The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Did you know you can use your civil engineering knowledge to make an impact in underserved communities…while traveling abroad? 🤔 Today I interviewed Brittany Margritz from Engineers in Action (EIA), who leads the program that builds pedestrian footbridges in these communities. In this episode, she dives into the work that EIA does, how it works, and how you can join them to go abroad to help build things too, from bridges to water facilities to sewers…you name it! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The work Engineers in Action (EIA) does to help underserved communities abroad

• From bridges to water: the different types of work you can do at EIA

• How engineering students, practicing professionals, and firms can join EIA

• The technical and cultural prep that volunteers need before traveling to EIA's projects

• How EIA gets approval from local officials...and where funding comes from

• Brittany's role at EIA and her four-year experience working in Eswatini, Africa

• How she managed to balance work and life living abroad

• Her best advice for young engineers to build a career (and life) they enjoy

Our Partner:

If you’ve failed a few times, you may be considering changing your PE Civil Exam, right? 🤔 That’s what Grant Junghans did to get over this hump once and for all. He failed the Construction exam twice, changed to the Water Resources exam, and then passed it. In this episode, he dives into this journey of switching exams and teaches you all he learned the hard way if you’re thinking of doing the same. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• Grant's journey to get his PE license after 3 attempts

• Why he changed his PE Civil Exam for his third (and last) try

• 2 things you must do before you go and change your PE Civil Exam

• His successful exam prep habits you should apply to your own prep

• How he stayed motivated as a repeat taker

• How to take practice exams right during your prep for them to actually help you

• What he enjoyed the most about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

• Theory questions in the Water Resources exam...and how to prep for them

• How many Alternative-Item Type questions can you expect on your exam?

🤝 Our Partners:

Are you just a few years into your career and thinking about going down the Structural Engineering route? 🤔 Then our latest interview is a must! Colten Johnson is a Structural Engineer who started and now leads his own structural firm. He also runs PE4Free, a platform built to help young engineers thrive in the professional world and pass their exams.

Tune in to Learn:

• How he passed the FE exam under work pressure due to project requirements

• The challenges of being the Lead Engineer in structural projects 

• The technical vs leadership sides of engineering: which one should you choose?

• What needs to change in the Structural Engineering industry today 

• His strategy to overcome the downsides of the industry's status quo

• How Structural Engineers can leverage the power of augmented reality

• How ChatGPt will impact your preparation for your exams

• His experience starting a firm....and what you should know before you do it

• Tips for engineers to use LinkedIn right

• How to know if it's time to shake things up a bit in your career

• The best way to improve yourself professionally

• His platform to help young engineers thrive and pass their exams

🤝 Our Partners:

Passing the FE Civil Exam 18 years out of school, well into your late 30s, and coming from a non-technical career as a Lutheran Minister? 😱 That’s exactly what Zach Parris just recently did! 👷 In this episode, he dives into this quiet original journey into the field, his FE experience, as well as tips he learned the hard way for anyone taking the FE “later” in life.

Tune in to Learn:

• His surprising journey from engineering graduate to pastor to roadway engineer
• What he regrets doing in college regarding the FE Exam
• What it was like taking the FE Exam 18 years out of school
• What preparing for the FE exam is really about — and it's not knowledge
• How much prep time do you need for the FE if you've been out of school for a while?
• His advice for other experienced engineers to pass the FE exam "later" in their career
• What he enjoyed the most about The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course
• How his Lutheran Minister skills translates into his engineering work
• Pros and cons of switching into civil engineering from non-technical work

🤝 Our Partners:

Our latest episode with Vince Marvin, PE, SE is  a gold mine for everyone interested in a career in Structural Engineering! He answers questions every Structural Engineer has, based on his own journey. How do you learn the ropes out of college? Do you need a master’s degree? Is the PE needed? Should you go for the SE, even with the low pass rates? 🤔 It’s all here! 👷

Tune in to Learn:

• Grad school vs work experience: which one matters most for Structural Engineers?

• Do Structural Engineers really need the PE license?

• The importance of the SE for Structural Engineers

• Can you take the SE without taking the PE first?

• What's it like to take the SE Exam...and when should you take it?

• Why the SE is getting more and more difficult to pass every year

• The simple (but not easy) way to overcome the SE Exam's low pass rates

• Tips for recent graduates going into the professional Structural Engineering world

• How he went from design to leadership roles...and how you can too

• The biggest challenge and the most rewarding part of being an engineering leader

• What to do if you want to become a Structural Engineering manager

🤝 Our Partner:

Are you a civil engineer planning to go into project management…in New York? 🤔 Then this interview with Mafuzul Mashud, PE, is for you! He started out as a Transportation Engineer in Long Island, got his PE license out of the way, and worked his way up to Project Manager, overseeing big projects from New York’s MTA. 🗽 👷

Tune in to Learn:

• The 3 biggest challenges of working in New York as a Civil Engineer

• His all-time favorite project that would probably be your least favorite

• How's it to switch from fieldwork to behind-the-desk design work?

• How bad COVID-19 hit New York's traditional work scenario

• His best advice to pass the PE Civil Exam... that you keep neglecting

• Do you get an immediate raise or promotion after passing the PE?

• His path from Transportation Design Engineer to Engineering Project Management

• How being part of professional organizations helped him get the job he wanted

• What salary levels can you expect as a civil engineer in NY? 

