Early Career Civil Engineers’ Trajectory Study: Development of the Career Trajectory Survey (CTS) Instrument

CONTEXTInternationally, there is a disconnection between one’s obtaining an engineering qualification and working as an engineer. The reasons for this are complex and not fully understood. Professional engineers provide an undisputed contribution to the global, and Australian, economy, thus identifying reasons for engineers working out of field is of importance. Civil engineers design, build and maintain infrastructure utilised by the community. However, considering that Australia has fewer than 50% of 25-29 year-old qualified Australian engineers working as a professional engineer, low domestic undergraduate numbers and a high skilled migration requirement we need to understand early career engineers’ trajectories.PURPOSEEngineering graduates would be better equipped for the future if they understood their potential career trajectory, as would the educators that need to prepare them. This study aims to fill identified knowledge gaps in an engineer’s career trajectory with particular reference to identifying the critical influencing factors impacting on pathways of early career civil engineers. METHODOLOGYOur Early Career Civil Engineer Trajectory (ECCET) Study uses a constructivism worldview to undertake an exploratory sequential mixed methods study of early career civil engineers (ECCEs) including those working out of field. We have developed the ECCET Concept Model, grounded in the Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA) and the literature on professional engineering practice and persistence. We have also developed the Career Trajectory Survey (CTS) instrument guided by the ECCET Concept Model and deployed Phase 1 (a pilot survey) with 26 participants. The pilot survey is currently undergoing analysis. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES Our ECCET Concept Model proposes new constructs, with five critical influential factors impacting on an individual’s career trajectory. These factors are categorised by the focus on Person (Individual’s Abilities and Skills, Influences and Values), Environment (Organisational Support) and the Adjustment between them. The deployment of the Career Trajectory Survey (CTS) instrument through three phases will establish the validity and reliability of the instrument and refinement of the ECCET model.SUMMARY Filling these knowledge gaps in an engineer’s career trajectory can ensure the attraction, retention and success of ECCEs in the engineering profession, reducing Australia’s high need for engineering skilled migration. This knowledge of an ECCE’s trajectory will be used by engineering educators, professional bodies and engineering graduates