CPD Reflection: Career Aspirations

Introduction

Based on discussions on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) tools and models, this individual report purposes to produce a critical reflection on, and evaluation of my personal career and professional aspirations over the next ten years, subsequent to my graduation from the program: Degree for Civil Engineering and Built Environment. This individual report will provide detailed explanations of my anticipated career projections, including the following: how I will plan to develop my qualification, fulfillment of my career aspirations, development of my career, as well as establishment of a business. They are as discussed below.

CH (1): Developing my qualification

Completing an internship

Almost all degree programmes require at least a semester of an internship, in order to satisfy the requirements. Securing work experience is crucial, owing to the fact that it will provide me with an insight, relating to the required working practices in any engineering Institution (Prospects, 2018). In this regard, I will apply the theories I studied in the classroom, and in turn, learn various practical skills, as well as gain an insight on my field of study for future employment. Upon partaking an internship, I plan to take any role in ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers), which will then give me the opportunity to build a deep understanding of various issues that are related to planning, as well as execution of projects. This will expand my knowledge and as well, enable me develop sufficient network with professionals in my field, and receive mentorship from senior civil engineers (ASCE, 2018).

Passing relevant examinations for certification

I will have to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination, which should be completed in two stages. Upon completing the first exam, I will be regarded as an Engineer-in-Training. Thereafter, I will take the second exam, which involves the principles, as well as practice of engineering. This will only be taken after I will have gained enough experience. I will also have to pass The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, which is designed for civil engineers that have gained enough experience in their chosen discipline in engineering (Wade, 2018). Additionally, I will undertake a training (to obtain a BTEC higher national certificate), in order to develop my professionalism, thus, enabling me to meet my employers’ demands, and to allow me to adapt to the changing world.

Developing the required skills

I will need to develop skills for my CV, in which case, I will have to go an extra mile of gaining a practical experience through applying transferable skills such as critical thinking skills, numeracy, as well as communication skills, analytical skills, as well as decision-making skills. There are relevant courses, which I will undertake to get recognition during my working life, whilst strengthening my skills, as well as professional profile, such as enrolling at Chartered Management Institute, which offers significant transferable skills that can aid in developing the skills of a civil engineer. CSI programme is also useful for new graduates, owing to the fact that it teaches them the required skills that they would need in their jobs. This can be part of their qualification to secure good jobs, as these skills are not taught in schools (Engineering careers, 2018).

CH (2): Fulfil my career aspirations

When selecting a relevant course, its accreditation by the Engineering Council is significant. In the UK, the Engineering Council purposes to regulate the status of professional engineering which includes the titles given to Incorporated Engineers (IEng), or even those who have more experience, are given the titles of Chartered Engineers (CEng). It is worth noting that accreditation of a CEng is recognized in an international level, and it is a key requirement for any member of the widely recognized Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) (Bridgend, 2018). As I would need to offer my services publicly, I will need to go through various steps, in order to be properly licensed. I will get an honours degree, which is accredited by the ICE, thus enabling me to gain a Chartered Engineer status with the ICE. In order to acquire an ICE chartered membership, I will be obligated to complete three crucial stages. The first will be obtaining either a MEng or a BEng degree with a significant assessment of further learning. In addition, I will need a postgraduate degree or working experience or I will need to complete an employer-led learning programme. This will involve an individual interview, a technical presentation, as well as assessment. Thereafter, I will need to undertake a professional development through a training scheme, preferably approved by the ICE, prior to finally meeting the ICE Professional Review requirements (Megginson & Whitaker, 2017).

CH (3): Developing my own career

I will need to develop my career, in order to be successful in the field of Civil Engineering and Built Construction. In this regard, I will need to invest my time, as well as effort. Whilst focusing on that, I will need to understand that the civil engineering industry is broad, which then implies that I will be required to have vast skills in order to specialise in a particular field and excel in it. In this regard, it will undertake the following:

I. Choose roles, which suit my interest

I will need to identify where my interests lie and this will include asking personal questions such as I’m I better with hand-on-tasks or details dealing with abstracts? Can I work better on a site or portray my skills better in an office? These critical questions will assist me to identify my interests, thus enabling me to know whether I can pursue working as a consultant or as a contractor. I will need to specialise in one particular area. It is significant to note that at a junior level, a fresh graduate should build his or her career by first considering which sector he or she is interested to work in, and thereafter, focus on reaching out to consultancies, which hire within that given sector. On the other hand, for senior, as well as experienced engineers, who look to move from one infrastructure to another, it is recommended that they should work with a recruitment consultant, to aid them in facilitating their movement, owing to the fact that some consultancies are hesitant as compared to others. In this regard, they ought to be able to explain the experience they want to gain, and their strengths. As such, a preferred consultant can assist in promoting them to consultancies within their sector (van den Bergh et al., 2015).

II. Earn extra certifications

It is a significant to note that attaining an engineering license should be considered a top priority (Perez-Foguet et al., 2018). However, upon achieving that, goal practices need to change rapidly, thereby, developing the need for earning additional certifications. Owing to the fact that engineering continually becomes competitive, I will be obligated to broaden my skills, in order to stand out. Managers who hold the responsibility for hiring look for employees holding valuable certificates, as they indicate a worker’s initiative, as well as versatility. Extra certification can as well be acquired by attending events, and also enrolling in training courses, which form a significant part of an individual’s CPD. However, it is also evident that training and development of a career through certification encourages the following: first, it enhances a culture of continuous learning, as well as performance improvement. Secondly, it leads to the application of growth principles, feedback, as well as accountability towards the way of civil engineering. Finally, it demonstrates the commitment of an individual in developing and retaining his or her talents in the field of civil engineering (Anderson, 2018).

