Civil Eng work experience if I offer to work for free?

breadmonkey

Anyone tell me if I might have a chance of getting work experience with a civil eng contractor of I offer to work for free?

I'd almost totally given up on the idea of going into the profession since I graduated last summer but I really want to see what the contracting side of things is like before I fully decide.

I'm well aware that people are being made redundant etc. but just thought I'd test the water.

Eoin D

breadmonkey wrote: »

Anyone tell me if I might have a chance of getting work experience with a civil eng contractor of I offer to work for free?

I'd almost totally given up on the idea of going into the profession since I graduated last summer but I really want to see what the contracting side of things is like before I fully decide.

I'm well aware that people are being made redundant etc. but just thought I'd test the water.

It's a bit unethical for any company who is letting people go (and most are) to go on and have someone do the same job for nothing.

You could give it a shot but I doubt any contractor would do it, I'm not saying they're all ethical but the work probably isn't there in the first place

breadmonkey

Hmm, that's a fair point. Would I really be displacing anyone though considering I'd be in at the lowest end with no experience?

DJDC

Dude the industry is in ruins after years of oversupply and greed. Move on.

browneire

Rock on, you wouldn;t be displacing anyone. Most contractors take on 5% students. These jobs don't really displace anyone - they tend to use students to backup a senior and remove them from more menial stuff. Your better off making a good application stressing your eagerness to work fiir little remuneration than for free.

vincenzolorenzo

DJDC wrote: »

Dude the industry is in ruins after years of oversupply and greed. Move on.

Thats a very flippant remark. The guy has just spent 4 years in college studying to become a civil engineer and unfortunately has come out at exactly the wrong time. You can't say to someone to just give up on a whole career path just because things are bad at the moment.

OP, have you looked abroad or are things just as bad everywhere?

godtabh

DJDC wrote: »

Dude the industry is in ruins after years of oversupply and greed. Move on.

Are you bitter about the construction industry or the enigneering industry?

The engineering industry isnt all about construction.

breadmonkey

vincenzolorenzo wrote: »

Thats a very flippant remark. The guy has just spent 4 years in college studying to become a civil engineer and unfortunately has come out at exactly the wrong time. You can't say to someone to just give up on a whole career path just because things are bad at the moment.

OP, have you looked abroad or are things just as bad everywhere?

No I haven't looked anywhere. I've been travelling for the last 8 months and just arrived back into the economic apocalypse:)
EDIT: Should have said in the OP that I'd nearly given up on the profession because I didn't think I'd like it, not because of job prospects.

I'll give it a bash and see what happens. Can't hurt to try.

While we're at it - anyone have any views on the future of the industry in this country? Most of the major roads will have been built in the next couple of years so does that not mean that work will dry up for roads and bridges departments?

Don't rule out Belfast - I just noticed that my company are still looking for people for summer internships up yonder. Nothing in the RoI though.