Construction, Engineering and the Environment

Construction

Construction jobs involve more than just what you see on a building site.  There is a huge range of career choices in the industry.  These involve designing, planning and project management, as well as doing the hands-on, practical work.

Construction jobs are essentially about being able to say ‘I helped build that!’.  Construction involves designing and building the ‘built’ environment around us: not only skyscrapers, football stadiums and bridges, but also houses, factories, hospitals, schools, railways, tunnels, piers, dams, coastal defences and energy generation plants.

A project can be a ‘new build’, a renovation or a refurbishment, such as replacement windows, new roofs and extensions.

Engineering

Engineers come in many varieties and work for a huge range of different employers.  There’s a job for you whether you want to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, keep people around the world supplied with fresh water and sanitation, build fabulous bridges or just make your favourite mode of transport go even faster.

Practically everything man-made has had some input from engineers in terms of its design and creation – and often in its maintenance and improvement too.

There are also many different levels of engineer, so there’s a place for you whether you love academia and are already considering a PhD or if you want to leave full-time education and start working as soon as possible.

Engineering is a vast field, so most engineers specialise in a particular knowledge area, also known as a discipline.

These are some of the most common disciplines:

• Mechanical engineering
• Civil engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Electronic engineering
• Chemical engineering

The Environment

Interested in jobs that help the environment? There are plenty of green employment options to choose from. Many of these careers require a degree but there are some where you can get in via an apprenticeship or entry-level job.  Career options include:

• Countryside Officer 
• Ecologist 
• Waste Management and Recycling Officers 
• Environmental Protection 
• Hydrologist 
• Environmental Engineer
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Charity Worker
• Sustainability Manager
• Energy Consultant

Some green jobs have only emerged relatively recently and as such, there won’t always be a well-trodden path to the job you want and you may need to be proactive about gaining relevant experience, such as working in a related role first.