<p>I am in Civil engineering right now, is it very hard to find a job in this field in the US now?
I am worried and not sure. Can someone explain ? Thank you</p>
<p>I am only reporting what I know at the moment, and as I see how things are. Please DO NOT make any future decision base on my opinion alone. </p>
<p>There are definitely jobs out there for civil or any engineering for that matter, however all if not most are now only considering applicants whom have had several years of related work experience. We had a civil engineering career fair last week, of the 20+ companies, including the company I have previous worked for, before going back for my masters are currently not hiring. My friend whom interned there while I worked there, who is now a senior and will graduate this Spring. Despite being an excellent intern, he have said the company have not given him any offer. Many of my friends whom graduated with their MSCE with ~3.5 GPA as recent as last quarter, several from last year have not find any work yet and was present at the career fair. At the career fair, I have also ran into classmates from when we graduated in 2007, several in fact that was looking for work.</p>
<p>I apologize for having painted such picture, despite it being the honest truth. However, depending on when you will graduate that may all change. Best of luck.</p>
<p>Things always do work out, though. I got my MS in 1986 from UT, the same month that oil prices crashed. The company I had worked for all through college couldn’t make me an offer. Another offer I had was rescinded due to the poor economy. So it took a few months, and DH and I ended up in Maine, but we got jobs. I remember my father-in-law saying he was really worried about kids our age, because it seemed like things were awfully hard. Now we’re thinking the same thing about kids getting out of college in 2010!</p>
<p>Our structural consulting business is doing well - we’re swamped with work. So there is stuff to do out there.</p>
<p>It’s a good field from the long term perspective. Right now, the industry is going through a rough patch, particularly in the general building construction side, but things will rebound in a few years.</p>
<p>I got into the field just as the building boom came to a screeching halt around here, so I got lucky. Some people who graduated the year after me were not so lucky.</p>
<p>Yes, it is very hard. I had four interviews last semester (I’m a senior) and all four firms sent e-mails and letters apologizing, saying they ended up not being able to hire anyone. My advice is to not specialize, since the firms that seem to be doing the best right now are the ones that have a hand in a wide variety of services, and they typically want people able and willing to handle all aspects of the industry. I don’t think it’s gonna get much better too soon, either, so it might be time to start looking for jobs outside of traditional civil.</p>
<p>
If you will be graduating around 4 years from now, I would not be so worry about it.
My speculation is the commercial market is on the verge of going down and will (should) bottom out after around 2-3years. A year or so after it hits bottom, the residential market should pick back up as there is a lag between residential and commercial. So if your graduation time frame is more than 4 years, I’d say go for it. Then again, it’s only my speculation.</p>
<p>yea im a freshman
I made my decision and am doing civil since i love it.
thanks for the answers</p>
<p>lol, so true, there are always times when the economy is doing so poorly and the older folks feel sorry for the younger ones. one of my older-timer friends expressed his compassion for me when I just graduated fresh out of college and was struggling to get my first job. but like MaineLonghorn said, things will eventually work out. And when we become the old-timers, we can comfort the younger folks and tell them not to worry about their future ;-)</p>
<p>I HAVE launched my new blog called [Find</a> a Civil Engineering Job](<a href=“http://getcivilengineeringjobs.blogspot.in/]Find”>http://getcivilengineeringjobs.blogspot.in/) where I cover latest Civil engineering jobs. I’m asking for a small favor to share the blog on your Facebook and Twitter feed. It won’t take much time and may be useful to your friends who are interested to get a good civil engineering job.</p>