Diploma in civil engineering has the lowest rate of placement records among all other streams, even though more than 60% of the annual budget in India goes to construction industry directly or indirectly. So, keeping in mind, in this article we are about to discuss various available career options that a diploma holder in civil engineering can consider.

Diploma in civil engineering is a 3-year diploma course offered by various government and private polytechnic institutes. In this course students learn about planning, designing and drafting, surveying, estimation, costing, material testing, and construction, etc.

Diploma certificate holder in civil engineering can find employment in the various design and construction industries including highways, Railways, Bridges, Industrial Structures, research organizations, water supply corporations, ports and harbors, and many other construction projects.

However, a considerable amount of unemployment is being experienced in the civil engineering field and these numbers are increasing year by year.

Possible Reasons for the increasing unemployment among diploma holders in civil engineering:

1. Diploma holder positions are being occupied by degree holders
2. Most of the diploma holder only prefer jobs in the government sector.
3. Lack of proper guidance and career counseling.
4. Students skill sets are not in tune with the current industrial requirements.
5. The increase in the use of automation in industries.
6. The gap between supply and demand for employment opportunities.

These are the best career option available after diploma in civil engineering. Students are advised to choose their career options keeping in mind of their financial condition, area of  Interest and family concerns.

Career options after Diploma in Civil Engineering

1. Higher Studies

This is one of the best career options for diploma in civil engineering as it enhances your credibility as an engineer and increases your earning potential. It opens the door of several opportunities. Many colleges offer lateral entry for diploma holders. That means you can directly take admission into the second year of Engineering.

After engineering, if interested can do post graduation and further Ph.D. and could become researchers or may work as faculty members in Engineering Institute.

 Some of the colleges that offer later entry in civil engineering

1. Kalinga Institute Of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar
2. Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE), Mumbai 
3. Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Mumbai
4. Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal
5. Delhi Technological University, New Delhi
6. R. V. College of Engineering, Bangalore
7. Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune
8. Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
9. Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
10. ICFAI University, Tripura
11. University Visvasvarya College of Engineering, Bangalore
12. Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi

2. Government job

Most of the diploma holders of civil discipline choose this path. A government job gives you career stability, job security, Higher pay-band, Respect in society, and many other additional facilities. Civil engineering diploma holders can apply for clerical, apprentice, technician, supervisor positions in various government departments. One can also work as a lab assistant in various govt. universities.

The competition level for govt. jobs are really high So, you must do your preparation accordingly. 8-9 hours of daily study and practicing mock tests can ensure your success in any government exam.

A Diploma Civil Engineer has access to the government sector for employment through competitive exams likes SSC, RRB, PWD, and several other authorized exams. Indian Railway and SSC JE hire diploma engineers in bulk So, you should target these exams.

There are various job opportunities in Central and State Government sectors for diploma holders in civil engineering.

Some of the popular government recruiters are:

• Indian Railways
• National highway authority of India(NHAI)
• ONGC
• Steel Authority Of India Ltd.
• DRDO
• PWD & Irrigation Department
• Government Housing Schemes
• Municipal Corporations (Town/Rural Planning and Development)
• State Electricity Boards (MHEB, etc)
• NTPC Ltd
• Government Mega Construction Projects (Dams, Highways, Roads, Bridges)
• Central public work departments(CPWD)
• Indian Armed Forces
• Water Boards

Quick tips:
Join the best coaching center if required. Study daily for 8-9 hours and also make a time table for the proper utilization of time. Complete your syllabus thoroughly. Practice mock test and previous year questions.

3. Private sector job

After completing your diploma, there is two general career path for civil engineers. Either you can work in an office, deal with design projects, handle clients Or work directly on construction sites or different projects. civil engineers may find work in construction consultation companies, Designing companies, Construction and Developer firms, Contractors, Building material supply firms or any other industry that is dependent on construction.

You can search for different job portals and employment newspapers for the latest job vacancies. If you are fresher, don’t miss any opportunity and try to grab your first job as it gives you practical exposure in the field and makes you a valuable asset in the future.

Some of the well-known recruiters are:

• DLF
• L&T-ECC
• TATA Realty and Infrastructure
• SPCL
• Reliance Infrastructure
• GMR Infrastructure,
• Hindustan Construction Company
• IRB Infrastructure
• Punj Lyod

Quick tips:
Upload your resume to different job portals like Naukri.com, Monster India, etc. Daily update your profile – Mandatory If you want job quickly. Strengthen your fundamental knowledge Prepare for technical and HR interview

4. Short Courses

Diploma in civil engineering is a professional course and it includes all the important topics in the syllabus that are required to get a job. However, you can do specialization in any subdivisions as per the current industrial demand.

Short courses boost your professional skills and help you to stand out. These courses make you an expert in a specific area that can meet the requirement of the market. There are so many courses available in the market. You can choose as per your personal interest. 

These short courses can be done between 6–12 months. learning a new skill is always necessary for career growth. Nowadays many institutes provide placement assistance after the completion of course. So, before taking admission always do your own research and also try to take demo classes.

Few short term courses for civil engineers:

1. Autocad
2. SCADA
3. 3d Home Architect
4. Design of Lightweight structures
5. SAP
6. Water & Waste management
7. On-site Safety
8. Fatigue of structures
9. Linear Modelling
10. FEM
11. Quality surveying

5. AMIE

AMIE (Associate member of the Institution of Engineers ) is a B.Tech level examination regularly conduct by Institution of engineers and it is recognized by all State Governments, Central Govt., AICTE, UPSC, etc as equivalent to B.E/B.Tech.

After getting certified, a person gets equal opportunities for job as well as higher education in both Govt. and private sectors, just like a graduate engineer. It is a worthwhile degree for students who are employed or preparing for government exams and can’t pursue a regular Engineering degree from an Engineering College in India.

One of the best benefits of doing engineering from Amie is that after clearing Group A you can apply for Gate examinations. Above all fees is quite nominal as compared to regular colleges. After completion of AMIE degree, you can apply for different graduate levels exams like IAS, civil services, GATE, GMAT, GRE, CAT, and various other government exams.

6. Abroad jobs

Getting a job and working in a foreign country has lots of advantages in your professional development as well as finance. The demand for supervisory level posts are always high and Indian are most preferred for engineering jobs among many countries. job in abroad gives you the opportunity to explore a new part of the world, immerse yourself in a new culture, and travel where your specific skill set is most valued.

For an overseas job, either you can apply through the job portals or you can also directly apply on the company websites. Once you are shortlisted, the company usually arranges for all the paper works that are required.

Chances for freshers are little less as compared to the experienced candidate so it is advisable to work for a year or two in your home country then start finding a job abroad.

Always do a background check of the organization you are applying and where you are planning to travel. Talk to those who have worked before and also seek advice from employers, embassies and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to make sure that you’re fully informed before you go.

7. Self Employment

After completing a diploma in civil engineering you can also become a job provider by becoming entrepreneurs and can start your own construction company. And you can also register yourself as a contractor with various public sector undertakings. There is also other options/field you can choose to start like designing, manpower handling, safety, etc.

However, Starting a new business can be quite challenging. But, as an engineer, you possess some characteristics that will make the overall process a bit easier like problem-solving ability, optimistic thinking, sound technical knowledge, etc. If you are really Interested, nowadays there are plenty of resources and organizations that can help you out.

In order to become a successful entrepreneur, you need initiative, sound commercial sense, motivation, creativity and leadership skill. Good news is that the Indian Government is also providing the initial loan for startups under schemes like make in India and start-up India.

I have tried my best to cover all the available career options after diploma in civil engineering in this post. However, If you have any doubt regarding career or job comment below or mail directly to: admin@careerslite.com.