Where to start.... I suppose the biggest career decision I made was picking Civil Engineering in UCD. I did Tech Graphics for my Junior Cert. I liked drawing things from the different angles, imagining what you would see from different views. I suppose that was when I first considered Engineering. My dad is an Engineer. I liked the idea of not sitting in front of a desk all day long. In saying that, wasn't too sure about standing in the rain in the winter. Engineering seems to give the middle ground, best of both worlds!

When I was picking my leaving Cert subjects I did think about doing Tech Drawings, but French was on at the same time. To go to UCD to do Engineering I needed a language, and science subjects. As much as I enjoyed the drawing, I wanted to keep my options open! I enjoyed maths in school. In 6th year I decided to do Applied maths for the leaving as well. I just did it for the year, Once a week and a bit of homework. I really enjoyed solving practical problems with diagrams, maths, thinking about it all logically.

My parents were supportive, but one thing they never did was tell me what to do! The idea of working similar to my dad, not always in the office, seemed good to me. When I finished college, I decided to work in a Consulting Engineering firm first. There I worked in the office designing Water Supply Schemes. I go out of the office usually a couple of times a week for site visits and meetings on Design.

When you are working in the office there are many people around, all ready to help you when you need it. You get to see all the different things you can do with Engineering. It was talking to the people I worked with, who had learnt so much working on site, that made me leave the comforts of the office to work on a construction site.

The job was advertised in the paper and on the council website. I filled in the application, waited patiently for an interview, and happy days, here I am.

I am on site at the moment working as an Assistant Resident Engineer. I am supervising construction work of a Water supply scheme for the council.

Every day presents it's own problems. I get to work for 7.30am.  A few times during the day I walk around the site and make sure I know who is working. I answer questions for the contractor about the design, sometimes there are mistakes in drawings, or they have suggestions of different ways of building and I have to check if we are happy they are as good as the original design. I check levels to make sure its being built at the right height. I carry out concrete testing so we are sure we are getting the right concrete. I measure what they have built so we know what to pay them. I suppose no day is typical!

My main task is to supervise whatever project I am working on to ensure that it is being built to the correct design and specifications and to help resolve any problems or questions which might arise from the contractor. 

As with most jobs there is the continuous challenge of working to client deadlines while trying to ensure that high standards are maintained at all time. 

Working outside in the sunshine!  Again, there isn't much I don't like.

Being outside in the rain! On site there isn't really the same social aspect as there is in the office. You are only working with a couple of people on site. The work -, there isn't much I don't mind doing really.

Teamwork and good communication is important. you need to be able to work with others, and be able to admit if you've made a mistake!

In hindsight, I am happy to say I wouldn't have done anything differently to date! In my Junior Cert I did 9 subjects ; Maths, Irish, English, History, Geography, Science, Business Studies, French and Tech Graphics. I liked Languages and history the least. I won't lie, Maths, Geography, and Tech Graphics were the ones I enjoyed the most.

When I was choosing for my leaving Cert I still hadn't decided what I would do when I was finished. I was thinking of Engineering, Teaching or Physiotherapy. I wanted to leave my options open. To do physio you need a language (to get in to UCD) and 2 science subjects. I decided to do Maths, Irish, English, French, Geography, Physics and Chemistry for my leaving. That left all the options open.

I was good at Business Studies, but after looking at courses in college, I discovered you don't usually need a business subject to get into a business course. This is not the case for Science based courses. In 6th year I took up Applied Maths. Since I was doing Physics and Maths I had a good background for the subject. Twenty classes and just homework, and I got an honour. If anyone was to ask me if they should do it, if you like maths, its a great subject!

• Secondary school - St. Davids in Greystones.
• College - Civil Engineering Degree (UCD. . . . Best 4 years of my life). 
  

I suppose maths and drawing, I enjoyed them.

I spent 2 years working on the design of a water supply scheme. Now I'm on site supervising the construction. When it's complete I'll be able to say I helped design and build those two reservoirs for Sandyford Industrial Estate.... Happy Days.

I like working with people. Engineering is all about team work. I'm also organised, and positive. There are no problems, only difficult solutions.

The one I have!  I'm happy as I could be.

Engineering is a secure job. There are jobs in Ireland, and all around the world in Engineering. There are long days sometimes, but not all the time. As a lifestyle, Engineering presents a good lifestyle. I play football , and my job never interferes with that. My dad is an engineer too, and he was always around at home, evenings, weekends. The pay isn't bad either.

There is a great social aspect to Engineering, social events through work, keeping in touch with friends from college. Progression is good. There are many types of employers in the Enginnering world, they all encourage training on the job, any I've met have anyway.

If you like working with others, and like problem solving then its definitely worth considering. Do you ever look at a bridge/skyscraper etc. and wonder how they did that? Or better still, are you looking at the way the road at home is laid out and thinking if they had of done something differently it would have been better.

Engineering is not a career people think about and say its helping people, but in many ways it is rewarding and just as much about helping people. Engineers design things used everyday that help people get to work, provide clean water, provide sewerage systems, care for the environment....

As Engineering is all about team work you need to be a good team player. You also need to be a problem solver and very organised.

The Kooks

Shawshank Redemption

People clicking the top of a pen over and over!

Aquarius

Further training as part of my job as a Civil Engineer, nothing specific planned at the moment.

Further Education..... as much as I enjoy my job as an Engineer, I still have not ruled out Teaching. I am still considering doing Secondary School Teaching. As a qualified Civil Engineer, if I do a one year course in Teacher Training (H.Dip.ED), I will then be able to teach Maths and Applied Maths in School. Its worth remembering that!  

After four years in a course, its good to know you're not tied to the career, but you will always have the profession!  Engineering is a degree in problem solving. Getting a job in Engineering, Research, Teaching, Accounting, Management - its all possible.

A summer placement working in an architects or engineers office would be useful.  A  couple of summers working on a building site can also provide a useful insight.