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With an increasing number of construction activities in California, the demand for project engineers is rising. Many top architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the state, including Deacon Construction, DesCor Builders, Forgen, Clark/Sullivan Construction, and many more are hiring talented project engineering professionals across various industries.

Moreover, project engineer jobs often attract AEC professionals as it promises long-term career opportunity, competitive salaries, career advancement, and development. But to get to your dream project engineering role, consider a few tips to stand out among other job candidates/applicants.

Below are some things to know when applying for project engineer jobs, along with a few helpful tips for answering questions in a job interview. Read on to learn how an engineering staffing agency like Certis Solutions can help you get your dream project.

Applying for project engineer jobs? Here’s what you need to know

Apart from a well-formatted resume and captivating cover letter, there are a few other things to work on both before and after submitting a job application to get your desired project engineer job.

Go through the job description

Always remind yourself what you really want from a position before applying to a job opening, and reading through the job description is the best way. Look at your resume and match the job description requirements. This way, you can narrow your search and only apply for jobs that meet your skill set, experience, expectations, and future goals. 

Do your homework

When applying for a project engineer job, carefully read about the AEC firm, its work, projects, achievements, and future developments. This will help you know the company better and prepare you to answer any related questions during a job interview.

Prepare to address things that make you nervous

Addressing things that can put you in a spot before a screening or interview process is important. It could be a gap in your background, bereavement period, or parental leave. The idea is to address issues that make you nervous or uncomfortable. The more you prepare to answer questions related to that particular scenario, the more you become confident to address that issue in front of the interviewer(s).

Top tips for answering interview questions

In a job interview, demonstrate great confidence, work competencies, and zeal to excel in the given role. Dress professionally and focus on all interview protocols to appear as a professional and experienced job candidate. Be prepared to answer every question to showcase deeper understanding and dedication to secure the desired project engineer job. Below are a few common engineer interview questions asked in a project engineer job interview with some useful tips to answering them.

Walk us through the resume

Most interviewers begin the interview by asking this question, expecting you to expand on your professional achievements, educational credentials, certifications, and skill set. The best way to answer this question is by highlighting two or three of your accomplishments you’re most proud of. Share your experiences and what you’ve learned so far to lead to a deeper discussion.

Professional training and certifications

AEC professionals must acquire professional training and certifications, including Engineer in Training Certification (EIT), OSHA safety certificate, and Project Management Professional (PMP), to be proficient in their respective careers. They also help you stand out among other job applicants, so be prepared to answer any question related to the training you’ve received, from which institution, and your achievements to showcase an in-depth understanding of the field.

Managerial and team-building

Regardless of your role, you’re required to work with a team. It could be a group of engineers, managers, project coordinators, or architects. Companies look for professionals who demonstrate excellent management and team coordination.

During a job interview, an interviewer may ask questions about developing a successful team to lead a project, so be prepared to answer that thoroughly. You can quote examples from your previous experience or talk about the importance of each role and how you’ll incorporate them to lead a project.

Goals and expectations

When an interviewer asks about your goals and expectations from the job, break your answer into the short-term and long-term. Talk about what you want in the next three months while describing your short-term goals. Mention things like fitting into your role, getting to know the project details deeply, and coordinating with your team. Also ask about promotions or career advancement, getting into managerial roles, and taking on complex tasks when discussing your long-term goals over the next five years.

Find your next project engineer role with an engineering staffing agency

An engineering staffing agency like Certis Solutions helps reduce the stress and hassle of finding a job by connecting you with top-notch AEC firms not listed on job boards like LinkedIn. The dedicated consultants at Certis Solutions also help you prepare by providing project engineer interview questions to excel in a job interview.

These staffing agencies help you build and expand your network by connecting you with industry professionals that can guide your path to excel in your respective career. Moreover, you get long-term work opportunities and a learning experience by working on top-notch AEC projects. Search jobs with Certis Solutions and get help from highly trained and experienced project coordinators to learn about top AEC firms hiring in California. 

Engineers and construction experts aren’t just needed for building new things. They’re also needed to help protect what we have and to make sure it can be rebuilt in the face of adversity. As humans, we like to imagine everything we do is permanent and that when we’ve finished something, it will remain like that forever. 

Nature has a way of upsetting the balance we create for ourselves. This is why disaster management is such a crucial line of work, and California is among the few states in need of workers in this field. This blog will cover the essentials for those doing their job search in the state. 

Are There Jobs in Crisis Event Response and Recovery?

