Next weekend I’m going to give a presentation at the University of Michigan.  I figure that the best way to capture the attention of a collegate audience is to promise sure-fire tips for getting a job.  Unfortunately, the current economic climate is likely to undermine my message.  The challenges facing graduates in 2008 are real.  However, companies are looking for uniquely qualified individuals that can lead the profession in the 21st century.

The most immediate challenge faced by graduates (and the country as a whole) is the current financial crisis.  From what I understand, the underlying problem has to do with the difficulty companies and individuals now face in getting lines of credit.  Last week, I visited a construction site.  The workmanship was top notch.  The construction managers explained that most of the laborers on that site are typically leaders of their own crews.  However, so many of their projects have been put on hold, that the construction company has been forced to lay-off all but their best people.

One way to lessen the effects of an economic slow down is to develop a diverse set of services.  Since the past slow-down in 2003, my company has been actively trying to diversify its expertise.  The existing building renovations and tenant build-outs that I mentioned in previous blogs are examples.  In addition, we perform city-mandated façade inspections, work with insurance companies, and serve as expert witnesses (to name a few services).

Most recently, we’ve established a group to provide innovative building skin consulting services to architects and building owners.   The company was able to hire one of the consultants that worked on the Water Cube made famous at the Beijing Olympics.  In any market, people with unique skills will be highly sought after.  New graduates should seek opportunities to broaden their knowledge base beyond traditional civil engineering tasks.

Another way to survive an economic slowdown is to expand business to international markets.  While the West slows down, some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, are steadily investing in building construction and infrastructure.  By now, most people are familiar with the Emirates’ efforts to create artificial islands in the Persian Gulf and the world’s tallest and most architecturally significant structures.

Again, my company was fortunate to snag an engineer with the experience to lead in these new markets.  This has put us in a position to win several more jobs in the Middle East.  We’re now even opening an office in Abu Dhabi.

The opportunity to gain international experience isn’t just limited to senior associates.  Last year, I took the opportunity to participate in an international exchange program between my company and a Danish firm.  I truly feel that the experience of living and working abroad will substantially benefit my career.  College students should take opportunities to study and travel abroad.

These are only a few suggestions to succeeding in the 21st century.  Other challenges are related to rapidly changing technologies, dwindling energy supplies, climate change, and international competition.  The engineers that solve these problems will have diverse backgrounds and draw their inspiration from many aspects of life.  To find a job and keep it in 2008 make sure that there’s something special on your resume and be ready to explore all options.

I’ve now been out of school long enough to learn that there’s really no such thing as a final exam.  I spent most of the past weekend studying for the S.E. – the examination required for structural engineers to receive licensure in Illinois.  It is the most intense test that I’ve ever prepared for – 16 hours of testing split over two days.  The test covers all the major aspects of structural engineering.

The same state departments that regulate professional licensure for barbers and nail techs also set the rules for professional engineers.  Thankfully, they largely follow the recommendations of professional organizations like ASCE and the Structural Engineer’s Association (SEA).  However, since there are 50 different bodies setting the rules, there are annoying differences between states and not all have reciprocity agreements.  A majority of states (i.e. Michigan) require applicants for licensure to pass the Professional Engineer exam (P.E.).  However, Illinois is one of a few states that require the S.E. for licensed Structural Engineers – other types of civil engineers are still covered by the P.E.  It really starts to get complicated when you realize that to be licensed in both Illinois and Michigan, you must pass both exams.

The P.E. and the S.E. really just represent the final step in the licensure process.  Most states also require between 3 and 5 years of work experience.  Sometimes, a master’s or doctorate degree can substitute for a year or more of working experience.  To prove that you have the right amount of experience, a licensed engineer has to sign-off on your application.  This can mean calling up old bosses and asking for a favor.

Before you need to worry about the work experience, there is, of course, another test required by most states.  In the spring of my junior year I took the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (F.E.); at the time it was called the Engineering in Training exam (EIT).  The F.E. is the first step on most state’s paths to licensure.  The test broadly covers the math, science and engineering courses common to most engineering disciplines.

