The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast

Here’s one of the biggest decisions in a civil engineer’s career — do you keep the hard hat on and stay technical…or swap it for a suit jacket and go full-on manager? 💼👷‍♂️In this episode, we’re diving deep into the details of the “Engineer vs. Manager” post we did on LinkedIn that racked up almost half a million views and hundreds of shares. 😲The main point of the post? Most engineers think they want to be managers...until they become managers and realize they actually didn’t. 😨So, today, Mark jumps back on the show so we can both share our own journeys going into management. We break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of the manager role so you can figure out whether it truly is for you. 👍If you’ve been wondering whether to climb the management ladder or double down on your engineering craft, this is the conversation you need before making the leap. 😉Hit play and get the inside scoop before you make a move you’ll regret. 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:How Most Engineers End Up in Management (And Why Some Don't)The Type of Engineers Most Suited to Become ManagersThe First Problem You Face Going into ManagementThe Real Functions (and Challenges) of the Manager in an OrganizationPeople Problems Managers Face DailyThe Battle the Manager Has to Fight for His EmployeesWhy Most Engineers Feel Pressured to Get into ManagementWhat Makes Engineers Switch Back to Technical RolesWhat You Need to Be Effective as a ManagerThe Best Way to Prepare Yourself to Take the Manager RoleResources and Trainings You Should Get Before Becoming a ManagerThe Positive Side of Management (And Who Thrives in It)The ONE Skill You Need No Matter If You're an Engineer or Manager🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Engineer vs. Manager LinkedIn PostAtomic Habits, by Jamer ClearRadical Candor, by Kim ScottThe Manager's Path, by Camille Fournier🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

No engineering project is a success without one crucial aspect. What is it? 🤔 According to our guest, a powerful leadership tool most people neglect. 👇Today, we chat with W. Jeff Williams, a civil engineer turned mayor of Arlington, Texas. If you think of some of the biggest projects in the state, he’s the guy behind them. Either working on them as a civil engineer or bringing them to the state as the Mayor! 😯Jeff’s done it all and seen it all. After decades of in-the-trenches engineering and leadership work (and wins!), he learned the real secret sauce that makes or breaks engineering projects: unity — aligning people and purpose to transform outcomes.In his book coming out in September, he dives deep into this concept. But today, he gives us a sneak peek into it (plus a lot of other hard-earned lessons for civil engineers in the same shoes). 😉If you’re managing a team at your company, leading a government agency, or in charge of a community organization, this one’s packed with wisdom from a guy who's worn all those hats. 💡Hit play and learn how unity isn’t just a “nice-to-have” — it’s your competitive edge. 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Most Crucial Aspect of Any Successful Engineering ProjectWhat the “Unity” Principle Really Is2 Tips to Create Unity as a LeaderA Sneak Peek at One of the Book’s Important Lessons for EngineersWhy He Moved Into the Public Sector2 Skills You Need to Work in the Public SectorHis Tips for the Future Generation of Engineers with the Tech Revolution3 Pieces of Advice for Young Civil Engineers to Succeed🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Unity Blueprint BookThe Unity Blueprint Book (Pre-Order on Amazon)Texas Tech UniversityAT&T StadiumSouthlake Town SquareNational Medal of Honor MuseumPrestonwood Baptist ChurchForbes Publishing💬 CONNECT WITH JEFF:WebsiteNewsletterLinkedIn🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Double-digit, billion-dollar investments into infrastructure projects going down the drain with them? 😨In this episode, Mark Oakeson joins us again to dive into the wave of mega infrastructure projects built by China across the globe that are already cracking, leaking, and flat-out shutting down. These are massive, government-funded projects that were supposed to last 50+ years…but instead, they’re turning into billion-dollar blunders. Why?Why are they failing so fast? What went wrong during design and construction (and politics)? And most importantly, what can we civil engineers learn from it? Especially now with the U.S. pouring billions into infrastructure upgrades after the 2021 bill? 🤔🎧 Hit play and let’s break down what happens when quality takes a backseat in civil engineering and what we can learn from it to avoid making the same mistake in the US. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:China’s Global Infrastructure Boom5 Chinese-Built Projects That are Falling Apart…in Less Than 10 Years of Service2 Reasons Why These Projects Are Already FailingWhat the Experts Say Is the Root Cause of These FailuresWhy a Contract-Based Model to Pick the Winner Firm Doesn't Work as Well as BidsIs There a Hidden Chinese Agenda Behind Those Projects Across the World?Can China Improve Their Construction Approach and Quality?Why the Cost of Projects is Not the Only Thing That MattersLessons for U.S. Infrastructure Spending That are Worth Their Weight in Gold!🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:Wall Street Journal ArticleCoca Codo Sinclair DamNeelum–Jhelum Hydropower PlantIsimba Hydro Power PlantKaruma Hydro Power Plant🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