• The best skill you should master to go into project management

Our Partner:

Can we train computers to “be” Structural Engineers? 🤔 In this episode, I chat with Nick Heim, a Structural Engineer working with parking structures, about the AI tools that can change the field forever. From machine learning teaching computers how to do the engineer’s calcs…all the way to using computer vision to “look for” potential structural issues in images and videos. 😲

Tune in to Learn:

• What's computer vision and how does it impact the Structural Engineer's work?

• Will AI put Structural Engineers out of business?

• Are SEs recognized as much as they should?

• Why flying drones is the first "tech tool" you need to master...immediately!

• Why he went for the maintenance and restoration niche of Structural Engineering

• 4 ways he uses to find parking structure restoration work

• 2 things young engineers should focus on (+ how to do the second right in today's world)

• What being part of professional organizations teaches you that school doesn't

• What is it like to be the president of an ASCE local chapter?

• The advice those getting started in their career should NOT take

Our Partner:

Have you thought of doing the same engineering work you do at your workplace, but for yourself? 🤔 Then you’ll want to listen to this interview with Paige Brue about her own journey to start her consulting business! She dives into how her education allowed her to provide the type of services she provides, why having professional credentials is a must (and the easiest way to get them)...all the way to her best tips for aspiring firm owners. 😉 👇

Tune in to Learn:

• How a devastating flood in her hometown got her interested in Water Resources

• What led her to start her own engineering business

• How to know if starting your own engineering practice is really for you?

• 2 pieces of advice before you (cluelessly) go and start your own firm

• The number one thing you need to thrive professionally (and it's not only money)

• What the CFM credential is all about

• How her PE license and CFM credential are crucial for her independent work

• The biggest misconception about an engineer's work that we only learn after school

• What she did that made passing her PE a lot easier...and you should do too

• Is it difficult to take the PE Exam in a discipline that's not yours?

• Her experience with CA Seismic and Survey Exams (+ how difficult they are)

• Her #1 advice for women to succeed in the field...that works wonders for men too.

• Organizations for Water Resources folks and women engineers to join

Our Partner:

Do you know how our AEC industry is doing and what we can expect in the years to come? No?! 🤔 Then this episode is for you! Mark jumps back on to share his recent roundtable discussion with other leaders of AEC companies to discuss their challenges, problems, new technology…all the way to what the future looks like for the industry. Is it positive? Well, give this a listen and you’ll find out! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The biggest challenge in the AEC industry right now...plus 2 factors that can reduce it

• Positive or negative: What's the outlook for the industry a few years down the road?

• How the construction industry is still suffering from the impacts of COVID

• The current state of employment in the industry

• Why BIM modeling still hasn't been useful despite being talked about all the time

• What leaders of AEC companies have to say about the use of drones in projects

• The two sides of the AI implementation in civil engineering

• Why the design-bid-build model has to be buried (plus a better alternative)

Our Store for Civil Engineers:

Do you think you’ve made the wrong decision of going into engineering just because the “common” roles don’t align with the life you want? 🤔 Well, you’re looking at it the wrong way! In this interview with Rebecca Miller, she dives into her non-traditional journey into Structural Engineering and how she intentionally designed a career in the field that matched her life goals instead of getting siloed into pre-existing job positions.

Tune in to Learn:

• Her path into Structural Engineering from an unrelated background to inspire you

• How her non-traditional background impacted her pursuit of the PE license

• Why engineers can explore other career paths other than the traditional route

• The best approach to studying for the PE exam that made her pass it

• Her thoughts on the pros and cons of the changes coming to the PE in April

• How she landed a job at a company that matched her life vision

• The key aspect of finding the job the suits what you want out of life

• Does working at an engineering tech company pay more?

• Advice for women engineers to thrive

• The right way to go about taking the PE Exam to avoid test anxiety and nervousness

• 2 ways to grasp engineering concepts for the PE Exam you probably never heard of

• What's behind a really successful career...in one word

Our Store for Civil Engineers:

Who said you can only do civil engineering as a civil engineer? 🤔 If you think that’s the only way to go, this week’s guest will prove you wrong! Ayo Sokale is a Chartered Engineer in the UK who managed to build a successful career in Water Resources as a woman engineer and also pursue other passions…like becoming a BBC presenter! 😲 In this episode, she dives into the multi-dimensional aspect of people, and how you can leverage it as a civil engineer to build a life that works for you. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• What a Chartered Engineer is in the UK...and how it compares to the PE in the US

• Her experience being left out of the technical things just for being a woman engineer

• 5 pieces of advice that she learned the hard way to all the women engineers

• Why engineers can do more than engineering in life

• How she became a BBC presenter as a civil engineer

• How she balances work with BBC shows, coaching services, tech company, etc

• A framework you can use to reach your vision for your future self

• Her top 2 tips to improve your life, professionally and personally

Our Store for Civil Engineers:

Who said your PE license is the final act? 🤔 Getting your license and the higher salary that comes with it is a stepping stone for you to achieve something even bigger. In this episode, I chat with Lane Kawaoka about how he used his PE and high-paying engineering job to fuel his real estate investments and make extra cash for his family every month…passively! 😲 He then went on to build a platform to help other licensed engineers (like you) do the same. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The easiest way to trick the system and get your PE license…totally legal!

• What separates engineers from highly paid engineers — and it’s not technical stuff

• How he used his high-paying job as a PE job to build passive income with real estate

• From buying to development: his path in the real estate industry as an engineer

• Why civil engineers are well-suited for the development side of real estate investing

• Why traditional investments don’t work for engineers — plus how to find better ones

• The Wealth Elevator analogy: Which floor are you on?

