I graduated with a Bachelors in Chemistry and a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Currently, I work as a Water Resource Control Engineer for the California State Water Resources Control Board. My previous work experiences range from working as an Environmental Engineer for the US Air Force, a Cancer Researcher for a private R&D company, and a Teaching Assistant at my graduate school.
Now I'm showing others how to become a successful Environmental Engineer and what it's really like in this field.
On this channel, I talk about - Environmental Engineering and other related topics - Sometimes personal growth and self-development
Sir my son graduate bs invironmental science.major in engineering magement.as cumlaude in central luzon state university.phillipines.i need a job of my son.
Unfortunately, the program ended June 2024. I did get paid all throughout since I started around 2022. I'm just waiting for the last months of the paycheck as they're wrapping things up and closing things down.
I want to work cleaning up the streets people are so not grateful for where they live it's so not cool seeing all this garbage but it's not just garbage and where would I put all the garbage I get if I could have a job cleaning the streets I'm sure I could make a difference
this isn't disappointing, this is a win! you're moving into a more legit engineering job. compliance is more for environmental scientists. And thank you so much for the pay transparency. I'm in an interview process now, so it helps me in negotiation. Also, I think water resource control engineer sounds pretty close man! it's not like you jumped ship and went and became a cruise ship dancer! lol
Thank you for the great info. The transparency in all of the details you provided is great. Not a lot of people share the exact details and amount they make.
Basically, if you want to do fascinating cutting edge research, u need to get a Phd, become a professor and do research. If you work in industry, you are doing practical things. I actually did the first option and i found the "cutting edge research" to be boring because it has no practical application. 😂 And u are saying u are bored by the practical application stuff. This is hilarious. And i never thought thats what environmental engineering was ... EVER. i never imagined utopias
Heyy, amazing video, after watching this I am proudly going to tell everyone that I want to pursue environmental science and engineering in college. Currently a junior In high school.Would you recommend an environmental science degree or enviroenmental engineering degree. Or schools like Harvard have degrees called BS/BA in environmental science and engineering
I would recommend environmental engineering. It is more flexible and engineering covers most of what environmental scientists do. Plus, you get paid more with an engineering degree.
Hi! I know I'm a little late but I was wondering if you would know if they would accept mechanical engineers to work in this field as well? I was thinking of switching to environmental engineering now (going into sophomore year), taking an environmental science minor, or just going into a environmental engineering Master's once I finish my ME bachelor's degree but I'm not too sure lol
Mechanical Engineering is very different from environmental engineering. You would have different responsibilities. My entire floor was mostly Civil Engineers/architects, so I wouldn't know if they had any postings for mechanical engineers or where they worked if they had their own separate building/floor.
This seems like such a nice, low-stress work environment! I'm an upcoming freshman at the University of Michigan hoping to major in Environmental Engineering and work a job like this!
Is an "Environmental Engineer" a specific title that does multiple things like: Identify problems; Make solutions; and carry then out Or are there specific titles that fall under environmental engineer?
@toastedchurro4508 I can’t answer that for any employer because that will depend on them. It will depend on your experience but the major itself is broad enough to cover those topics.
Been waiting on a new video. I start my civil engineering program next fall, after I finish my associates in construction management next spring. I’ve been narrowing down what discipline I want to focus on once I’m done with school. Thanks man all the best !
Hi brother. My respect to you cuz while I'm being motivated to be an Env.E. the only in detailed outline for the carrier I found in your channel ❤🙆🫡. I really glad to know how much of work time have to be covered in a day as an Env.E. ** specially in private sector** cuz everyone cannot get government opportunities. I really worry about it. Could I experience work- life balance and spend enough time with my family. ***Actually I worry about that than earning more nomey*** I'm beginner to the field.
I’m currently a high school graduate who has no idea how does environmental engineering works and whether I’m determined enough for it since I am not really confident with my chemistry and biology although I like them, thanks a lot for this video tho.
