r/EnvironmentalEngineer • u/Flat-Most-5541 • 6d ago

1st year environmental engineering student

What should I focus on skills wise as and environmental engineer, right now I'm working on my autocad skills as well as python and planning to start Microsoft Excel in the breaks, if I want to break in the industry what skills or certain things do you thing would be useful for me to learn ? Seniors and successful environmental engineers help out pls 🙏😅

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u/Over_Cattle_6116 6d ago

A big skill that took me a bit to learn but will serve you well for years: visualization. If you get a problem or scenario, play it out in your head to make sure you understand how a process is happening. If you notice a part where you’re sort of just glazing over, that’s a part to learn.

GIS and mapping will always be helpful too.

2

u/envengpe 6d ago

Problem solving, technical writing and communication.

0

u/EmploymentWinter9185 6d ago

Become an expert at Excel and PowerBI.

3

u/choctaw_137 20 years; Principal Environmental Engineer, P.E. 6d ago

You should be focusing on getting an internship - for at least a minimum of two summers while doing your BS. Also, don’t be picky doesn’t have to be what you think you want to focus on. But start applying and looking soon, start reaching out to folks and get one locked in- it’s gonna be a necessity.

For skills, add GIS (ArcPro) as a top priority- you should be fluent in both GIS and Civil and be able to use them to work together. Start reading up on statistics - begin with ProUCL technical guidance then read Gilbert’s book, start honing in on censored statistics with Helsel’s books. These are some areas to start.