• A sneak peek into his soon-to-be-released resource to help engineers scale financially

Our Partners:

Will machine learning replace civil engineers? 😟 The answer is not what you think, whether you answered “yes” or “no.” Today’s guest is Robert Otani, a civil engineer and the Chief Technology Officer at Thornton Tomasetti. In this episode, he talks about how machine learning and AI will impact engineering jobs, as well as how he’s already using AI at his firm’s projects and overall business development so you can use it in yours too. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• How the introduction of BIM got Robert into the tech side of civil engineering
• His experience building tools to connect different software in construction management
• The software tools he's launched for the industry and where to get them
• Should civil engineers learn how to code?
• What machine learning will change in the future of the civil engineering profession?
• Will civil engineers still have jobs with the rise of AI?
• A positive impact of AI on civil engineering that gets overlooked
• How he's already using AI at Thornton Tomasetti's projects and business development

Our Partner:

From a Mechanical Engineer in Colombia to a graduate student in the US to unemployed driving Uber with two kids…all the way to passing the PE Civil Structural Exam! 😲 Impressed? Well, this is the exact life journey of Esteban Valderrama, our guest for this week’s episode.

He got his PE on his third try, and this journey can teach you a lot if you find yourself either taking the Structural PE Exam or considering taking the Civil PE as a mechanical engineer with very little background education on civil engineering topics.

Tune in to Learn:

• How his structural background in mechanical engineering led him to civil engineering

• How he went from unemployed and driving Uber to passing the Civil PE Structural Exam

• What he does today in the 5G telecommunications industry

• How the PE license gave him and his opinion more weight in the workplace

• His top tip for other mechanicals who may be thinking of going for the PE Civil Exam

• What made The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course stand out from the other prep courses

• What motivated him to keep at it after failing the PE three times...and how you can, too

• What his weekly study calendar looked like balancing work, family, and exam prep

• A study trick he used to get familiar with every chapter of the codes and standards

• Two topics that caught him (extremely) off guard on the exam

• How many Alternative Item Type questions were on his exam

• Does he recommend The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course?

Our Partner:

If you think Geotech Engineers only “play in the dirt,” think again! The field has many paths you can choose, from field work to office work…all the way to sales and software! 😲. In this episode, I chat with Hannah Thomas, who’s done it all in the field, to help you find out whether the Geotech route is right for you and what you can do if you go into it, but also how to find the career that’s a good fit….based on how she found out hers. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The many career routes within the Geotech field, from field work to software to sales

• The most rewarding and challenging aspects of Geotech

• Common misconceptions about what geotechnical engineers do ( +  what they really do)

• Why the PE matters for geotech engineers...as Hannah learned firsthand at work

• The reason the Geotechnical PE Civil Exam has the lowest volume of test-takers

• Why the geotechnical knowledge is also important for your personal, day-to-day life

• The field-tested way to find a career path that makes you wake up excited every day.

• Why she started sharing her journey on LinkedIn (and the benefits it brought to her)

Our Partners:

Technology is changing everything, and believe me, drones are already changing how you do your work on the job site as a civil engineer — and you’ll have to adapt! 👷 So in this episode, Mark and I chat about how we’re using drones in the utility and construction arenas. From project design to construction to inspection to post-construction promotion with some cool images for advertising, drones can help you do it all…and a lot more efficiently! 😲

Tune in to Learn:

• Top two drones being used in civil engineering (+ the favorite one…and why)

• The uses of drones in the construction industry, from project design to post-completion

• How drones are being used in the utility world for visualization and inspection tasks

• How the newer drones differ from older versions and make controlling a lot easier

• Guidelines to set up, execute, and manage drone programs at your workplace

• The challenges that come with the mass adoption of drones

• How do you become a drone pilot? (Hint: it's not simply buying and using one!)

Our Partner:

Artificial Intelligence is the big buzzword nowadays, right? 🤖 So in this episode, I decided to dissect the ways you can use it to help you prepare for your exams in 2024. Believe me, even though there are some limitations, it's a wonderful tool in your toolbelt! From getting you started on developing a study schedule to coming up with theory (and even quantitative) practice problems…and more! 😲

Tune in to Learn:

• 2 common exam prep challenges AI can help you solve

• Developing a complete 6-month study schedule….with ChatGPT

• Can you simply follow an AI-generated schedule or do you need to refine it?

• How to use AI to practice theory problems for the Civil FE and PE Exams

• Using ChatGPT to come up with practice problems to supplement your study material

• Can you trust AI-generated solutions to quantitative practice problems?

• How do you make sure AI uses equations out of the NCEES handbooks?

Our Store for Civil Engineers:

In this episode, I reflect back on all the things we developed here at Civil Engineering Academy in 2023, plus a sneak peek into what we have for you next year. 😉 From adding new team members to a new brand specifically for civil engineers to new courses launching in 2024. That’s right! we’ll keep helping you thrive in your career…way beyond the FE and PE. 📈 👷

Tune in to Learn:

• The progress of our PE course update to match the April 2024 specifications

• Our brand new review course to help you become a Certified Floodplain Manager

• How to join the waiting list for our new CA Seismic and Survey courses

• A new brand we started exclusively and specifically for civil engineers…just like you.

• The members of the CEA Dream Team — plus, how you can become one.

• Our efforts at our FE and PE CBT simulators give you a like-like exam experience

• The improvements we’ve been making to our FE course

• Our live problem-solving workshops (and how to get access to all of them!)

Our Store for Civil Engineers:

How much do civil engineers make? 💸 That’s a question Mark and I answer in this episode by diving into the latest and greatest ASCE Salary Report! In addition to spelling out the numbers, we talk about other important aspects that go into your career, such as job satisfaction, raises, opportunities, etc. Believe it or not, the future is brighter than you think. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The trend in average salaries for civil engineers: up or down?

