What's your job about?
Crang Civil are consultants who provide civil engineering advice and designs to modify an area of land so that it can be used for a specific purpose. As my projects are in the design stage, my daily work currently includes liaising with other specialists involved in the projects I am working on, performing calculations to assist in our designs and reviewing production drawings before they are distributed to other parties. Civil engineering covers a wide scope of work, as we can be involved in a project from the beginning of the design stage to the end of the construction stage. This means that as the projects you work on progress, your daily tasks change to suit the stage which your project is up to, which keeps what you’re doing interesting!
What's your background?
I escaped Huntly when I was 16 and have been living in Auckland ever since. You would think that escaping NZ’s sweetest town has been my greatest milestone in life and you’d be correct. Since then, I figured I might as well make the most of being a free man. I got to my current job position by following the tried-and-true boomer advice of going to university and studying. Shout out to the boomers because this actually worked and I got a summer internship with Crang Civil. At the end of my internship, I asked if I could stay full-time when I finished my studies, mainly to avoid having to do more job interviews. I have been doing my job for 3 years and let me tell you, time flies.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Of course! A university background helps to build a technical foundation, however, civil engineering involves so much more than technical knowledge. A lot of the growth in civil engineering comes from experience and learning on the job. So long as you have a good mentor and a willingness to learn, you can thrive in civil engineering!
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is driving past a project I’ve worked on and seeing the land being used for something productive. I take pride in knowing my work has a tangible contribution to society.
What are the limitations of your job?
Civil engineering is part of an ever-changing industry where you need to constantly learn to keep up with the current practices and standards. I find that being in the office and surrounded by my peers is the easiest way to keep up to date. It is possible and generally accepted to work from home these days, however, I don’t believe it is the most effective way to spend your initial years as a civil engineer.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
I would advise myself to get more involved with the engineering student societies, own being a nerd and relish the holiday periods because future-you will miss those