Which graduate civil and structural engineering employers have the best jobs?

Your first graduate engineering employer can set the tone for your future career, as it defines the focus of your role and gives you your first training and development opportunities. So think beyond the starting salary to what each employer is really like.

Who are the civil and structural engineering employers?

International construction groups provide a wide range of careers encompassing contracting and consulting. You’ll be able to try out a variety of positions and work on major projects.
Multidisciplinary consultancies supply a variety of design, management and other services. You can work on lots of different projects and meet professionals in different disciplines.
Specialist consultancies focus on one or more particular aspects of engineering, such as rail or geotechnics. Ideal if you’d prefer to specialise in one area.
Regional contractors work on all kinds of projects on a regional basis. They’ll be ideal if you want to go into general management or get early responsibility.
Clients are large non-construction organisations that maintain in-house engineers to work on their projects. A chance to try something a bit different.
Local authorities offer all kinds of civil and structural work in a local area. A good option if you want to help your local community or stay in one place.
Utilities companies focus on projects that affect the public directly, such as water, highways and rail. They might be right if you’re interested in these areas.

Recruiter's tip
'Choose the company that offers you a graduate training programme accredited to the professional institution you want, the most varied career opportunities and the best flexibility in terms of location.’
Nicola Young, student liaison officer, BAM Nuttall Ltd

What's the difference between consultancies and contractors?

Generally speaking, consultants focus on design work, spend the majority of their time in the office and have direct contact with clients. Contractors are involved in the actual construction work, and are more likely to do hands-on supervision on site. But there’s no strict divide: consultants spend time on site too, and contractors often undertake detailed design in an office (albeit a temporary one on the construction site). In any case, your decision doesn’t have to be final – most training schemes involve spending some time on site and in the design office, as it’s important for engineers to understand both aspects on the route to professional qualifications.

Does size matter?

It can have a huge effect on the employer culture and the work you do... so yes.

Large organisations are likely to take on a greater number of trainees each year, so you should have a good peer support network. They are also likely to have a more structured training scheme, which may bring opportunities to broaden your experience with rotations in different departments. Career development may be more defined too. Multinational employers may provide opportunities to work abroad, although you might have to wait until you’re more experienced. Even as a graduate, you might be able to take responsibility for some part of a high-profile project worth millions.

Smaller employers may not have such prestigious assignments but they may award more responsibility at an early stage. You’re also likely to gain an oversight of all aspects of the organisation’s work. Smaller organisations tend to be more specialist so they’re a good place to work if you want to develop expertise in your area – or if you already have specialist postgraduate qualifications. If you like to be settled and have a regular social life, you might want to target employers with a specific regional base, such as regional contractors or local authorities.

How do I find out more?

One of the best ways to investigate the fit of a company is to gain work experience during a summer vacation or placement year. You could also ask questions of any friends or relations who work at the organisation. But if you don’t have this insider view, there are other ways. Examine all the available information. A good place to start is with the civil and structural engineering employer profiles here on targetjobs.co.uk. Continue your research at employers’ websites. If you have questions that remain unanswered, call the HR department to ask. Recruiters are always happy to provide more information – as long as it’s relevant and not something that can be found on their website.

Don't forget to use interviews and assessment centres to get underneath the corporate culture, too. If you feel comfortable with the people at an interview or in an assessment situation, then it’s more than likely that you’ll feel comfortable working with them.