• How much entry-level civil engineers make (and how much experience they need)

• The main thing impacting salary levels today

• How the industry’s specialization trend impacts salaries

• How much does a licensed PE make compared to unlicensed civil engineers?

• Average salary numbers by US region

• Are civil engineers satisfied with their jobs, benefits, and compensation?

• Do Structural Engineers with the SE make more money than those with only the PE?

• What the future looks like in civil engineering (and why it's a good place to be in)

Our Partner:

“What’s the easiest of the five PE Civil Exams? 🤔'' That's one question we get all that time, and so I decided to jump into it again. While they’re all difficult and there’s no way around it, the latest NCCES report and other data make it clear which one may be a little less of a challenge. If you’re not sure which one to take, you’ll want to listen to this episode. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• A brief overview of the PE exam and the exam prep landscape

• The two "easiest" and the hardest PE exam overall

• Why the huge number of standards for the Transportation exam is actually a positive

• The one thing that makes the Water Resources exam a good option

• Two things that makes the Geotech exam more challenging

• How to choose your exam: Should you really go for the "easiest?"

• Insider exam tips from our private community of PE test-takers

• When we'll roll out our PE course update to meet the new NCEES specifications

• A brand new course we just released to help you become a Floodplain Manager

• How you can join the waiting list for our California Seismic and Survey review courses

Our Partner:

What would your life look like if you could take every Friday off? After the remote/hybrid work trend sparked by COVID, there’s now a new one: the four-day workweek. In this episode, I talk to Mark about this new trend that’s getting traction in other industries, and if it will ever become a thing for us civil engineers. Who wouldn’t like that, right? 😂

Tune in to Learn:

• The origins of the 4-day workweek trend way back in the COVID era

• What’s the 4-day workweek? Will you work only 32 hours with Fridays off?

• The time and location flexibility that comes with the trend

• How it impacts deadlines, workflows, and deliverables

• What are the tech tools that make it possible?

• How is the civil engineering industry implementing the trend?

• The negative side of the trend for firms and organizations

• A pro of the trend for those who don’t want to be fully retired

• The biggest challenge of implement the 4-day workweek in civil engineering

• CEA-approved recruiters that can help you find the flexible work you want

FREE Download:

Wondering what a career in Water Resources looks like? 🤔 Then this episode is for you! Today, I interview Jared Coleman, a Water Resources engineer and a CFM who’s worked in both the private and public sectors. He dives into what you can expect from each, how to choose one, as well as the CFM credential and the work he does in floodplain management with it. If you ever wondered how to get this credential you’ll want to listen to this one, for sure. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• What his current work as a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) look like

• What the CFM Certification is (and how it fills in the 4-year gap between the FE and PE)

• How to become a CFM (plus a resource that helps you breeze through that)

• Common issues with project submittals in flood-prone areas

• Working for private vs public companies: the pros and cons you should consider

• The biggest challenge in sustainable urban development today

• A brand new  sustainability measure being implemented in Water Resources right now

• A secret method to pass the FE and PE exams building on the topics you're good at

• Should you take the PE Environmental Exam as a civil engineer in Water Resources?

• His top tip for young civil engineers starting out to "find themselves" in the field

• What organizations can you join as a CFM or a civil engineer in Water Resources?

FREE Download:

Today’s guest is Sam Lamontanaro, a Director of Engineering of Aufgang Architects. We dive into the challenges of sustainability, discussing New York's push for electrification and the ditching of fossil fuels, which will probably get to other states as well. So, from the next decade’s energy-efficient designs and water storage to the value of a PE license for it, we cover it all here! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The advantage of growing up with a family with the same interest

• How do architecture and engineering work together?

• New York’s law 097 to reduce carbon footprints in buildings (and by when)

• The challenge of electrifying buildings and removing fossil fuels

• The impact of obtaining a Professional Engineer license

• How should you go about mentoring young engineers?

• The importance of field experience to gaining insights you don’t get from a book

• The challenges of balancing sustainable designs and reasonable costs

Our Partner:

Are you an international civil engineer who got your degree in another country and wants to become a PE in the US? Then this episode is for you! This week I talked to Haral Adler, who details his journey coming from Uruguay to passing his FE & PE in the US and validating his foreign credentials and work experience to get his license. If you find yourself in the same shoes, this episode is a must if you want to be a PE in the US!

Tune in to Learn:

• How to register with NCEES as an international civil engineer with foreign credentials

• With his two-and-a-half-month exam prep schedule you can steal

• A new mix of breadth and depth questions he got on his exam that you can get on yours

• Tips for those taking the Construction Depth Exam on the PE

• How to get "unstuck" on theory problems when you don't know what to do

• The tool he used to take a full-blown CBT practice exam that simulated the real PE

• Why he chose Civil Engineering Academy to help him pass the PE Exam

• What he enjoyed the most about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

• The process of actually getting the PE license after passing the PE Exam

Our Partner:

Have you seen the “CFM” initials after someone’s name and wondered what it is and how to get it? 🤔 Then this is for you! In this episode, I talk with Matt Fanghella about what the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification is, what goes into the CFM exam, his own journey jumping through the hoops to prepare for it alone, and a brand new prep course he put together to help you become a CFM too. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• What’s the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Certification?

• What professionals should be looking into becoming a CFM

• What does the CFM Exam look like and what goes into it?

• Matt’s 5-month journey to becoming a CFM

• What he faced in his journey that led him to create the first CFM prep course

• Why take The Ultimate Certified Floodplain Manager Review Course?