III. Pursue a master’s degree

Whilst most civil engineers purpose to only complete their undergraduate degree, it is evident that further education may assist me in advancing and developing my civil engineering career. This is owing to the fact that a master’s degree tells the managers hiring that a civil engineer is capable of handling extra responsibilities, as well as solving extra problems. In this regard, this qualification can aid in developing a civil engineering career (Meroney, 2016).

IV. Focus on experience

It is worth noting that a degree alone is not enough for securing a promising position. As such, I will need proven experience, thus enabling me to gain a foothold in the industry. In this regard, whilst building my resume, I will need to work with a professional recruiter, as their agencies assist in gaining practical knowledge, necessary for entering the industry (Anderson, 2018).

V. Get ahead in the competitive industry

It is evident that a professional certification assists civil engineers to gain a significant edge in the civil engineering job market, as they assist them to demonstrate general, as well as specified skills, which hiring managers often seek (Bal & Rousseau, 2015). In addition, they depict the extent of quality assurance. It is vital for civil engineers to be committed towards Continuing Professional Development, to improve and increase their knowledge and skills, in order to adapt in the competitive industry. It is significant to note that the infrastructure sector often drives the economy, and as such, in order to encourage sufficient growth, employers secure the best talents, in order to further their economic growth. For this reason, I will have to ensure that I acquire the best skills, in order to prosper in this competitive industry, and consequently develop my career. Moreover, the CSI programme teaches skills, which enable civil engineers to have a competitive advantage over others who do not have it, owing to the fact that potential employers need employees who have these skills, as they are able to meet some of their company’s needs (Miloradova & Ishkov, 2015).

CH (4): Establishing business

Whether planning to work locally and part-time, or to create a nation-wide business with workers around the UK, the ICE Benevolent Fund is set to work in partnership with civil engineers who have an excellent track record, both in training design and also delivery, and who have worked as a senior consultant in a corporate firm (Patton & McMahon, 2014). It is evident that consulting, under civil engineering offers a variety of career opportunities in firms that can accommodate less than ten individuals to more than 1000. In smaller firms, qualified civil engineers are able to work on various varied projects, management-related activities, as well as design challenges. On the other hand, large firms are in a position to focus their work on specific projects, business management that depends on the firm’s core competence, as well as on business management. Overall, it is notable that whether small or large the firm may be, it needs to start by establishing the basic engineering evaluation, design, as well as computation, which consequently changes the paths that it chooses (Bloch & Richmond, 2015). On establishing a personal business, first I will need to conduct an extensive research on how I might realistically achieve its success, for example, work in partnership with the ICE Benevolent Fund for start-up funding, and research on the product/ service that I would need to provide to the public. Of importance, I will need to work on decreasing costs, whilst increasing profits, and also work on producing smaller environmental footprints through developing efficient processes, enhancing the implementation of waste minimization programs, as well as finding solutions to a variety of issues (Dik et al., 2015). Precisely, I will focus on devising and implementing a civil engineering design for a variety of projects, as well as to an array of clients. I will as well utilise civil engineering, in order to bring forth innovation to the entire industry, for successful, as well as cost-effective operations, services, and also products (Hartung et al., 2015).

Conclusion

This report makes it clear that my personal career, as well as professional aspirations, will be in order in the next ten years, subsequent to my graduation from Degree for Civil Engineering and Built Environment. I plan to develop my qualification, whilst focusing on completing an internship, passing relevant examinations for certification, and developing the required skills. On the other hand, based on fulfilling my career aspirations, I plan to seek accreditation by the Engineering Council, as it is a key requirement for any member of the widely recognized Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). On developing my own career, I am obligated to choose roles, which suit my interest, acquire extra certifications, consider pursuing a master’s degree, focus on my work experience, and finally get ahead in the competitive industry. Regarding establishing a business, I will need to conduct an extensive research on how I might realistically achieve its success. I will need to work on decreasing costs, whilst increasing profits. The summary is as provided below:

References

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Bal, M., & Rousseau, D. M. (2015). An i-deal career: on the relationship between i-deals and career development. In Idiosyncratic Deals between Employees and Organizations (pp. 73-80). Routledge.

Bloch, D. P., & Richmond, L. (2015). Connections between spirit and work in career development: New approaches and practical perspectives. Routledge.

Dik, B. J., Duffy, R. D., Allan, B. A., O’Donnell, M. B., Shim, Y., & Steger, M. F. (2015). Purpose and meaning in career development applications. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(4), 558-585.

Hartung, P. J., Savickas, M. L., & Walsh, W. (2015). APA handbook of career intervention, Volume 1: Foundations. American Psychological Association.

Meroney, R. N. (2016). Ten questions concerning hybrid computational/physical model simulation of wind flow in the built environment. Building and Environment, 96, 12-21.

Miloradova, N., & Ishkov, A. (2015). Environmental ethics as a social, professional and personal value of the students of civil engineering university. Procedia Engineering, 117, 246-251.

Perez-Foguet, A., Lazzarini, B., Giné, R., Velo, E., Boni, A., Sierra, M., ... & Trimingham, R. (2018). Promoting sustainable human development in engineering: Assessment of online courses within continuing professional development strategies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 4286-4302.

Van den Bergh, L., Ros, A., & Beijaard, D. (2015). Teacher learning in the context of a continuing professional development programme: A case study. Teaching and teacher education, 47, 142-150.