It is clear that the term ‘social media’ has become a misnomer, as the power of these information tools is realised by knowledge managers. 

Two or three years ago Google results for academics were clearly driven by conventional publications: today, search results for individuals reflect activity on LinkedIn and Twitter. 

Free web-based tools associated with Google Scholar make it easy to derive an ‘h-factor’ for academic work. In the Library world some idea of the scale of activity is shown by Edinburgh (Public) Libraries: e-transactions grew from c.400,000 in 2009 to 2.3 million in 2011, almost entirely accounted for by growth in social media hits of 1.8 million. 

It is clear that some channels are better than others for reaching different audiences. Pinterest seems to work for the ICE archives in attracting transatlantic interest.  The value of tweeting can be measured both by followers and re-tweets. 

All the evidence suggests if individuals ignore these media they will soon be overlooked, and so powerful are they currently that an individual’s followers will follow him or her from employer to employer rather than remain with employers. 

An interesting challenge to the job market of the future!

Mike Chrimes

This year’s Rankine Lecture was delivered by Professor Malcolm Bolton of Cambridge University. 

Much of his career at Cambridge and formerly UMIST, has been associated with the use of centrifuge testing: a gross simplification for somebody who has produced over 200 publications.  Over the last decade he has been developing and promoting MSD (Mobilisable Stress Design). 

He used the Lecture, illustrated with case studies of slope stability, shallow foundations and propped retaining walls, to demonstrate how his approach could improve understanding and geotechnical design. 

He concluded on a controversial note, ridiculing a partial safety factor of 1.4 in EC7 in bored pile design, which he sees as adding an unnecessary 40% of concrete. 

Claiming that young engineers were still being trained in the methods of their grandfathers, the Lecture is well worth looking at for its entertainment value, but contains serious messages for design engineers.

Mike Chrimes

A chance encounter at an Infrastructure Research event provided me with an insight into how at least one leading UK engineering department is thinking in terms of future course validation.

To ensure the department is attractive to foreign students, and can compete globally in that regard, leading academics are looking to see how their courses can be accredited in line with the American Society of Civil Engineers criteria / ADEPT criteria.  They believe this would help with PE qualification in the US, and global economic and employment trends.

How this would sit alongside the skills needs of engineers practising in the UK, and elsewhere in Europe is obviously a question for debate! 
 
As is the impact on UK course moderation generally.

 Mike Chrimes

It is a fantastic feeling finally to  complete your degree, but it can also be extremely daunting and difficult to know exactly how to begin your search for a job.

If you are looking for a career in civil engineering, there are some key ways to ensure you are making yourself as attractive as possible to employers.

Careers Fairs and Presentations

One of the best ways to get yourself noticed and to find out as much as possible about potential employers is to attend careers fairs and presentations.

All of the major players in civil engineering, including Jacobs, Atkins, Arup and Balfour Beatty, will have a presence at university fairs, and this gives you the ideal opportunity to speak to other graduates and engineers working for the organisation. You can find out first-hand about the graduate scheme the company have on offer, what areas they specialise in and any other benefits they offer. It also gives you the opportunity to shine and stand out to the employer.

If you come across as really keen and give a good impression, there is a high chance that one of the representatives will remember you!

Preparing your CV and applying for jobs

When preparing your CV and applying for jobs, it is essential to state exactly which area of civil engineering you are interested in. For example, you may have specialised in water, highways or traffic, and you need to make this clear to employers: this is crucial.

If you simply say you are interested in any job in civil engineering and apply for every civil engineering job available in the company, chances are they won’t take you forward. Large-sized civil engineering organisations will have many departments, with different hiring managers, and they want to be sure that you have a passion for the area they work in, rather than feeling that you are just looking for anything. Rightly or wrongly, this is the way the hiring decision often works.

It is also important to do some research into the organisations you are applying to. Don’t simply apply to the companies who offer the highest salary or a golden handshake. Take time to consider what you are looking for from your career. If you want to progress, does the organisation have a good graduate development scheme in place? Would you like to travel? Find out what the options are and whether the organisation is global.

Be flexible

Civil engineering is highly competitive so it is in your best interests to be as flexible as possible. Many other graduates will consider relocating for the right jobs, and it will put you at a disadvantage if you are not open to these opportunities. It does not have to be forever - often you can relocate and move back when a suitable position becomes available in your own locale. The willingness to be flexible will make a good impression on your new employer.

For more information about graduate engineering jobs, visit WikiJob.co.uk, the graduate jobs pages on icerecruit.com and the career development section of the ICE web site.

Edward Mellett, WikiJob.co.uk