Throughout my years working in the field from construction sites to drainage systems and community projects I learned one crucial truth that matters even more than formulas and technical drawings:
We do not build with our hands alone; we build with our mind, our character, and the decisions we make every single day.
Young engineers often carry knowledge, but what they usually lack is experience the kind that helps avoid errors that can cost lives, money, or the future of an entire community.
Here are the 5 major lessons I wish every young engineer knew before signing their first project.
1️⃣ Planning Is the Foundation of Everything
Most mistakes I’ve seen in the field did not come from a lack of talent they came from rushing.
A poorly planned project always pays the price somewhere else:
- drainage systems that fail
- roads that crack too quickly
- budgets that explode
- timelines that triple
Young engineer: take the time to understand the soil, the water, the loads, and the environment.
A solid plan is your strongest tool.
2️⃣ Measure Twice, Build Once
A small error in calculation can turn into a major structural failure.
I’ve seen bridges shift, canals clog after the first rain, and walls crack simply because someone “evaluated quickly.”
Engineers do not work on assumptions.
We work on evidence.
If a piece of data isn’t clear, go back and verify it.
If a drawing doesn’t match the field situation, correct it.
Real pride for an engineer is when a project still stands strong 5, 10, 20 years later.
3️⃣ The Field Will Always Teach You More Than the Books
In books, water flows straight.
In the field, it takes its own path.
In books, soil behaves ideally.
In reality, soil has memory, history, and weaknesses.
Throughout my career, the field has been my greatest teacher.
Young engineer do not stay in the office only.
Go to the site. Touch the soil. Observe the flow of water. Listen to the workers.
You will learn things no book will ever teach you.
4️⃣ Engineers Are Leaders Do Not Be Afraid to Decide
A good engineer is not just someone who knows calculations; it is someone who can lead a team, make the right decisions, and keep a project on track even under pressure.
You will face:
- budget pressure
- time pressure
- pressure from people who do not understand the technical realities
But remember:
When you decide, you are responsible for people’s safety and future.
Choose the honest, solid, and principled decision — even when it is not popular.
5️⃣ Engineers Build Lives Not Just Structures
A project is not just a bridge, a road, or a drainage channel.
It is the life of the people who use it.
I have seen communities transformed by a properly designed drainage system.
I have seen children reach school safely thanks to a road built the right way.
Young engineer: your work impacts generations you may never meet.
Build with vision. Build with respect. Build for people not just for paperwork.
If I could give one single piece of advice today, it would be this:
Engineers do not build with cement. They build with conscience.
Every decision you make, every line you draw, every calculation you verify will shape someone’s life.
Our profession is a mission.
And I believe young engineers can bring the solutions the world needs if they choose to learn, respect the discipline, and lead with vision.
✍🏾 Written by:
Eng. Claudin Hermann Beauge
Civil Engineer · Entrepreneur · Author
Water, Roads and Life
Founder of Dralys · ARSECOD – Services d’Architecture et de Construction Durable