If it's unpaid, it should be easier than finding a paid internship. Just advertising yourself as "free" should attract companies and employers. Just know your limit and don't find yourself being manipulated.
question for ya! Im looking to apply for a WRCE position but am seeing I need to take the Water Resources Control Engineer Examination. I'm a bit unclear if this is a technical exam I need to study up for? Did you have to take it?
No, you don't need to study for it. All government jobs on the calcareer website make you take some mini exam prior to applying to any position. They are easy and honestly, you could just lie your way into answering the correct answer. Examples are, "how many year of experience do you have with XYZ?" I would exaggerate and answer a reasonably high amount of experience even if it's not true. I say that because, if you don't "pass" this exam, you cannot apply for the job. In they end, no one really looked at that exam or even cared about that score. At least when I applied.
Can you be an environmental engineer with a abet acredited chemical enginerring bacherlor's degree? my engineering school doesn't offer environmental engieneering major
Yes, so long as the university is ABET accredited. Not every university will have that exact Environmental Engineer major but most jobs are flexible with who they hire, as long as your major is somewhat related.
I don't have a college degree but have been working for Drinking water laboratories as an analyst to assistant QA Manager to Project Manager for about 7 years now. I have worked with many districts and municipalities managing there projects for their monitoring schedules and have dealt with many DDW engineers. What would be the likely hood I would get hired by DDW not having the educational background? I would love to work as a WRCE.
The job requirements and salaries are pretty rigid. They might only hire college graduates with an engineering degree. Depending on the hiring team, if your resume makes it through and you pass the interview process, they may hire you but offer you the lower salary range. From my experiences and talking to colleagues, they all had engineering degrees. Previous work experience pales in comparison to certification. I don't agree with their processes in selecting candidates either, but that's just how it is.
@@RandyLy thank you very much for the reply. I went ahead and applied for County of Riverside just to see what happens. I’m almost 30 and am back in school but I’m years away from graduating with an engineering degree. 😅
All specializations are equally important and there is no one correct answer. It is better to focus on what are the problems near your area and target that. It is easier to find a job that way because the engineering problems in my location are probably different than at yours.
Nice video man. When will part 2 come out? I’m currently looking at both public and private opportunities and would like to know your advice in private.
Hello I’m a chemistry major and I’m about to graduate what are some tips that you would recommend for me to be able to get the job what is the board looking for
I've worked in I formation technology for over 9 years... and just suddenly realized that my calling is supposed to be in environmental engineering... what's your advice for shifting careers and starting especially for getting into environmental engineering?..
Shifting careers after 9 years is going to be extremely difficult. IT to environmental engineering are very different, and you would probably have to start from the very beginning. I wouldn't recommend this if you have responsibilities and other family matters. That being said, you don't need to change job titles in order to help the environment. You could possibly switch jobs to use your IT skills aimed towards environment and sustainability. I am sure some tech firms have some sustainability department.
Not really. I traveled to different facilities once a month and had one big travel once every 9 months. The distance between the local facilities was 20-30 miles from my office and the big travel was 300 miles away.
I don’t do much math as a marine engineer, obviously I use basic arithmetic, but things like trigonometry, calculus, ect I rarely need to use. Most real world engineering is what I like to call “precision guess work”🤣 Most of the stuff I design and build is seat of the pants engineering. You have a good idea exactly how strong something needs to be, and what size material is required. You design in a safety factor and call it good. Overbuilt is always a good thing especially in the marine environment where corrosion and environmental factors are unpredictable. I could calculate everything out but three isn’t any point when your using “unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge” Build it like a brick shithouse and it’s going to last a long time!
Thanks for the video. Wondering if you could tell us about your position now and maybe if your salary range has increased now that you have 5 years experience. Thanks so much for your helpful videos!
I am still in Range C and am working on getting my PE license to jump to Range D. When I first joined this position, I started at the minimum point in Range C. It jumped 5% now with my 2 years of experience at this job. I think they only consider past work experience when gauging whether I should have started with Range B or Range C.