Every crisis is different. Emergency restoration services and disaster management have many different specializations. These fields are required to help prevent worst-case scenarios, and to aid communities in recovery after the worst has happened.  

Jobs in Emergency Management

Emergency management refers to, generally, the process by which communities and states take actions to prepare for emergencies, as well as coordinate prevention, response, mitigation, and recovery. A good portion of emergency management overlaps with construction, dealing with proper urban design. 

In this sense, emergency management is about both preventing disasters in an area, and  mitigating the effects of those disasters. It’s also up to emergency management to prepare an area through early warning and dissemination of key information.

Often, emergency management jobs will be listed by governments, either at the state or the local level. Most municipalities or tribal bands in California will require specialists in emergency management. In particular, many towns are eager to have experts in preventing wildfire damages as climate change turns up the heat across the globe. 

However, there are also private-sector jobs that specialize in emergency management, preparedness, or consultancy. These businesses work hand-in-hand with local governments to provide the best in emergency management. Examples of these companies in California include Pinnacle and Rincon. 

Jobs in Disaster Recovery

Disaster Recovery is the subcategory of emergency management that deals with the fallout of a disaster after it’s occurred. As soon as a disaster strikes, it’s up to disaster response personnel, such as firefighters and paramedics, to take center stage and focus on saving lives. 

Next, it’s up to disaster recovery experts to get things back to normal, or as close as possible. This gives disaster response experts the onerous task of organizing the rebuilding of public infrastructure, as well as reestablishing any damaged utilities. This involves mixing skills at clean-up with construction and will require knowledge of both water and fire damage restoration services.

Disaster recovery is a booming industry in California because even without the occurrence of major disasters, property damage is constantly happening. In a people-dense state like California, there’s  always a need for experts in addressing damage to commercial and residential construction. Examples of companies in this business include California Emergency Services and MSB Disaster Recovery Services. 

Jobs in Fire Clean-up Services

Fire damage restoration services are another specialized type of crisis event response that has developed its own unique career path. Fire damage repair is a complicated process, and emergency restoration services that specialize in fire and smoke services are highly sought after. 

Fire clean-up service jobs are probably among the most common crisis event recovery jobs out there. House fires are a concern no matter where you live, in California especially. Companies in your area that specialize in this include Service Master or West Coast Fire and Water. Finding companies specializing in both fire and water damage repair isn’t uncommon when job searching. 

Jobs in Crisis Event Response

Whether a crisis is threatening, ongoing, or already in the recovery stage, there’s going to be a significant need for resources and equipment. Crisis event response experts help handle the logistical complexities of making sure critical personnel and resources are where they need to be at every stage of a disaster. 

Government agencies are always on the lookout for experts in crisis response in California. You’ll also find companies that specialize in crisis response or in consultation for it, such as The Response Group or Empathia Pacific. 

Jobs in California for Emergency Restoration Services and More with Certis Solutions

California is at unique risk when it comes to disaster. As one of the most populated states, with extensive infrastructure, it is at the epicenter of many common types of disasters, particularly wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, and rockslides. 

This means that damage prevention and damage cleanup are both big business in California, just as much as the business of construction. Public and private property damage is always going to need to be dealt with, and it’s the emergency service workers who manage to get this sort of work done. 

There are many programs at universities and colleges today that give specialized courses in disaster management and recovery. There are also many trade schools that can give instruction in emergency restoration services, such as fire damage restoration services. If you’re pursuing a career in emergency services, you are most likely aware that contracts only last as long as cleanup is needed. 

At Certis Solutions, we help you easily navigate the process of finding your next employment, no matter your specialization. With our deep-rooted connections in the emergency management industry in California, we can get you deployed to where the people of California need you most. Contact us today to get started. 

By 2027, the demand for the project management-oriented labor force is likely to grow by 33 percent, generating more than 20 million new jobs all across the globe. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI) of the United States, 2.3 million project managers are required in different sectors every year by 2030, including health care, manufacturing, construction, engineering, information and publishing.

As the field is gaining popularity among job seekers and new graduates, it experiences higher competition. The significant reason contributing to this competition also includes the higher annual pay rate, which is more than $98,000.

To get to your dream project management job, you need to stand out among other job seekers by acquiring a diverse skill set and specialized project management certification like Project Management Professional (PMP). PMP sets you apart from other job applicants as this certifies your expertise, in-depth knowledge, and understanding of the respective field.

Below are a few valuable PMP certification benefits you should know as an AEC professional. Read further to learn how Certis Solutions can help you find your next project management job.

