Being Civil Engineer : Advantages and Disadvantages.

Before taking up Civil Engineering as an option you need to have to look on the advantages and disadvantages of being civil engineer in real world as sometimes this job really test your physical and mental Strength.

Advantages : 

I would say the advantages of being a Civil Engineer are very many in comparison to the disadvantages. Here are the details:

1. As a Civil Engineer you can get employed in Govt or Private sectors or you can start your own consultancy firm or get into contacting where you can become self employed and also give livelihood to a certain number of people.
2. As a Civil Engineer the structure you help build, be it a house, factory, bridge whatever gives you immense job satisfaction, if you play your part with honesty and integrity.
3. The people you construct houses for will remember you all their life and this makes you do your work honestly.
4. As a Civil Engineer you get to meet lot of people and work & interact with a lot of people. The exposure you gain from this will make you a better individual.
5. As a Civil Engineer you are a team player and a team leader, helping you gain skills that cannot be done otherwise.
6. The earnings of a Civil Engineer only increases with his experience. There is nothing like retirement for an experienced Civil Engineer.
7. With a few years of experience, Civil Engineers can change jobs at will, subject to gaining appropriate skills required.
8. The public perception of a Civil Engineer is high as civil works are more visible and affect the day to day life of people. A good work done is remembered for ages.
9. There is lot of scope for creativity in Civil Engineering. Each project being unique there is no monotony. Your work speaks for you.
10. The ratio of the number of Civil Engineers to the total work force in a company is very less and hence greater pride, recognition and respect.
11. Scope for research, use of new materials, new technology etc., is endless. One can continue to learn and experiment all his life.
12. A Civil Engineer designs and builds a house, a boat, an aircraft and a rocket (as a part of a team of-course).

This list can be endless. It truly is a very dynamic field.

Disadvantages:

There are some disadvantages too:

1. As a Civil Engineer one needs to prepared to work on the field in difficult working conditions and remote work locations.
2. The first and the second job for a Civil Engineer doesn't come easy as employers look for experienced people and ready set of skills.
3. Several works end in controversies with poor quality and workmanship. This is bringing a bad name to Civil Engineers in general, although this may not be a general rule.
4. While performing Civil Works in countries like India, there is lot a political intervention which results in unsatisfactory work.
5. Some how there is a misconception in the minds of parents that learning Civil Engineering is easier than other branches of engineering and hence lot of kids not equipped to become one, end up as Civil Engineers.
6. High merited students opt for other branches of engineering as campus placements and initial salaries are much higher in those branches.