Irtiqa Designs (Pvt Ltd

Bhúmi, The Planning Research Journal, 2018

The construction sector is a key driver of the overall development a country. The sector focuses on power, roads and bridges, dams and urban infrastructure. Government of India policies and plans aimed at improving the infrastructure, with specific focus on urban transformation (Smart City, Housing for all, etc.). This growth of the infrastructure sector offers job opportunities for Civil Engineering (CE) graduates. The construction Industry offers variety of job roles in different sectors. Construction industry requires application of skills and knowledge to perform duties in the planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities. Roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, water and sewage systems, and waste disposal units are specific areas to fit for the jobs. Therefore, students enroll to civil engineering degree for build their career. The present paper focuses on civil engineering students' specific skills and how roles and responsibilities can be allocated to them. This paper also suggests initiatives to improve the skills and knowledge preferred by the Indian construction companies for the jobs.

The primary purpose of this study was to analyze the degree to which demographic variables, human capital and social capital predicted civil engineer career success towards designing a career planning model. Career success was assumed compromise extrinsic (compensation, promotions and construction projects worked) and intrinsic (career satisfaction) elements. The individual respondents were selected from the list Alumni of Civil Engineers at the University of the East using purposive sampling. It utilized validated researcher-made questionnaire, unstructured interview, and documentary analysis as its data gathering instruments. The data gathered were treated using frequency and percentage count, weighted mean, correlation analysis and multiple regressions analysis. The level of significance was set at 0.05 level as probability basis for decision criteria. The study shows that civil engineers are dominated by male who have high rating in the CE board examination and post graduate degree. Most of them have work experience in design management and managing construction .Structural engineers gained employability skills and technical skills from superior, networks and professional linkages. Further, civil engineers received high average monthly compensation. They are promoted because of their personality traits, work experience and educational background. The civil engineers are very satisfied in the intrinsic career success in terms career satisfaction. Some interesting insights of the study are: a) The profile of civil engineers especially in terms of human capital and social capital , to a large extent contribute in the success of civil engineers; b) The level of career success of civil engineers is dependent on the profile of civil engineers that determine its extrinsic and intrinsic success; c) Civil engineers’ length of service and CE licensure examination were found to have highly contributed to extrinsic success; d) Highest educational attainment, length of service in current company and superior were found to have highly contributed to intrinsic success of civil engineers and e) CE licensure examination rating can best predict extrinsic success in terms of promotion. To help the academe in the recruitment of civil engineer, the school administrator must partner with industry organizations, construction companies and volunteer organizations in recruiting youth into the construction industry. They should educate and partner with counselors in local school districts to bring the field of civil engineering as an option to high school and highlight the many different aspects of the construction industry as viable career paths. To attract students in the field of civil engineering, the academe must develop mentoring program for students and help students build support networks before they graduate. They should introduce students to role models in industry and show them that civil engineers are succeeding in construction industry. Further, the academe should provide students on job training program which serve as foundation for future career in civil engineering To ensure civil engineers will retain in construction industry, the contractors must develop formal mentoring programs for new civil engineers within construction organizations and encourage senior members of the company to mentor junior members (e.g., new graduates) upon their entry to the industry to help them navigate company policies and expectations as well as larger industry experiences. They should make the hiring and career development of civil engineers a priority of senior management and create a culture within the company that the people employed are the most important factor in the performance and profitability of the organization. Moreover, they should provide a diversity training of all civil engineers. This includes code of ethics.