Career Dilemma: The Right Path for a Civil Engineer

Recently, I met a young engineer who completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from a reputed college in NCR in 2017. Over the years, he has worked in three to four jobs but has never been satisfied with his role. Frustrated and unhappy, he keeps switching jobs in search of something better. He came to me seeking guidance on how to move forward in his career.

He was also curious about the offline and online training programs offered by Protecon BTG. During our one-hour conversation, I realized that this young man had very specific expectations. He is a civil engineer but does not want to work on-site. He dislikes dust and outdoor work. Instead, he wants a white-collar job—a comfortable office setting with a laptop, air-conditioning, and other conveniences.

After listening to him, I shared my honest perspective. I told him:
“If you are a civil engineer but unwilling to work on-site, then perhaps engineering was not the right career choice for you. However, since you have already chosen this field, you should consider your degree as a stepping stone. Like millions of others, you can explore options such as Civil Services, GATE, or other government job exams.”

I further suggested that if his family’s financial situation allowed, he still had three to four years to prepare for government jobs. Another great option was pursuing an MBA from an IIM, which could completely transform his career. If CAT wasn’t an option, he could enroll in an executive MBA program for working professionals from an IIM.

He responded, “Government job preparation takes too much time and effort. For the last six to seven years, I’ve been searching for better opportunities, but in the process, I’ve lost much of my technical knowledge. Now, I just want a high-paying job as a civil engineer.”

He explained that he had approached me for two reasons:

1. As a career coach, he trusted my advice.
2. As the director of Protecon BTG, he believed I could guide him towards a valuable training program.

He mentioned that he had been following me on social media for a long time and had seen me mentor many young professionals. He asked, “If you have helped so many others, please help me too. If I enroll in a Protecon BTG course, how beneficial will it be for me?”

I informed him that Protecon BTG currently offers two relevant courses that could help in career growth:

1. “Planning to Billing for Construction Industry“ – A 20-hour online course for working engineers, which he could enroll in immediately.
2. “Project Management & Controls“ – A six-month offline training program, with the next batch starting in July 2025.

He then asked, “If I complete the online course, can you guarantee me a job?”

I firmly responded no and suggested that he instead join our offline “Project Management & Controls” program, which is a 12-month structured program:

• 6 months of classroom training
• 6 months of on-the-job training

The job placement process begins immediately after classroom training and continues until the candidate secures a job.

I also clarified that after completing the program, if he secures a role as a Planning Engineer, Cost Engineer, or a similar position, he should not assume that he will never have to visit a site.

I strongly believe that every engineer must visit the site at least once. Engineering is not just theoretical; it requires hands-on exposure. Unless an engineer has observed the construction of roads, bridges, high-rise buildings, refineries, or gas pipelines, how will they understand their strengths and weaknesses? How will a project management professional analyze real-world data without understanding field conditions?

Therefore, whether you are a civil, mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineer, you must be open to site visits. Doing so will significantly boost your career prospects.

Finally, I left him with one important thought:
A job is not about personal preferences; it is about fulfilling the needs of the organization you work for.