Robert Quach

Senior Exhibition
Lesson 5
Career Research Essay: Environmental Engineering

The researched career that I have chosen is Environmental Engineering. Environmental

engineers have the duty of responding to environmental problems. They must research the problem and
then find and test the solution to it. Environmental engineers typically face problems with water and
air pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, and public health issues (Environmental Engineer Job
Description). One major task of an environmental engineer is to inspect various facilities and address
any environmental problems that might come with it. They need to evaluate any hazards, then
determine ways to deal with them. For example, environmental engineers may need to plan and design
new water infrastructure facilities to replace old, aging ones. Essentially, environmental engineers must
ensure that the environment is safe for our society by maintaining and quality-checking essential civil
matters. In order to become a professional in this field, one must have the skills and abilities that are
vital to it.
A professional environmental engineer has a wide range of skills and abilities that make them
successful. The most important skills to have include: reading comprehension, critical thinking, active
listening, speaking, and judgment and decision making (Explore Careers :: Environmental
Engineers). They must be able to understand what they're dealing with, use their logic and reasoning
to identify solutions, determine which solution is the best, all while communicating their ideas and
information with others. The key abilities to have as an environmental engineer include: problem
sensitivity, deductive reasoning, written comprehension, oral expression, and information ordering
(Explore Careers :: Environmental Engineers). Engineers need to be rational when making
decisions, and realize that some choices are not optimal. Before environmental engineers adapt and
utilize these skills, they must first seek out the education and training applicable to their job.
Universities that offer training in the field of environmental engineering include: UC Berkeley,
UC Irvine, UC Riverside, and Stanford University. One would be able to acquire this training by

Robert Quach
Senior Exhibition
Lesson 5
attending the school's respective Engineering school. One example of this is UC Riverside's Bourns
College of Engineering (BCOE). In order to move into the career of an environmental engineer, one
would have to obtain a degree in Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering. The average salary
for environmental engineers is $90,120 in California, which is where I plan to reside (Explore
Careers :: Environmental Engineers). Typical starting salary is somewhere between $48,000 and
$60,000 (Strauss). One way to increase salary would be becoming a certified professional engineer.
This certification, acquired through a national examination, will allow a person to be promoted
amongst their positions, thus allowing for a better salary. Another way to increase salary is by merely
continuously obtaining experience in the field. As one gains more experience and knowledge, one
becomes more valuable to the organization or company they represent. This allows for a natural
promotion and higher earning.
A career that relates to environmental engineering is civil engineering. Both environmental and
civil engineers design projects that help benefit the environment. The difference is that civil engineers
focus more on constructing large-scale projects, while environmental engineers focus on more
essential, maintenance projects. Another career that is related to environmental engineering is a public
interest lawyer. Both work to protect and serve the public and improve the overall lifestyle of a society.
The difference is that public interest lawyers focus more on protecting the interests of the people,
whereas environmental engineers focus more on protecting the interests of the foundation of society, as
well as the environment. Out of the two, the career that most similarly interests me is civil engineering.
This is because civil engineering, like environmental engineering, involves designing and building
projects that will benefit the community.
I believe I would be successful in this career because it fits my personality survey results very
well. Based on the survey, my strengths include: patiently following instructions and guidelines and
completing all requests for information carefully and accurately. As an environmental engineer, you
will have to inspect various facilities and address environmental problems. This ties into my strengths

Robert Quach
Senior Exhibition
Lesson 5
well because I can effectively follow guidelines and solve problems accurately. These strengths,
amongst others, will help me succeed in this career. After extensively researching environmental
engineering, I've come to the conclusion that this is a career I am interested in pursuing and I believe I
can perform very well in.

Robert Quach
Senior Exhibition
Lesson 5
Bibliography

"Career: Environmental Engineers." Become an Environmental Engineer - Careers The College

Board. The College Board, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
"Environmental Engineer Job Description." Environmental Engineer Job Description. America's Job
Exchange, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
"Explore Careers :: Environmental Engineers." Family Connection. Naviance, n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
Strauss, Eric. "Starting Salaries for Environmental Engineers." Work. Hearst Newspapers, LLC, n.d.
Web. 27 Apr. 2015.