• Key roles and responsibilities of a Certified Floodplain Manager

• The professional and financial impacts of having the CFM designation

• Why CFMs will be needed more than ever in the future

Resources Mentioned:

Picture this, you work in Transportation and have experience in Construction. Which PE exam do you take? Water Resources! “What?” That’s right. 😂 Today’s guest is Cameron Mclaurin, a previous student of our course who did exactly that, and he explains why in this episode. He also reveals some sweet exam prep tips that helped him, and some guidelines on what to do on test day.

Tune in to Learn:

• His views on his decision to ditch the FE in school

• The challenges of passing the FE Civil Exam seven years out of school

• How career opportunities he didn't get prompted him to pursue licensure

• What he does for work at the New York DOT

• A job flexibility aspect when working for a DOT that you'll love

• Why he chose The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

• His biggest challenge preparing for the PE Exam (and how you can handle that)

• The unusual reason why he chose the Water Resources Exam

• One way to get your hands on the codes and standards without going broke

• What that caught him off guard in the breadth section

• Exam day tips and and how the procedures work at your testing center

• Non-studying things you should not neglect when preparing for the PE

• Does he recommend The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course?

Our Partner:

Struggle to find time to study for your PE Exam or lack motivation to do it? Then check out this interview with Brenton Kreiger! He does awesome work with Engineers in Action building bridges in underserved communities across the globe. And guess what? He managed to pass his Structural PE Exam with a flexible work schedule given his remote team in different time zones! 😲

Tune in to Learn:

• His journey switching from Environmental to Structural Engineering

• What does the work of a Structural Engineer in bridge design looks like?

• What is Engineers in Action global initiative and the work is does worldwide

• The two ways you can get involved with Engineers in Action

• His motivation for going for his PE license (and why you should know yours)

• How he balanced exam prep and work with a remote team in different time zones

• The time management technique he used to find study time in his busy schedule

• Advice for those preparing for the Structural depth exam on the Civil PE

• A Structural topic that appeared the most on his PE Exam

• Why you should get a PE review course help you own your studies

• The #1 thing you need to do to in your exam prep to crush the PE exam

• What he thought about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

Our Partners:

Are you in the Geotech world? Or even better, a woman in Geotech? 🤔 Then you’ll want to listen to this interview with Kimberly Martin, an engineer who’s been knee-deep in Geotech from Day 1 and now leads the sustainability efforts for Keller in North America! 😲 In this episode, she details her own journey and experiences in the field to help you craft your own successful career in the Geotech world as well. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The value of advanced degrees for a career in Geotech

• What’s sustainability in geotechnical engineering?

• The areas of Geotech you can go into

• The crucial work of geotech engineers for any project

• Her international work experience as a geotechnical engineer

• What she does at the Sustainability Department at Keller North America

• An easy way to get your foot in the door at global companies like Keller

• Advice for women to thrive in geotechnical engineering

• Career challenges and how to overcome them

• Best organizations for geotech engineers and women in Geotech to join

• Tips for engineers going into management

• Why geotech rocks and why it might be the perfect fit for you

• The best ever tip to pass your professional exams

• Getting the PEng in Canada with the PE

FREE Download:

Is mass timber the future for tall buildings in seismic regions? 🤔 Well, it may be! In this episode, Mark and I discussed the Tallwood Shake Table Test, which tested cross-laminated timber (CLT) as an alternative material for seismic zones. Contrary to concrete frames that crack in the face of seismic forces, CLT uses a low-damage system! 😲 Check it out ⬇️

Tune in to Learn:

• A seismic testing of tall wood structures called the Tallwood Shake Table Test

• The promising future of cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a construction material

• The sustainability of wood vs traditional concrete and steel

• Enhancing the fire resistance of wood, especially when used in taller structures

• The cost implication of wood compared to traditional materials

• Addressing specific downsides of wood before adopting it for tall structures

Our Partner:

With the infrastructure bill and autonomous vehicles, transportation will be a hot industry for the years to come! So today, I interviewed Case Fulcher detailing what the work of a transportation engineer looks like, the software tools they use, the certifications that can help your career (and the ones that don’t), and a lot more! It’s a gold mine for those interested in going into the field, so you’ll want to give it a listen if you’re one of them. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• His unusual story switching from a career as a chef to Transportation Engineering

• What the daily work of a Transportation Engineer looks like if you're considering it

• What software do Transportation Engineers use — and that you should learn?

• The biggest challenge in road safety today

• How autonomous vehicles will impact the industry — and create a need for engineers

• Does a Master's or PhD really matter for a career in Transportation?

• 2 aspects of Transportation Engineering that other engineering disciplines lack

• A key piece of advice for civil engineers who want to pass the PE Transportation exam

• A non-engineering topic that you should consider learning to supercharge your career

Our Partner:

Here’s a fact: civil engineers go to school to learn civil engineering. So, does it mean you can't make your dream of working for yourself or having your own firm a reality? 🤔 Absolutely not! Today, my guest is Brian Liu, the founder of Archipelago. It’s a professional services network that helps you with all the backend business work needed to keep your engineering practice or firm running. Check it out! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• What the Archipelago professional services network is all about

• A little-known deficiency in the AEC industry that Archipelago solves…once and for all

• How Archipelago helps civil engineers who want to work as independent consultants

• The business aspects the network helps civil engineers with in their private practice

• What types of firms can join the Archipelago?

