Project managers in any technical discipline bring a wide range of skills and abilities to the table. Those who work in civil engineering combine these capabilities with others unique to this niche within the engineering world. Needless to say, well-rounded individuals able to see a project from many different perspectives tend to thrive in this role.

So what makes an idea civil engineering project manager? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding the Triple Constraint is Vital for Any Project Manager

Most projects — civil engineering and otherwise — rely on something called the triple constraint, which describes the interrelationship between time, cost, and quality within said project. A common refrain regarding this constraint states “you can have any two of those three.” In short, if you want something done quickly and cheaply, the quality will suffer.

Civil engineering project managers must have the ability to successfully balance the three items on the proverbial triple constraint. This takes great technical and analytical skills combined with intuition as well as strong communication abilities, especially when a project is taking too long or goes over-budget. Navigating the triple constraint is why project managers are well-paid.

Financial Skills are a plus for the Civil Engineering Manager

Most civil engineering projects must be completed on time with superior quality. Thus, being able to understand the financial aspects of a project is vital, considering that a project completed quickly with no defects will usually stress that project’s budget. Understanding costs and finances is an important skill of the project manager.

Don’t forget Leadership and People Skills

A civil engineering project manager is also a leader with exemplary people skills. The ability to inspire other engineers and team members plays an important role in the success of any project. Ultimately, the best engineering project managers are great leaders who inspire their team members to a high level of performance.

If you are a civil engineer looking to move into a management role, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top staffing agencies in Washington State, and a great source of Seattle civil engineering jobs, we can help your career immensely. Make it a point to meet with us today!

While it serves nicely as THE social network for business, LinkedIn is also a place where interested engineers are able to display their thought leadership. The site provides a platform for business leaders to share useful content about their specific industries or areas of expertise.

Here are a few steps that you can take to leverage LinkedIn to display your expertise in engineering — something that helps grow both your career and professional network.

Use your LinkedIn Profile as more than a Résumé

Be sure to regularly update your LinkedIn profile. Not necessarily with new work history or professional industry group memberships, but use it to publicize accomplishments. Things like professional papers, industry awards, and significant work milestones are perfect to enhance your profile. Also leverage the profile’s publications section to highlight relevant written work.

Frequently updating your profile with links to articles you’ve written and other similar activity helps draw traffic and leads to more connections and a larger network. These are good things when it comes time to look for a new position.

Reorder the Profile Sections to Suit your Purposes

LinkedIn allows you to add, delete, and reorder the different sections that make up a profile. If you are fresh out of college with a membership in the National Honor Society or another educational society, emphasize that fact by placing the education, courses, and test scores sections towards the front of your profile. Delete any sections that aren’t relevant as it helps keep the overall profile focused.

Obviously, if you’ve enjoyed a robust career with loads of relevant project experience, this information should lead off the profile. As mentioned earlier, enhancing the profile with publications you’ve written and significant work accomplishments helps you to stand out as a thought leader in engineering or any other field.

If you would like some additional advice on the best strategies for advancing your career in the engineering, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. Since they are one of the top engineering staffing companies in the Seattle area, they can provide the unique insight to help both your and your career. If you are looking for environmental engineering recruiters in Seattle, contact us today.