Is PMP certification worth it?

Experienced and trained project professionals designed the PMP certification to validate some of the industry’s best and highly skilled project management professionals, making it worthy for career growth and development. It tests project management professionals on three aspects.

1. People: develops soft skills to lead a project and adapt to the changing environment smoothly.
2. Business environment: highlights the link between a company’s strategy and the project.
3. Process: makes sure the technical aspects are in place to manage a project successfully.

Benefits of having PMP certification for AEC jobs

Not just in AEC, but project management professionals are in demand in other sectors, including health care and the environment to overlook, plan, execute, and manage different projects.

Moreover, firms are only hiring professionals with exemplary subject knowledge, experience, and skills to perform the various tasks, which is why you should acquire PMP certification. Other than validating your credentials and expertise, PMP certifications also offer great benefits, including the following.

1. Higher salary

As per the ninth edition of the PMI biennial report, professionals with the PMP certification earn 20 percent higher than those without it. In fact, PMP has been one of the highest-paid IT certifications globally, and this trend indicates its growth even further. 

2. Industry recognition and acknowledgment

The PMP certification benefits also include getting recognition universally. It’s a global certification that not only works in the United States, but also abroad. Moreover, companies recognize PMP-certified project managers as more successful and experienced in managing complex projects within budget. 

3. Resume and job application

PMP adds value to your resume by offering your impeccable expertise and competencies to handle every project, should you be hired. In fact, top AEC firms, as well as others, are making it mandatory for project management professionals to gain PMP certification, meaning you may not be able to apply for some jobs without it.

4. Networking opportunities

When you sign up as a PMI member, you become part of the club with other project management professionals. There are over 770,000 active holders of the PMP certifications, meaning you have the opportunity to connect with some of them to gain market insights, in-depth knowledge of the fields, tips for career advancement, and an opportunity for both personal and professional growth.

5. Important skills

This project management certification has high standards to meet to become a successful project management professional. Extensive preparation is needed in order to take the test and gain accreditation; in this process, you gain many key skills that make you stand out among other project management professionals.

How Certis Solutions can help find your next project management job

Certis Solutions is a technical staffing agency that shares a close relationship with various construction, environmental, engineering, architecture, and emergency services firms. We help you connect with those firms; some of them aren’t even listed on popular job boards like LinkedIn.

Our dedicated technical recruiters and consultants understand your work competencies, skills, and education credentials to help you find the project or job that matches your personal and professional goals. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity to work with some of the top firms in California, including Deacon Construction, Forgen, and DesCor Builders, on different construction or engineering projects.Visit Certis Solutions to learn more about our impeccable range of services and areas of expertise. We promise a phenomenal candidate experience by offering a seamless beginning-to-end job search experience.

The post-pandemic United States is witnessing a rise in civil engineering jobs due to technological innovations, the need for better infrastructure, a diverse workforce, and economic development. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineering jobs are growing faster than the average at 8 percent. This is the significant reason most job aspirants seek a civil engineering job in the Golden State.

Architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms account for 10.10 percent of total employment in civil engineering, and to get access to them, you need to sign up for a civil engineering staffing agency. Engineering staffing agencies bridge the gap between employers and engineers with their top-notch employment services, including job search, skill development, and training. 

Curious as to how to approach and select a civil engineering agency? Read below for some tips to find out the benefits of working with civil engineering recruitment agencies like Certis Solutions. 

Tips for selecting the right engineering staffing agency

Signing on to many staffing agencies may not help you find your dream civil engineering job, as this can be time-consuming. Analyze a recruitment agency based on various parameters to ensure it meets your expectations and helps you find your ideal job opportunity. The following are a few things to keep in mind while selecting a civil engineering staffing agency.

Location

Opt for a staffing agency with maximum reach, especially when you want to work in a specific location or state like California. You should look for a specialist civil engineering staffing agency with dedicated project consultants in the state to help you get access to your desired employers. 

Services offered 

For holistic career advancement, you need to be proficient in different areas within your field of specialization, like civil engineering. And, in most cases, top-notch engineering staffing agencies will help you enhance your skills and expertise through various training and development programs. Look for staffing agencies that provide additional job-related services, like resume-building and interview preparations.

Roles available

Civil engineering is a vast industry with many job titles, including project engineer, project manager, technician, civil engineering drafter, and architect to name a few positions that are highly sought after by engineers. Therefore, you need to find the recruiting agency that helps you get the role or job you want. Some civil engineering staffing agencies can only focus on contractor roles. In contrast, others can get you a permanent position, so find the one that best syncs with your role requirements. 