We said it before — prepping for the PE usually takes 3-6 months. But today’s guest? He missed that memo and managed to pass this thing with less than 2 months of studying! 🤯Kenneth (Kenny) Winston is a drainage engineer at Consor Engineers who joined us to share his unbelievable 1.5-month journey to pass the Civil PE Water Resources Exam. (Yes, you read that right!)How, you ask? 🤔Here’s the secret — he knew exactly how he learns best, and that self-awareness made all the difference.In this episode, he talks about how he found The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course, why it was the perfect match for his learning style, and what strategies helped him go from overwhelmed to confident in record time.If you feel like your prep just isn’t clicking, this episode shows you that passing fast isn’t about shortcuts. It’s just a matter of knowing yourself…and finding the right-fit resources to help you. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Unbelievable Timeline He Gave Himself to Prep for the PEHow He Found Study Time With a Job, Marriage, and BusinessHis Approach to All Practice Problems That You'll Want to Use TooHis Crazy Strategy to Learn Almost It All...Five Days Before Exam Day!How He Found Civil Engineering Academy (And Why He Went With It)Why Knowing Your Learning Style Is the Real Cheat CodeAre the Exam Questions Tricky...Purposefully?The Only Thing You Can Do to Prep for Theory ProblemThe Test-Taking Strategy He Used on Exam Day to Pass It2 Tips for Everybody Taking the PE Exam to Get it Done FastWhat He Loved the Most About the The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:The Ultimate Civil PE Review CourseConsor EngineersChatGPT💬 CONNECT WITH KENNY:LinkedInkwinston@consoreng.com🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

No matter how hard you study, on exam day, nerves kick in, you worry about time, and one tough question can throw you off. But what if you had a test-taking plan to avoid all of that? 🤔In this episode, I break down our CEA Test Strategy™, a 3-phase test-taking hack that allows you to do what really matters to pass your FE, PE, or CFM® exam — get as many questions right as possible. ✅How? By tackling the right questions, at the right time during the exam. 😉I used this approach when I took my exams myself. I taught it to every CEA team member who was once a student. And I teach it to every single student of our review courses. Now, I’m sharing this test-taking hack with you as well. 😉If you're gearing up for any of these exams, you need to practice this strategy with practice exams to stop feeling overwhelmed the moment the clock starts ticking.So, just hit play, and let's get you “exam-day ready”…step-by-step. 🏆🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What's the CEA Test Strategy™Step 1: “Quick Wins” to Build MomentumStep 2: The “Brain Burners” You’ll Want to Pace Yourself ThroughStep 3: The “Smart Guesses” That Could Make or Break Your ScoreWhy This Strategy Works to Get You Passed (And Has for Years)Why You Should Use it…100%!How to Practice This Strategy in Your Prep🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

