“I like having a place at the table,” Erin Robinson, EIT, M.ASCE, a water engineer at Arcadis, said when asked what she values most in the workplace as a young person in civil engineering.
Finding a path to the table can be tough in the early stages of a civil engineering career, and without the chance to dive into their work, young engineers could miss out on vital opportunities to learn and grow in their careers.
“It’s important to be trusted that you can do the work,” said Bilal Awan, EIT, M.ASCE, a structural engineer at Colliers Engineering & Design, who sees being given responsibilities and independence – with openness to ask questions – as one of the most important things for young people in the workplace.
But how can young civil engineers establish the trust they need to grow? The answer starts with community.
Robinson, Awan, and many other young civil engineers shared their thoughts on what makes a positive work environment for young people during the 2025 ASCE Younger Member Leadership Symposium in August. The event brought together early career civil engineers from across the country for speeches and workshops dedicated to personal and professional growth in the pursuit of leadership positions.
The theme that stood out across their answers was the desire to connect with other civil engineers around them. Find out below what four young civil engineers value in a workplace community.