Reputation

Looking at a staffing agency’s achievements, market standing, and reputation is important before trusting it to find you the desired role. You wouldn’t want to invest your time in an agency with a poor track record of placing candidates or that doesn’t maintain a professional relationship with civil engineering companies. 

Companies they partner with 

Does the recruiting agency you’re signing up for have the right contacts with the companies you aspire to work for? If not, then there’s no point in seeking their help. Always look for civil engineering recruitment agencies that share proximate relationships with the companies you’re interested in working with. 

Dedicated support 

Opt for a staffing agency that provides dedicated support, like a project specialist who can be available to answer questions and assist you with your queries. In short, you should have a point of contact that guides your path in finding the right job opportunity.

Benefits of working with Certis Solutions 

Finding the right job opportunity can be tiring, time-consuming, and challenging. We recommend you sign up with Certis Solutions for an easy way to get your dream job in civil engineering. When you apply for a civil engineering job through an online job portal like LinkedIn, you will notice similar companies appearing in your search result.

Certis Solutions maintains a professional relationship with companies not listed on a recruitment site or job portal, meaning you can contact these companies and find the right job in no time. Some other benefits may include:

• Best-in-industry compensation; 
• Continuous support and guidance from project specialists;
• Training and development programs;
• Resume-building and interview-preparation support;
• Connects you with top AEC companies in California.

Search for your dream civil engineering jobs at Certis Solutions, your one-stop destination for finding work in California’s top architecture, construction, and engineering firms. 

The environmental health of California is rapidly deteriorating for several reasons, including climate change, infrastructure development, and natural calamities, such as wildfires, droughts, and earthquakes. Despite the harmful environmental effect, the Golden State is experiencing a rise in fire damage renovation projects and construction of single and multi-family residential units and commercial buildings, creating the need for environmental monitoring roles. 

Rising construction projects and the current environmental conditions offer a ripe opportunity for those looking for environmental resource management jobs in the state. Many companies and general contractors are looking for professionals across different job titles, including environmental specialists, to monitor and ensure that the ongoing and new infrastructure projects comply with environmental laws.

To work in environmental resources management services, you need to understand the importance of environmental compliance and monitoring broadly. Below, we discuss both things extensively. We’ll also discuss which environmental companies are hiring in California. 

What is compliance and monitoring in environmental resource services?

In simple terms, environmental compliance means adhering to the laws, codes, standards, and regulations created to protect the environment while undertaking a development project. General contractors and companies often have to pay hefty fines when they fail to meet these rules and standards. 

In case of critical environmental violation, the liable person or representative of the company may also need to serve a prison term. Considering the severity of the issue, most companies often hire professionals who ensure each project complies with the standards and laws to avoid repercussions or punishments. 

Environment monitoring refers to collecting and analyzing environmental data to monitor and minimize the impact of a company’s practices on the environment. With overexploitation of resources for industrial and commercial activities, environment monitoring has never been more significant as they help assess and mitigate the potential risk to the natural environment. 

As you grow in your respective environmental resource management jobs, you’ll learn different monitoring and environmental scanning techniques, such as sedimentation, absorption, grab sampling, and electrostatic samples. 

Both compliance and monitoring aim to minimize the impact of various architectural, construction, and engineering projects on the environment and public health, making understanding them an essential part of environmental resources services. 

Examples of compliance and monitoring in use: environmental resources

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the statutory body that governs compliance with environmental standards and laws through routine investigations, inspections on development sites, checking for contamination in export and import environmental substances, and providing training to environmental resource management personnel. These acts are categorized into three types of environmental aspects: air; water; and waste, chemicals, and cleanup compliance monitoring.

1. Air compliance monitoring 

The U.S. EPA works with federal, state, and tribal administrations to ensure companies and contractors meet the clean air rules, regulations, and laws under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The act aims at curbing air pollution to ensure public health safety and mitigate potential risks to the natural environment. 

2. Water compliance monitoring 

There are two major acts that come under water compliance monitoring where the statutory bodies work with the three-tier administration to make sure every development project complies with clean water regulations and laws. 

• The Clean Water Act  (CWA) emphasizes the responsibility of companies and general contractors to maintain, clean, and sustain water resources they’re using for development projects. It also monitors the discharge of contaminants or industrial/construction waste in the water bodies. 
• The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) monitors set standards for the quality of drinking water. EPA, along with state and local authorities and suppliers, enforce these standards on contractors undertaking a development project. 

