Building Your Personal Brand as a Civil Engineer

Engineering is a competitive field when it comes to finding a well-paying job, especially when you are first starting out. A couple of decades ago, engineering graduates with a bachelor’s degree could easily obtain positions in their desired fields straight out of school, even without internships/high GPAs/extensive networking. For most people, those days are gone. Today more people are interested in pursuing a career in STEM fields without a proportional increase in the job market. This means it is more important than ever to present yourself in the best light possible to potential employers. Building your personal brand as an engineer is an important step in establishing yourself as a credible and respected professional in your field. When I first started my career, I thought this meant printing your resume on nice paper and having business cards. While those things may certainly enhance your professional image, there are many more important ways to build your personal brand. The following article contains some tips on how to build your personal brand as a civil engineer.

1. Identify Your Specialty

As an engineer, you have a specific area of expertise. It is important to identify what that is and focus on building your personal brand around it. Typically, engineers identify their specialty as one of the following: geotechnical, water resources, structural, heavy civil, construction, or even landscape architecture. However, I would encourage you to dig deeper and build your brand around a more specific niche. For example, floodplain mapping, seismic analyses, or dam safety. This will help you stand out from other engineers and make it easier for potential employers to recognize your unique value. This is particularly helpful when marketing yourself on places such as LinkedIn.

Young engineers often work on a variety of projects. For this reason, it is likely that you are knowledgeable in a variety of areas. Make sure you build your brand around a niche that you actually enjoy. You do not need to be the leading expert in your field, but you should be able to clearly articulate your niche/expertise as well as where you see yourself going in the future. It is okay if your vision and goals change over time. Nobody is going to hold you to something you’ve said if you want to change direction in the future. The important thing is to come across as someone who is confident and is working towards something.

2. Create A Portfolio

Showcase your work in a portfolio that highlights your skills and achievements. This could include work samples, case studies, project descriptions, and testimonials from satisfied clients or colleagues that you can put on your website or hand it out when applying for a job. It is important to note that some firms and/or clients do not want copies of their reports or drawings to be available to the public. For this reason, it is important to respect your clients’ privacy when creating your work portfolio. A portfolio is an effective way to demonstrate your expertise and build credibility. Creating a portfolio of your work can take time, but not very many engineers go through this exercise, so it is an easy way to stand out. I have received good feedback from potential employers when I have given them work samples.

3. Participate In Online Communities

Engage with other engineers and thought leaders in your industry by participating in online forums, groups, and discussions. This will show that you are interested in your work and will help you build relationships with other professionals in your field. Participating in online communities will also increase your visibility online. When posting in online communities, refrain from complaining about your employer, clients, coworkers, or the industry in general. It is important to project a positive image online.

4. Share Your Knowledge

Share your expertise by writing articles, creating videos, or speaking at events. This will help establish you as a thought leader in your field and increase your visibility to potential clients or employers. Consider being a guest on a podcast. As your progress in your career, speaking and writing will become increasingly important. Practice talking about your projects and expertise early in your career so communication with clients comes easily as you progress into project management.

5. Network

Attend industry events and conferences to meet other professionals in your field. Build relationships with colleagues and other professionals who can provide opportunities for you to showcase your skills and build your brand. Before attending a network event or conference, set a goal. For example, you may want to make it a goal to meet at least three new people at a networking happy hour. If it seems appropriate, exchange business cards and follow up. Following up with an email or LinkedIn invitation after connecting with someone at an event where they probably met many new people is important if you want them to remember you. Make sure you include something in your email or LinkedIn invitation that helps them remember your conversation. This can be difficult if you meet many new people in a short period of time. That is why I will keep a small notebook where I can jot down a few notes after meeting someone for the first time.

Before attending a conference, I recommend reading Conference Crushing: The 17 Undeniable Rules Of Building Relationships, Growing Your Network And Crushing A Conference Even If You Don’t Know Anyone and going through all of the exercises in the book.

Finally, avoid falling into the trap of believing that simply belonging to a professional organization is “networking.” In my opinion, simply belonging to an organization that does not offer the following is a waste of money: 1) an opportunity to participate in a subcommittee or leadership position, 2) at least 2 events per year that are worth attending, and 3) resources that will help you build your technical knowledge. For example, I was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for several years. While ASCE is a great organization with a lot of clout in the industry, I had a difficult time finding opportunities to get more involved in the organization because there are so many members. For me, it has been much more beneficial to join a few smaller organizations that have allowed me to serve in leadership positions and on subcommittees.

6. Build A Strong Online Presence

Create a professional website and social media profiles that showcase your expertise and experience. Make sure your online presence is consistent and professional, and use it to share your knowledge and engage with others in your field. Not only does creating a personal website help build your online presence, but it is also an exercise that allows you to practice marketing yourself to potential employers.

7. Be Authentic

Your personal brand should be an authentic representation of who you are and what is important to you. Be true to yourself and your values, and let your personality shine through in your online and offline interactions. With that being said, it is important to follow social norms. While it may seem like following social norms seems counter to being authentic, it is important to remember that the purpose of many social norms is to make others feel comfortable in your presence (e.g., acknowledging personal space, not talking too long when it is your turn to speak, etc.). Social norms also provide a structure that is necessary for collaboration and cooperation, which is important in professional settings. It is also important to remember that it is okay to have a professional self that is a bit different than your home self or friend self. I recommend checking out this video if you are wondering how to be your authentic self in a professional environment: