TCEP 202: How Civil Engineering Companies Can Support Employee Career Advancement

In this episode, I talk to Keith Hall, P.E., PTOE, LEED-AP, the Principal Associate and Traffic Engineering Department Manager with Colliers Engineering & Design about how civil engineering firms can encourage and support employee career advancement at their firms.

Engineering Quotes:

Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Keith:

What are the various credentials/certifications that you achieved throughout your career and how do they benefit your engineering career?

How do you decide on which credentials/certifications to get?

Why is continuing education and development important for engineers?

How do you or Colliers, as a whole, encourage the development of your employees at your firm?

How does a company benefit by enrolling its staff in continuing education and development programs?

What are some of the ways engineering organizations can improve employee development at their firms?

How can mentorship help employees climb the ladder of business success?

Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About Supporting Employee Career Advancement:

Getting credentials/certifications can help you to achieve a standard of practice and demonstrate your knowledge to your firm and clients. Getting other non-technical certificates can also help you provide additional resources to the people in your firm. Having well-rounded licenses and a demonstration of practice in those areas holds a lot of weight to your clients. Getting required certifications will allow you to fill certain roles in particular projects or be a department manager.

When deciding which credentials/certifications you should get, look at which ones will most benefit your career and the company you work for at that time. You can further your credentials/certificates later when you see a new need to advance in your career.

Continuing education and development is foundational to how engineers evolve, become quality engineers, and give back to society. It is a great way to stay up to date with new technologies and innovative solutions that are continually evolving. It allows you to broaden your horizons in fields that were not in your college curriculum. The development of soft skills will always benefit you because it is something that is not extensively taught at the college level and is fundamental in becoming a well-rounded engineer.

Having the development of your employees as a core value in your firm will encourage them to further themselves in their careers. Ensure that your employees have access to courses and certifications and encourage your employees to take part in them. Providing opportunities and benefits for your employees to bolster their resume and credentials, will, in turn, further your firm's credentials.

By supporting employee career advancement in your firm, you enable them to provide quality service and products to your clients. Having individuals who have a wide array of diverse skill sets promotes innovation in providing the best way to promote services and solutions to your clients that best meets their needs.

Engineering organizations can improve employee development by establishing a resource and roadmap that serves as a mechanism to encourage the obtaining of professional licenses, certifications, and professional development. Ensure that there are internal resources that help guide your employees along the way. Promoting communication among your employees who are going through the same processes will help them obtain their certification.

Mentoring is important in employee development as it is an informal-formal relationship. It gives your employees a good view of what the future can hold for them. It provides an opportunity to have conversations outside of your regular sphere of influence. A mentor can provide their mentee with support,