3. Waste, chemicals, and cleanup compliance monitoring

Infrastructure or engineering projects that deal with mining, chemicals, hazardous waste, and other harmful environmental substances must comply with the laws and acts related to waste and chemical management. 

• Under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), if you’re using toxic chemical substances like lead, mercury, asbestos, and some specific hexavalent chromium compounds, you’re required to report, record, and meet the testing requirement before using these chemical substances. 
• Following the TSCA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) or the Superfund commands authorities to monitor and clean residues of hazardous chemical substances that have the potential to harm public safety and the environment. Projects including chemicals must comply with this act to avoid legal actions.
• Another act under waste compliance monitoring is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which monitors and ensures the proper disposal of harmful chemical substances. This also includes the appropriate transportation, storage, generation, and treatment of hazardous chemical or industrial waste. 

There are several other environmental acts that ensure the protection of the natural environment and encourage companies to work in compliance with environmental laws. For those looking to build a career in environmental resource management, understand and learn about these acts and compliance monitoring examples to connect with the on-site environmental monitoring requirements. 

Environmental resource management jobs: Who’s hiring

Top environmental companies currently hiring professionals across different environmental resources management job titles in California include:

• ECORP Consulting, Inc.
• Montrose Environmental Group, Inc
• North Wind
• Tepa Companies
• Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management, Inc
• TRC Companies 

Importance of a technical staffing agency 

When looking for environmental resources management jobs, you may not find all the companies currently hiring. This is precisely where a technical staffing agency like Certis Solutions helps you, as it connects you with companies and contractors not listed. 

A technical staffing agency also helps you gain experience and build your network by working on different projects for various clients. It assists you in finding the perfect job opportunity that matches your personal and professional expectations and goals. 

Do you want to work in top architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) firms? Contact Certis Solutions as we help you get in touch with leading companies from the industry. 

Any given project is only as successful as its budget allows. Poorly budgeted projects result in low quality or incomplete work. Heavily padded budgets result in unhappy clients, or a total lack of a project altogether (i.e., losing the project). 

This is why every budget needs a skilled estimator behind it, and why construction staffing agencies are always on the lookout for good estimators. This blog explores why estimators are important to projects in California. 

California Needs Estimators 

Construction estimators, at the core of their job, calculate costs and prepare estimates for civil engineering or construction projects. In general, estimates encompass materials, labor, mobilization/demobilization, and equipment. 

Estimators also undertake an administrative role in handling quotes, tenders, and a list of suppliers and contractors. Estimators aren’t only predictive, however. It’s up to them to continuously keep on top of costs and spending during a project. 

Many estimators specialize in particular kinds of construction or engineering projects, such as electrical estimators, heavy civil estimators, and vertical construction estimators. This means companies and staffing agencies often have multiple estimators posting at any given time.

The need for estimators seems fairly self-evident. A project can’t go ahead without knowing how much it will cost. However, California finds itself with a growing need for estimators. 

California has continually been rated as one of the most expensive places to build in the United States. Partially, this is because of the high cost of land in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, construction companies also tend to charge top dollar in California. The state is often the site of high levels of innovation in construction, which doesn’t come cheap. 

What You Need to Become an Estimator

Being an estimator is a popular position in California for those who specialize in accounting, have attention to detail, or have some desire to work with numbers and want to move into the construction industry. If you do have a degree in a relevant field, you could potentially be a candidate for the position of estimator. 

In particular, being an estimator requires excellent mathematics, accounting, and computer skills. You will need to be proficient in most Microsoft Office programs, know how to use (or be willing to learn) estimating software, check quantities and price quotes for accuray, have good presentation skills, and handle reports and bid letters. 

You also need to have excellent problem-solving and communication skills to constantly be on top of the budget and consistently keep all relevant parties informed of the budget. Estimators need to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with a variety of people, including the project manager slated to run the project, the superintendent that will be directing the field crews, subcontractors working on the project, vendors (for materials and supplies), and the client.

An understanding of the construction industry as a whole is important. You can’t simply rely on your accounting skills; you need to read and understand blueprints and specs, as well as have a good understanding of construction materials, methods, and equipment. 

Estimators in California

California always has exciting opportunities in the construction sector, and every construction staffing agency is going to be looking for good estimators to help provide the expertise those construction projects require. Certis Solutions is here to help you connect with the jobs you need to make the most of your career.