• Advice for civil engineers who want to start their own firms —and why it’s easy today

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Did you know that policies to blend the PE license with other types of professional work, such as hairstylists, have been going around?! 😲 Today’s guest is Jennifer Ziegler, a civil engineer who’s been on the policy side of the profession, including on Capitol Hill. She dives into how these laws and acts affect your day-to-day, the current actions to make sure they serve the profession, and how you can — and why you should — help shape them as well.

Tune in to Learn:

• How public policy impacts civil engineering — more than most civil engineers realize

• How to get involved in shaping civil engineering policies...without being a politician

• Jennifer's education journey into the policy side of the profession on Capitol Hill

• What she does today for her water and environmental engineering work

• Becoming the Vice-President of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute

• 6 mind-blowing, career-boosting reasons why you should become an ASCE member

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Ever thought of moving to a different city for better career opportunities? Yes? 🤔 Then the ASCE has a selected number of them you can start with in their Best Places for Civil Engineers Index. This is a compilation of the top 10 best places in the country for civil engineers based on different factors that go into the life of a civil engineer. If you're considering a move, listen to this to find where to head to! 😉 

Tune in to Learn:

• The top 10 best US places for civil engineers to work and live in 2023

• 3 important factors of a civil engineer's life used to come up with the list

• Why the highest-ranked place is extremely attractive to those in Water Resources

• The two places in the top 10 that were a big surprise this year — and why

• The two main aspects that makes these places the best cities for civil engineers

• What you should consider before moving into these places right away

• How the remote and hybrid work aspects factors into the index

Our Partners:

Here’s news you don’t hear every day: passing the Civil PE Exam as a mechanical engineer. Yeah, that’s what our guest today did…after 15 years out of school. 😲 Brett Van Hazel is a mechanical engineer who found himself working in more civil-related jobs his whole career and decided to switch his exam to Civil PE — and it worked! If you’re in the same situation but think you're stuck with the Mechanical PE, you need to listen to this episode!

Tune in to Learn:

• Brett's journey to crush the Civil PE Exam...as a mechanical engineer

• The Civil topics mechanical engineers tend to struggle with — and how to master them

• How he managed to find time to study every day with wife and two kids

• The breakdown of his 6-month exam prep plan you can steal

• What caught him off guard on the exam that you should pay attention to

• What made him choose CEA's PE review course that other courses don't deliver

• One aspect of the course he couldn't believe was true — but worked on exam day

• The importance of the PE license for every engineer's career goals and job opportunities

• One key component of the course he knows is the main reason he passed the exam

• What those preparing for the PE should have in mind while going through it

Our Partners:

With climate change becoming the biggest challenge ahead, environmental engineering will dominate the stage. If you have an itch for it and have been wondering how you can get into it as a civil engineer, this episode is for you! Our guest today is Adrienne Burrows, an engineer at Black and Veatch heavily involved in the environmental arena. She lays out her work in the field so you know what you’ll be doing and uncover what you need to succeed in it.

Tune in to Learn:

• Her path going back to school for her second degree just to get into engineering

• 4 essential skills any engineer should have — neglect them at your own peril

• When do people skills become an important part of an engineer's career?

• The differences between working at smaller versus bigger firms

• How to get involved with the projects you want, even if your firm has a rigid structure

• The biggest work challenge faced by engineers today

• Her top career tip for young engineers just starting out

• 3 tips to handle any type of problem at work

• Why being a "jack of all trades" is necessary in the workplace — to some extent

• How much highly technical work do engineers really use on their workdays?

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Not sure whether to go to grad school? Our guest today is Riley Post, a PhD Candidate who has been heavily involved in Water Resources for 10+ years operating reservoirs, locks, and dams! 😲 In this interview, he touches on how to decide between work experience versus academia, what may cause you to choose one over the other, and the value of the PE license for both (yes, you read that right…both!)

Tune in to Learn:

• Riley's unusual path into Water Resources coming from Structural Engineering

• Flood control reservoirs vs locks and dams (hint: most people get this wrong)

• Why he went for a PhD and his research on the country’s flood control infrastructure

• One question to ask yourself to decide whether you should go to graduate school

• The definitive best time to tackle your Civil FE Exam

• Why the PE matters even to those in academia — and especially to those out of it

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You can pass the Civil PE Exam as a repeat taker…if you go about it the right way. Today’s guest is Wade Broussard, who failed it on his first try, but instead of going on a downward spiral of negativity, he came up with a plan, became obsessed with it, and crushed his PE Transportation exam. In this episode, he dives into everything he did, from the headspace he was into his exam prep routine to test-taking strategies he used on exam day.

Tune in to Learn:

• How Wade laid out a plan for his success on the PE Exam after failing it

• How much preparation time he had and how he balanced work and study

• Tips to those taking the Transportation depth section

• How the codes are given to you on exam day (Hint: it's not what you think)

• Time management tips for test day to keep you at ease during your exam

• How The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course helped him and his experience with it

• The secret to passing the PE Exam — and you're probably not doing it enough

• What your mindset should be if you're a repeat taker

• His guidelines for taking practice exams to put exam-like pressure on himself

• How the CEA Community of students helped him keep the momentum in his exam prep

• Logistics and lunch break tips for your exam day you should take to heart

• Why should you choose Civil Engineering Academy over other courses?

Our Partner:

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own engineering firm, stop everything right now and give this a listen! Scott Wible, PE, SE, had that goal ever since his college years, worked hard with the goal in mind from Day 1 to learn the skills and pass his exams, and now is the owner of Wible Engineering. Today, he details his own journey and all the things he did to get to this point — which you can replicate to get there as well. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• His journey from structural engineer to structural engineering firm owner

• How his years as a full-time engineer at a firm taught him the skills to start his business

• How he passed the SE Exam on his first try — and tips for you to do the same.

