One of the oldest disciplines in the engineering field, Civil Engineers, is responsible for building, maintaining, and repairing social infrastructure.  This includes bridges, roads, dams, and buildings. Civil Engineering is an exciting field because there is a tangible, visible result to your work, whether it is an airport or a dam. 

There are Civil Engineering examples throughout history, from the Pyramids of Egypt to the Great Wall of China. Throughout much of history, there was little distinction between Civil Engineering and architecture. In 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in London. This lead to the formalization of Civil Engineering as a distinct profession and the proliferation of universities offering Civil Engineering degrees. 

Several sub-disciplines exist within Civil Engineering, such as environmental engineering, forensic engineering, and structural engineering. All of these specializations require extensive knowledge of the field and its regulations. 

Personality of a Civil Engineer
Civil Engineers tend to be investigative, which means they like to solve complex puzzles and spend time alone with their thoughts. They also tend to be realistic, preferring to have tangible, practical applications to their work. Some other personality traits that can make a successful Civil Engineer are:

• Honesty

You need to be honest and realistic about a situation, even if it will cost the organization or stakeholders time and money. The priority for you as a Civil Engineer needs to be quality work and safety. 

• Good Teamwork Skills

Civil Engineers work with architects, surveyors, and construction workers of all kinds. They need to work effectively as part of a team and bring their A-game to ensure that the project runs smoothly. 

• Organization

There are often a lot of balls in the air in a Civil Engineering project. As a Civil Engineer, you need to keep track of all the tasks that need to be completed and ensure all parties know what needs to be done.