If I plan to join the Air force reserves. Would I need further schooling/certifications to get my foot in the door? I'd love to hear about how long it takes and the steps you made to go from young airman to Engineer.
Sounds like you’re taking a PE exam review course. I took EET for Civil WRE exam and I passed it in October 2021. It’s a great class. Good luck. It then took the board nearly a year to approve my application because of deficiencies. Then life happened and I’m studying for seismic now. Seismic is just as much effort and work as the 8 hour tbh. I have no structural or surveying background either. Just a BS in environmental engineering. I really think the whole process is unnecessarily brutal. How are we supposed to have a life when we’re working studying non stop? The whole profession should send us all to a month long bootcamp or provide paid training/studying time during work hours.
I am taking EET also for the Civil WRE exam. I'm about halfway through the course and Professor Nazrul is an amazing teacher. I don't have any experience in seismic or surveying either, so I'm prepared to take prep courses on those subjects as well. I'm sure I'll fail one of them throughout my journey.
I currently work in the water/wastewater treatment field and I’ve been trying to decide which PE exam to take - the Civil WRE or environmental. After checking the EET website it seems the WRE and environmental course is combined. I have a BS in environmental so I’d have to learn quite a bit about things I didn’t learn in undergrad if I went with the Civil WRE. I guess what I’m trying to ask is, do both offer flexibility in types of jobs you can have?
@@alyssalawrence7187 Hi Alyssa, I live in California and according to the NCEES website, the PE Environmental isn't an option in California, so I had to go for the next closest thing which was Civil WRE. I just took the Civli WRE exam last week and passed my first attempt with the EET prep course. I highly recommend them. I didn't have any background and it's been more than 5+ years since I was in college. I'm not exceptionally smart by any means, but I believe their teaching style is great for anyone and even beginners with no experience can pass. I think you are required to register for a field in which you are practicing. For example, it wouldn't make sense to take the mechanical PE if you are an environmental engineer. That would just make passing that exam even more difficult.
Hey, I have just passed class twelve. I am thinking of graduation in Env Science. Then, i persue Mtech in Env Engeenering through GATE ( Indian Exam) . Do you think it would be okay to do this?. After mtech Should go for ( Ph.D ) or job ??
Hi Randy! I wonder do environ engineers nowadays spend a lot of time in front of a screen(PC/laptop)? What type of environ engineer would typically spend the least amount of time using a computer, and what is the estimated total duration during an 8-hour workday? Thank you so much! 👍
The job title can be the same, but responsibilities vary depending on the company. Most of my experiences as an “environmental engineer” are mostly office settings. Estimated like 6 hours a day on the computer screen. Most days are practically the whole day at the desk while some days are one whole day out in the field at an inspection site.
@@RandyLy it’s difficult but i’m projected to end this semester with a 4.0 gpa and a summer internship at my school. The whole field is very interesting to me and the rewards sound very much worth the hard work 😁
Great video. I’ve been working for the construction agency in NYS as an engineer for the last 10 years. There’s not a whole lot of money at first, but you can build up to a decent income. The benefits are great. Very good health insurance, 5 weeks of vacation, almost 3 weeks of paid holidays. Easy to use sick time. A State car to drive. Only 40 hours a week. A lot of space and freedom to run my projects. And the PSLF program paid off my $84K school loan. But yes, there is a ton of bureaucracy. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely suits many people.
Always good advice! I've been thinking of applying for a few government jobs after working in the private sector. You definitely gave me lots of things to think about!
I think acquiring private sector experience will really boost your chances to get into the public sector. The hardest part of the public sector is just getting your foot in the door and it's practically impossible without any prior experience.
What are some points or advice that you would give to a student who is entering his masters in envi engineering trying to get into the public sector. What do we need to do during our grad school that would help?
During grad school, take advantage of all the career center events. This is a great way to network and get your resume out. Use their resume workshops and inquire for any internship opportunities. Ask classmates or professors for any internship or research opportunities.