• Will the SE Exam be more difficult when it goes computer-based?

• The 3 attributes you need to achieve professional success

• The 4 biggest benefits to starting your own engineering firm

• Being a solopreneur vs working with a team — plus one aspect that can help

• How to overcome the challenge of balancing work and life as a business owner

• How niching down can help you get client work flowing in…literally.

• Should you scale up your engineering firm or stay solo?

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If you think you need to be studying every free second you find on your day in order to pass the PE Exam, think again. “What?! 😲” Here’s proof: Hannah Copeman crushed her Structural PE Exam on her first try doing the opposite. How, you ask? In this episode, she shares what worked for her, the realistic way to go about preparing for this thing, and how to kill it on exam day. It’s all in here! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• How she balanced full-time work with studying and passed the PE Exam on her first try

• How much time do you need to prepare for the exam? I mean, the bare minimum?

• Is the Civil FE harder than the PE? (Hint: It may be!)

• The hardest part of the Civil PE exam — and it's not the technical content

• The approach you should use to tackle questions on exam day

• One aspect of the search function for the codes and standards you didn't know about

• Why crushing the morning portion is the key to passing the exam

• Her tips for those taking the Structural depth exam

• What type of Structural Engineering theory questions you can expect on your exam

• What score do you need on your practice exams to know you're ready?

• Why your exam prep shouldn't be only about studying (yes, you read that right!)

• Her 3 favorite things about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

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If you keep failing your exams over and over again and have started to think you don't have “what it takes,” stop…right now! Our guest today is Makenzie Allen, who took her FE exam three times and her PE exam twice! What made all the difference in her final, successful attempts at each? She did something during her studies that set herself up for success — and you should do too.

Tune in to Learn:

• Her journey from the hair salon to the civil engineering world

• Tips for women to make it through engineering school

• Her experience passing her FE and PE exam with our courses after failing multiple times

• The right way to deal with failure on your exams

• One thing you should do if you keep failing your exams over and over again

• 2 little-known tips for those taking the Transportation depth exam

• How can you prepare for conceptual problems on the PE Exam?

• How to solve questions starting with the answer choices…not the problem statement

• Do you still need the Civil Engineering Reference Manual in the CBT exam era?

• Her biggest secret to passing the PE Exam that will hit you hard, but it's true!

• What she enjoyed the most about The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course

Our Partner:

Picture this: you’re a stay-home dad taking care of three kids while preparing for your exam. Interesting? That’s exactly how today’s guest started his journey toward becoming a PE in the US! In this episode, Jonathan Espiritu dives into the steps he took to get licensed in the US as a Filipino engineer, and dives into the tips fellow Filipinos and international engineers alike can use to crush their NCEES exams and do the same! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• His journey from the Philippines to oil & gas in Saudi Arabia to a civil engineer in the US

• The main differences between the Philippines and the US in the civil engineering field

• His FE exam prep as a stay-home dad with 3 kids (yes, you read that right!)

• A time management technique he used to find study time he didn't think he had

• How he found Civil Engineering Academy — and why it was crucial to his success

• How a career opportunity led him to change his depth exam

• 3 tips for those taking the Civil PE Exam

• The astonishing difference in difficulty between breadth and depth questions

• Why you already have what it takes to crush theory problems on the PE

• Tips for Filipinos interested in becoming licensed PEs in the US

• What is the NCEES approval process like for international applicants?

Our Partner:

Ever wondered how you can work as a civil engineer for the federal government? Then check this out: my guest today is Alex Kolkena, a professional civil engineer who worked his way into the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In this episode, he details his own steps, dives into the pros and cons of working for the US government, and answers all your questions about how you can do the same! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• Alex's journey into civil engineering from the military side

• How to land a job at the US Army Corps of Engineers — and what it's like working there

• The two most notable military projects he worked on as an engineer in the armed forces

• The biggest challenge of the Civil FE Exam and his top 2 tips to prepare for it

• The tricky secret of the Civil PE Exam that makes you fail if you don't get it

• How you should deal with failing your exams and how to go about your next attempt

• Pros and cons of working for the federal government

FREE Download:

Do you feel like the work never ends? That you don’t you have enough quality time with your family? That you’re not as productive as before? If yes, then you might be stressed out. In this episode, Mark and I dive into how civil engineers can navigate the stress that comes with the work, from stress triggers and symptoms to ways to cope with it for your sanity.

Tune in to Learn:

• Is Civil Engineering a stressful profession — if yes, is it worth it?

• Subtle stress triggers you need to pay attention to in your day-to-day life

• 5 obvious signs you're completely stressed out that most engineers neglect

• 10+ strategies to get your stress levels down to zero

• Decisions you make yourself add even more stress to your career

• How hobbies can be effective tools to cope with stress (if done right)

• Why the Quiet Quitting trend relates back to stress mismanagement

Our Partners:

If you plan to become a professional civil engineer, then this episode is for you! Today, Mark and I dive into the latest NCEES Squared report detailing the stats about its professional exams (aka your FE, PE, and SE exams), the current state of licensure in the country, and the organization's programs to help you track your PDHs and get licensed in other states — and even from other countries! 😲

Tune in to Learn:

• The total number of test-takers by exam type

• Insights into the SE Exam transition to CBT in 2023

• The NCEES Records Program — and how it helps you get licensed in other states

• An easy way to track all your PDHs in one place with the NCEES CPC tracking system

• 2 possible reasons for the decrease in the overall volume of exams

• Why were the Surveying exams the only ones that had an increase in volume?

