What can I do with a degree in Construction/Engineering?

Find out where the range of skills you develop studying construction or engineering can take you. Here we list potential careers and tell you how you can find a job in this sector.

Construction/Engineering careers

The occupations listed below are a selection of those which may interest students and graduates who have studied construction or engineering. With thanks to Prospects and TARGET Jobs for the content on this page.

Please note that some of these careers may require further study.

People in some Construction/Engineering roles may be self-employed.

A construction/engineering degree may be useful in the following career areas:

With thanks to Prospects and TARGET Jobs for the content on this page.

You may be interested in graduate roles outside of Construction/Engineering. There are many employers who are looking for graduates with good degrees but that don’t have a preference for the subject studied. To explore different career options see:

Skills gained

As well as subject-specific knowledge and skills, a graduate in construction/engineering will typically have gained:

  • problem solving and analytical skills in understanding scientific and mathematical principles as well as a systems approach to engineering problems, being able to integrate these skills to solve everyday and practical problems, doing so individually or as a team
  • decision-making skills in dealing with engineering principles and processes in catering to social, environmental, ethical, economic and commercial contexts, activities to promote sustainable development and application of knowledge in legal requirements including personnel, health and safety
  • organisational skills to undertake a high level of professional and ethical conduct, trained in anticipating and responding to constraints such as environmental and sustainability limitations, or health and safety and risk assessments issues, as well as in monitoring production and operation processes
  • commercial awareness skills and persuasion, influence and negotiating skills in understanding customer and user needs, managing costs, having an acute awareness of quality issues, challenges of intellectual property, contractual concerns, and the aesthetics and design required for economically viable products
  • creativity skills to seek out innovative solutions, being able to manage the design process and evaluate outcomes while faced with technical uncertainty
  • leadership skills and communication skills in applying and delivering management techniques to achieve objectives within an economic, social and environmental context, such as planning, self-learning and improving performance and continuing professional development
  • IT skills

(Based on the Higher Education Academy Employability Profiles)

This is not an exhaustive list of skills - you will develop many skills from your course, extra-curricular activities and work experience. You can find out more about the skills employers look for and how you can develop them.

Find a job

The Careers and Employability Service provides information and advice on job searching to University of Kent students and recent graduates. This includes a vacancy database advertising a range of graduate jobs, sandwich placements and vacation work/internships and online resources. The websites listed below may also be useful when searching for a job and when looking for further information on this sector.

Professional Bodies

Job Seeking Sites and Recruitment Agencies

See also:

TARGET Jobs information on construction

TARGET Jobs information on engineering

More websites offering graduate jobs, internships and placement years

You may also find useful reviews and application/interview tips for specific organisations on the following websites:
Glassdoor
The Job Crowd

Further study

Most building and construction graduates go into employment but a small proportion (2.4%) (source) go on to do further study. A higher proportion of engineering graduates go into further study (9.1% for civil engineering (source), 10.1% for mechanical engineering (source), 9.7% for electrical and electronic engineering (source)). This could be to advance their skills and knowledge in a particular specialism, to gain further management expertise or to go into academia, research or teaching.

More information on postgraduate study

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