I would recommend that you take this exam as soon as possible after completing your thermodynamics, hydrology and statistics & mechanics courses.  You’re going to quickly begin to forget those classes whose subject matter you don’t use.

By the spring of 2007, I had the requisite experience and had passed the F.E.  I wanted to take the P.E. at the first possible opportunity (to get it out of the way), but I missed the deadline for registration.  Since these tests are only offered twice a year, I finally took the exam in 2008.  The P.E. tests a broad base of civil engineering knowledge.  In the 4-hour morning session, hydrology, structures, geotechnical engineering, construction and surveying are tested.  Four years after graduation, it is tough to remember all those subjects.  The afternoon session is focused on your concentration (for me it was structures).  That’s the easier part, because it’s what you do on a daily basis.

If you’ve followed the discussion up to this point, then I have one last curve ball.  If you were to work internationally, most countries also have their own licensure requirements.  Thankfully there is a movement to provide one international standard for structural engineers, called IStructE.

So why go through all of this work?  Most companies only allow a few executives to sign and seal drawings anyway.  For many engineers earning licensure is mostly a point of pride – you get to add letters to the end of your name just like doctors.  It also sends a clear signal to you boss that you’re committed to advancing your career.  Of course, if you open your own firm, you need to be licensed.

At this point, I’ve crossed the F.E. and P.E. off my list.  With luck, I’ll be able to scratch off the S.E. soon.  That leaves the IStructE and the LEED certification exam.  Who knows what other tests I might have to add to the list.  Maybe some day I’ll take that final exam.

For more information about these licensure tests see:
www.asce.org/professional/licensure/
www.ncees.org
www.istructe.org

Most engineering articles are about fancy and expensive new construction.  It’s understandable for companies and engineers to want to share their experiences on once-in-a-lifetime projects.  However, it’s usually the more mundane projects that keep the business profitable.  Maintaining a strong business relationship with reliable clients can mean performing a lot of small jobs.

Our architectural clients also have to take on small jobs to keep their patrons happy.  These projects often come in the form of tenant build-outs.  When companies move into a new office space, they want to make their mark.  If the office has multiple floors, the tenant will usually ask for a fancy monumental stair.  Many modern offices also need to plan for large rooms to house computer servers and backup generators. Other, more traditional, office spaces require private libraries and high-density filing systems.  Any of these conditions could overstress the existing structure.

Lately, I’ve been working on a lot of small tenant build-out projects. Sometimes, these can be quite challenging.  On one recent job, the client wanted to install an artistically designed stair.  The challenge was to determine where to place the opening and how to connect the stair to the slab in order to minimize the cost for the tenant.  The design was further complicated because the floor was supported by a concrete waffle slab – so named because of how it looks.  This type of slab was common in the 1970s to span long distances.

We determined that if the opening was located in the middle area between four columns, then no reinforcement would be required.   The weight of concrete being removed offsets any additional load imparted by the stairs.  Also, the reinforcement in that region was not essential to the overall stability of the slab.  To connect the new steel stair to the concrete waffle slab, we detailed a connection involving welded steel plates and bolts drilled through the side of the waffle. On another job, for a new bank branch, we had to do the opposite: infill an old stair opening.  The new tenant only rented one floor and needed a continuous space for bank patrons to meet with tellers and agents.  We presented two options to our client.  The first, more conventional, approach involved using expansion anchors to attach angle irons to each side of the opening.  Then we called for steel metal deck filled with concrete to span between the angles.  The disadvantage of this approach was that wet concrete would need to be delivered to the busy downtown site and then wheelbarrowed through the building’s atrium.

Our alternative design utilized thin sheets of structural concrete board – about the size and weight of a thick 4′x8′ plywood sheet.  These sheets would span 18″ between light metal joists.  Each of these components is light enough for a few construction workers to inconspicuously carry into the job site.  We had to explain our concept to several reviewers, but the client eventually chose this option.

Not all projects are as glamorous as a record-breaking high rise.  But even if a project doesn’t capture the imagination of the general public (or the engineering community), it may still be important for business and have interesting engineering challenges.