• Places outside the US where you can take the PE exam and earn the PE license

• 2 STEM outreach organizations supported by the NCEES

• The official NCEES podcast — and the story behind how it started

Our Partner:

If you’ve ever thought of going into management roles or even venturing out on your own and starting your own firm, then this will serve you well. My guest today is Sol Rosenbaum, who went from engineer to manager to firm owner in his 17+ years in the energy field. He dives into each one of these roles to help you understand their pros and cons and decide what’s a better fit for you. Check this out! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• Tips for engineers who want to start their own business, from a firm owner himself

• The biggest business mistake Sol made when starting his own firm that you should avoid

• 4 reasons engineers don't start their own business — plus a simpler alternative to try

• Considering a master's degree? There's one thing you need to know before you go for it

• The 2 main certifications in the energy engineering world — and it’s not the LEED

• The biggest challenge with implementing energy-efficient projects

• The most common software tools used in the energy efficiency industry you should learn

• Challenges engineers face going into management — and how to decide if it's for you

Our Partners:

Want to go into Transportation Engineering? 🤔 Then this episode is a must! Our guest today is Paul Slone, a senior engineer with 31 years in the industry. He dives into the ins and outs of the field you need to consider, gives career advice you need to live by to set you up for success, and even details how much you can expect to make as a Transportation Engineer! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• How much money can you expect to make in the transportation industry?

• A long-lasting problem faced by constantly Transportation Engineers

• The biggest challenge of the Transportation industry today — and why it benefits you!

• The best two types of transportation projects to work on, in Paul’s opinion

• The standard transportation software tools you need to master

• One aspect causing the promise of the Infrastructure Bill to fall short

• 3 things young professionals should to do that Paul wish he had done

• How to correctly mentor younger professionals at work

• Why engineers don't (naturally) make good managers — and how to learn the ropes

• The single reason many engineers avoid management and leadership roles

• What's the Slone Transportation Institute?

Our Partner:

Passing the PE exam on the first try is no small feat. But passing it on the first try after being out of the industry for 10 years and as a single, full-time working mother of two kids, that’s a huge deal. And guess what? Today’s guest did just that! 😲 In this episode, Erin Friednman unpacks all the aspects and the lessons that went into and came out of this incredible journey.

Tune in to Learn:

• The challenges she faced getting back into the civil engineering industry after 10 years

• The single most important tip for the FE Exam is to boost your chances of passing

• How she passed her PE exam on her first try as a single, working mother of two kids

• How much study time should you put into PE exam prep?

• The  resources she used to prepare for and crush the Transportation depth exam

• A simple exam-taking strategy most PE takers neglect on exam day — but shouldn’t!

• 3 ways you can make a comeback into the industry — even if lacking the technical skills

• The most underrated benefit of taking the PE exam to your career, even if you don't pass

• A key element of your exam prep that's key to passing

  
  

Our Partner:

Today’s guest is Ziad Mazboudi, a civil engineer with nearly 40 years of hands-on work experience in various projects, both in the private and public sectors, who also help with disaster and emergency responses. Building on his own successes and failures, he answers your most pressing career questions — and gives you the secrets to succeed at it. 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• The importance of hands-on work experience on the job site for civil engineers

• Why civil engineers do NOT just do what they specialize in

• How to deal with emergencies and unexpected events in a project or at work

• The single key trait that separates the best and the worst engineering managers

• What it's like to be a civil engineer working in the public sector

• Government vs private sector: which one is the best option for your own career?

• What's the ASCE Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee?

• 3 tips to stay on top of your game in your professional career over the years

• Why the PE license is a must-have for your civil engineering career

• What is the best time to take your professional FE and PE exams?

Our Partners:

Can you pass the PE Exam after receiving the news you failed…without taking it again? 🤔 That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Amanda McFarland! In this episode, she talks about her PE exam prep, detailing all the aspects that made her succeed and how on earth this happened to her. She also dives into her fascinating story of drastically switching career paths as a mother and the concerns she had to overcome to do it. It’s all in here! 😉

Tune in to Learn:

• How Amanda passed the PE exam after receiving a "fail” without taking it again.

• The only 3 things you need to balance work, family, and studying for the PE Exam

• Why a review course is worth it and how it makes your exam prep a lot easier.

• A key non-study aspect of your exam prep you're neglecting — and how to solve it

• The best resources she used to crush the Water Resources Depth that you can steal!

• Why you should practice under exam-like conditions (plus an easy-access tool to do it)

• Is it true that civil engineering is a career path that doesn't allow for schedule flexibility?

• The challenges of drastically switching career paths as a mom — and how to do it

Our Partners:

All technical education is important to be a successful civil engineer — but not alone. Today’s guest is Yara Hammad, a bridge engineer who came all the way from Egypt and had to stretch out of her comfort zone to make it in this field. From going to grad school and passing her professional exams to dealing with technical challenges at work and being a woman in a male-dominated field, she dives into the non-technical skills that helped her along the way. 

Tune in to Learn:

• The #1 challenge she faced as a woman in civil engineering — and how to solve it

• One possible reason why women apply to a lot fewer job positions than men

• 2 skills you need to learn to supercharge your career but that are not taught in school

• The most challenging aspect of becoming a civil engineer — and the most rewarding

• A piece of career advice to young professionals she had to learn the hard way

• 2 exam prep tips that will make your FE or PE exam way easier

• What is it like to have a spouse that's also a civil engineer?

Resources Mentioned: