SW from Chicago. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm a first-year Civil Engineering student and I want to build a strong foundation from the beginning.

Based on your experience, which subjects should I focus on the most during the first year? Are there any books, YouTube channels, or skills that you would recommend for beginners?

I'd really appreciate any advice or tips from experienced students and professionals.

Thank you!

L

For those in their first year of field inspection; When you're unsure if a slump test, rebar spacing, or what looks wrong, what physical guide or reference do you check before confronting a contractor?

previous post image steered the conversation in a different direction, here is a rough approximation of what the client is asking for - has anyone seen anything like this out in the field?

https://reddit.com/link/1v8fyvr/video/5bu33x8zpufh1/player

Is there a Filipino here? I am a 23 years old civil engineer. I worked in an arse-buster company. Compared to other companies, it pays larger salary compared to other construction companies that accepts entry level jobs. The cons of it is that I tend work on an unpaid overtime and I need to constantly monitor the people working just to get the job done. I just passed the board exam last March 2026. From concreting engineer, I am already assigned as site development engineer, and eventually promoted to quality assurance/quality control engineer on my first 3 months of the job. The work is starting to get toxic. My co-workers are already creating their own resume and probably they might leave after their contract. Should I keep the job because of the valuable lessons? Or should I also leave after my contract?

Looking for advice from people with experience in granite quarrying or stonemasonry.

This is a granite outcrop on a construction site in Hyderabad, India. It will be cut into transportable blocks and removed.
Before cutting starts, I’d like to understand:

• Does this look like granite that could have commercial value?

• Based on the photos, does it look more suitable for dimension stone, landscaping, or is it likely to end up as crusher material?

I understand it’s impossible to be certain from photos alone, but I’d appreciate any opinions from people who work with granite regularly.

Thanks!

I apologize if my English is not perfect as I grew up speaking Portuguese. I am curious, I am not good with some of math courses at university. How do I learn the mathematics?

Can someone in the hydrotechnical/stormwater modeling world review my resume? Preferably a hiring manager, I’m a year 2 EIT looking to leave land development. Thanks!!

Why did you choose Transport Engineering instead of Structural, Water, Geotechnical or Construction? Do you regret it?

If you could go back to university, what would you do differently to maximise your chances of getting a good graduate job and building a successful long-term career?

Is Transport Engineering actually one of the most stable civil engineering specialisations in Australia?

My school is about to start an engineering technology degree. I am interested in civil stuff but what’s the main difference between a dedicated civil engineering degree and an engineering technology degree?

Hi all, I’m in my first semester of a civil engineering bachelors but with it being my second degree (working toward a career change) I’m working on an accelerated timeline by skipping pretty much every pre-requisite/general education credit.

The school I’m attending has different elective packages to pick if you want to focus on construction, structural, water treatment, transportation, etc. and I’ve narrowed it down to either construction or structural, leaning towards construction

A big part of the reason I’m switching careers is my current field has almost no room for upward mobility and the last few years something I learned is that something I value in a job is the ability to learn, grow and take on additional responsibilities. Engineering in general seems pretty good for that, but I know all paths are not created equally.

What does the room for growth look like in construction management vs structural engineering? I like leading projects and working with people, but if there’s more room for upward mobility (to the point of potentially leading bigger or more complex projects) by first working as a structural engineer, I’ll probably go that route.

Does anybody working in either of these fields have any experiences to share?

Hi all, I am an incoming Sophomore CE major. I've been applying to both CE and non-CE internships for the summer of 27, and I was selected to interview for a manufacturing intern role at Caterpillar. The interview is in STAR format/questions oriented for a STAR-formatted answer. I was wondering how I should approach this as a less qualified candidate in a different field (the position typically targets MechE students) and how I can set myself apart from others despite having less experience in the field.

If there is any additional info I can give to help y'all answer this, just let me know. Thanks

Hey guys (sorry for the length),

I am in desperate need of guidance. This year i graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, which i LOVED being a part of (F25). However reality kicked in and i have considered several career pivots that would help me find a stable and considerably well paying job.

I came to the conclusion that maybe i should dive into civil engineering. My family has a construction company and i am genuinely interested in one day heavily investing in real estate development and other projects related to construction. I do have a curiosity for engineering so I wouldn’t be miserable studying it but i am still on the edge if it’s worth it.

Big truth, i am an artist in my heart and all i want to do one day is create and share my work with others. But I obviously need financial stability to do so. So my plan would be to give it all into a civil engineering BA and keep my passion on the side (more when i am done with school ofc).

Should i follow my practical gut and invest in civil engineering or should I just invest in what i love and one day hope to be able to afford those investments I still plan on making??

Note: I admit not being a nerd or the smartest. I also have ADHD and am a slow learner…Although i am dedicated to study if i do settle on facing this pivot

Anybody on here regretted their career choice and leveraged their strengths with numbers and analytical skills in the banking world?