🚨 Here’s by far the most asked question inside our FE and PE courses: “Should I use the Ultimate or Net Bearing Capacity to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity?” 🤔That question comes up in our student-only community every single year, multiple times, and rightfully so.Reference manuals tell you to find the Net value and then use it to find the Allowable Bearing Capacity. But then, in the solutions to the problems, it uses the Ultimate value directly.Like, “What the heck?!” 😨But don’t worry….we’ve got your back. 😉Over the years, we’ve shared a little-known trick with our students so they know which one to use on exam day. And in this episode, we’re sharing it with you as well. 😉Tune in to learn about this trick…and you’ll never get this wrong anymore in your exam prep. That’s a promise. 👍🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:What's the Bearing Capacity of Soil?What Ultimate Bearing Capacity is All AboutHow to Calculate Ultimate Bearing CapacityWhat Net Bearing Capacity is...And How It Differs from the Ultimate ValueThe Allowable Bearing CapacityThe Big FE/PE Dilemma: Two Ways to Find the Allowable Bearing CapacityThe Little-Known Trick We Share With Our Students That Solves This Dilemma🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

"The CSI of Civil Engineering." That’s the best way to describe the little-known career path of Forensic Engineering for civil engineers — and in this episode, we’re diving headfirst into it. 🕵️‍♂️💥Our guest for this one is Peter Marxhausen, a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience and 10,000+ building investigations under his belt. Peter has now seen it all — cracks, collapses, fire…and the courtroom drama that follows.If you’ve never heard of this field before, or just assumed it was something only "experts" do at the end of their careers, Peter’s here to break it all down. How to get into it. What the work of a Forensic Engineer entails. The credentials you need. And a lot more!Whether you’re trying to figure out what career route to take or considering a career shift, this episode’s got all you need to know about a career that most civil engineers don’t even know they can have. 😎🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:How What Every Civil Engineer Avoids Got Him Into Forensic EngineeringThe Engineering Type of Work a Forensic Engineer Does the MostThe Non-Engineering Type of Work Forensic Engineers Have to do RegardlessA Third Task That Also Makes up a Forensic Engineer's Workload3 Requirements to Pursue a Career in Forensic EngineeringWhat You Need to Know Before Getting into Forensic EngineeringDo You Need Any Credentials in Forensic Engineering?Do Old Buildings Have More Problems Than New Ones?Design or Construction: Who's to Blame When a Structure Fails?🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:dux Forensics, LLCThe Memoirs of Herbert HooverUniversity Colorado, Denver📧 CONNECT WITH PETER:LinkedIn🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Every one of us is  guilty of procrastinating on our exam prep. Whether it’s just “a little bit” or “a lot” is not the problem — the cost of it to our career is. But the good news? It’s beatable! 💪 👇In this episode, Mark Oakeson jumps back on the show to help us unpack the real reasons we drag our feet when it comes to studying for our exam.We’re not here to beat you up about it – we’ve been there. 😅 Instead, we’re here to dig into what’s actually happening behind the scenes, and why it shows up the most when you’re chasing a big goal like the FE or PE.From the science behind procrastination to the sneaky habits that make it worse all the way to the practical strategies to help you move past it and finally build momentum, we break it all down. So, whether you’re putting off taking your exam, dreading those study sessions, or just stuck in neutral after a failed attempt, this one’s going to feel like a much-needed kick in the pants (in the best way possible 😉).Hit play to stop waiting and start passing. 👍🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:The Science-Based Reason Why You Procrastinate (And It's Not 'Laziness')Is Your Fear of Failure Causing You to Procrastinate?Why Your Long To-Do List is Another Form of ProcrastinationWhy Perfectionism = Procrastination in DisguiseA Simple Way to Reduce Procrastination in Your Exam Prep on Your OwnHow Accountability From Others Makes You Not ProcrastinateThe (Big) Role of Active Studying in Your Exam PrepThe 5-Minute Rule to Beat Procrastination Bit by BitFinding Your Own Anti-Procrastination SystemWhy You Procrastinate More After a Fail…And How to Reframe FailureThe Single Best Method to Overcome Procrastination in Your Prep🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

Three years and six attempts. That’s how long it took Raymond Muñoz-Tabares to pass the Civil FE — but he did it! ✅ If you’ve ever felt like giving up after a few failures, this is the pep talk you need. 👇Raymond is a civil engineer in Rhode Island who came to the US at the age of 10. He took (and failed) the Civil FE while still in school, and that’s when his 3-year, 6-attempt struggle began. ☹️In this episode, Raymond shares this whole unfiltered FE journey with you.This is a super relatable episode for any international civil engineer in the US, but also a super practical episode with tons of exam prep tips for all repeat takers who simply want to get this over with.So, tune in now and hear how Raymond turned three years of struggle into a huge career milestone, and everything he learned along the journey so you can do the same...faster. 😉🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:His 3-Year, 6-Attempt Journey to Conquer the Civil FEHis Different Approach to Practice Exams That You Should Steal!The Test-Taking Strategy He Used in His Last Try That You Should Use Too3 Things You Need to Know in Your Exam Prep to Be Ready on Exam DayHow He Found Civil Engineering Academy...and Went With ItThe Other FREE FE Resources He Used to StudyHis Top Piece of Advice for Repeat-Takers Like HimA Tip to Decode the NCEES Diagnostic Report to Improve for Your Next tryWhy He Chose Civil Engineering Over His Other Career OptionsWhy He Recommends Civil Engineering Academy🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:CEA’s Suggested FE Resources PageFundamentals of Engineering Review Book (11th Edition)FREE FE Review Basics on CourseraUniversity of Rhode Island📧 CONNECT WITH RAYMOND:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmunoz675🎁 OUR FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ OUR REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 OUR PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE Practice ExamsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com

🚨 Attention! 🚨 The NCEES dropped their latest annual reports earlier this year — and these ones reveal some trends for both the profession and the licensure exam world we’re in. 📈 👇In this episode, we walk you through their annual report on all the things they did in the past year for the profession. This one comes with awesome news for both US and international engineers wanting to work abroad without worrying about license “validity” in other countries.Then, we dive into the Squared report — their dedicated report with the latest FE and PE stats. We’ve been tracking these since 2016, and they tell you a lot of things you need to know if you’re gearing up for any of these. 😉So, whether you're weeks out from your test or just starting to dip your toes into “prep mode,” this episode gives you the real numbers you need to make smarter moves. Go check it out! 🎧🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:Increasing Options to Take the FE and PE Exams InternationallyThe Increase in International Mobility Agreements for EngineersThe Rise of the FE as a Requirement to GraduatePolitical Threats to Professional LicensureAre More Engineers Taking the NCEES Exams?The Latest Civil FE Exam Pass RatesThe New Interactive FE Practice Exams by the NCEESThe Moment of the Year Most People Prefer to Take the Civil FEHow to Get a Digital Badge After Passing the FEIs the Number of PE Examinees on the Decline?The Easiest PE Exam to Pass on the First Try (According to the Data!)The Latest Repeat Taker Pass Rates on the Civil PE ExamsThe Switch of the SE Exam to CBT🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:2024 NCEES Squared Report2024 NCEES Annual ReportInterview With NCEES’s Officer of Exams, Tim MillerFE CBT Exam Simulator🎁 CEA FREEBIES FOR YOU:The Civil FE Startup GuideThe Civil PE Startup GuideFREE CFM® Course Module🖥️ CEA REVIEW COURSES:Civil FE Review CourseCivil PE Review CoursesCFM® Review Course📚 CEA PRACTICE EXAMS:FE Practice ExamsFE CBT Exam SimulatorPE Practice ExamsPE Bonus Theory QuestionsPE CBT Exam SimulatorCFM® Practice ExamFE Environmental Practice ExamPE Environmental Practice Exam📱 CONNECT WITH CEA!WebsiteNewsletterFree CEA CommunityLinkedInYouTube Channelsupport@civilengineeringacademy.com