

The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast
Isaac Oakeson
Welcome to The Civil Engineering Academy Podcast - your ultimate guide to everything related to civil engineering! Our goal is to support you at every stage of your journey to becoming a successful professional civil engineer, and to help you enhance your career and personal life.
We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations.
Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv
We share our expertise and provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you succeed. Join us for informative and engaging discussions on exam preparation strategies, career development, and cutting-edge engineering innovations.
Whether you're preparing to ace the civil FE or PE exam, looking to adv
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 20, 2023 • 26min
CEA - All You Ever Wanted to Know About Using a Recruiter with Brandon Mcgill
Today, Brandon Mcgill, a recruiter with NES, jumps on the show to talk about his work matching civil engineers with their dream jobs in the field — and how working with a recruiter gives you a competitive advantage.
Tune in to Learn:
Do any engineers go into the recruitment industry? Hint: It's not what you think
How a recruiter can help you in the negotiating process with a company
Why you should use a recruiter to find a job instead of applying for it on your own
Why companies should also use recruiters to find the right candidates for their positions
When you can experience the biggest pay increases in your career...ever
How to land your dream job — by a recruiter who's helped hundreds land theirs
The importance of a good resume — and why it’s just the first step
An industry trend making it easier to have career growth while still young
The type of civil engineering candidate Brandon's company is on the hunt for right now
Our Partner:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Connect With Brandon:
National Engineering Search (NES) - https://nes-llc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmcgill
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/civilengacad
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Jan 13, 2023 • 27min
CEA 166 - The Declining Enrollment of Civil Engineers with Mark Oakeson
Why are fewer people getting into civil engineering when the numbers show they will be needed more than ever? Today, we’ll dive into the current state of the civil engineering job market and the aspects that play a significant role in it. From college education and possible education alternatives to salary issues and future trends.
Tune in to Learn:
The surprising number of engineers that will be needed each year for the next decade
The reason younger generations are avoiding getting into engineering programs
Why "money" alone is not an excuse not to go to engineering school — and how to do it
Is learning a trade a better option than becoming an engineer?
The lack of technical knowledge of today's graduates
Salary issues in civil engineering — and what today's numbers show for the future
Are civil engineers satisfied with their work?
Should you leave your company based on better pay alone?
Our Partners:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Built Bar - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/built
Resources Mentioned:
ASCE Article - shorturl.at/hwAG8
Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act - shorturl.at/fmqV7
CEA #110: Construction Engineering Degree - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/cea110
University of Utah - https://www.utah.edu
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/civilengacad
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Jan 7, 2023 • 33min
CEA - The Best Advice I've Ever Heard Going Into Management with Jake Adkins
Thinking of heading down the management path in the engineering world? Today’s guest has done just that! Jake Adkins has the most down-to-earth pieces of advice on the good and bad of going from a technical engineer to an engineering manager. Give this a listen and apply these to your own career.
Tune in to Learn:
What it really takes to be an engineering manager — and it’s not the job title
The 3 biggest challenges you’ll face when you go from engineer to manager
Does the management route pay more than the engineering route?
2 ways your relationship with coworkers change when you become a manager
How to correctly praise (and criticize) those on your team whenever needed
How speaking up can help you make better decisions over the course of your career
Why do all engineers need to learn sales? (Hint: Yes, you do!)
Is your GPA really important in the hiring process?
Our Partner:
Built Bar - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/built
Resources Mentioned:
Unwritten Laws of Engineering, by W. J. King - AMAZON
Stuff Matters, by Mark Miodownik - AMAZON
Clemson University - http://www.clemson.edu
Connect With Jake:
Website - https://www.thejakeadkins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeadkins
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy

Dec 29, 2022 • 29min
CEA - Diving into Geotechnical Engineering with Siavash Zamiran
If you’ve ever had any hint, sign, or desire to learn more about Geotechnical Engineering, then today’s guest is your guy! Siavash Zamiran is a geotechnical engineer himself with 15+ years of experience, an adjunct professor, and today he tells you what life as a geotechnical engineer really looks like and what it entails.
Tune in to Learn:
Why most engineers don't even consider going into Geotech — and how to solve it
The main areas you can get into within geotech (Hint: one has never occurred to you!)
How to make a decision on which engineering discipline better suits you
One 3D computational technique facilitating geotechnical works
The software tools you need to master as a geotechnical engineer
One online platform packed with geotechnical engineering resources and training
How the 80/20 Principle can help you ace your PE Geotechnical Depth Exam
Sia's favorite books you should read to learn what school doesn’t teach you
Resources Mentioned:
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, by Braja M. Das - AMAZON
Itasca Consulting Group - https://www.itascacg.com
FLAC2D - https://www.itascacg.com/software/flac2d
FLAC3D - https://www.itascacg.com/software/flac3d
PLAXIS - https://www.bentley.com/software/plaxis-3d
Ansys - https://www.ansys.com
Abaqus - https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/products/abaqus
Petrel - https://www.software.slb.com/products/petrel
The 12-Week Year, by Brian Mora - AMAZON
Deep Work, by Cal Newport - AMAZON
Digital Minimalism, Cal NewPort - AMAZON
Southern Illinois University - https://siu.edu
St. Louis University - https://www.slu.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology - https://www.mst.edu
Delft University of Technology - https://www.tudelft.nl/en
Connect With Siavash Zamiran:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zamiran
Mohr Academy - https://www.mohracademy.com
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com

Dec 21, 2022 • 28min
CEA - A Deep Dive Into the Water Resources Exam
Today, to wrap up our “Deep Dive” podcast series, we take a look at the Water Resources Depth Exam. We break down the specification into its details so you know what you need to study, and point you to where you can find the resources to help you over-prepare for it…and pass it!
Tune in to Learn:
What's the minimum amount of prep time you need for the PE Exam?
Is the majority of the exam questions still multiple-choice?
How many theory questions should you expect on the PE exam?
The 8 topics you need to know for the breadth section
The 9 in-depth Water Resources topics for the PM portion
The only 2 design standards you'll need for the Water Resources depth exam
Surprising (and favorable) pass rates for both first-time and repeat test-takers
2 tips to help you decide what depth exam to take..if you haven’t yet.
Our Partner:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Resources Mentioned:
Water Resources Spec - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-WRE-April-2022_r2.pdf
Construction Exam (Episode #159) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msg8mzjyxd8
Geotechnical Exam (Episode #160) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMyXSUC6WEw
Structural Exam (Episode #161) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh_B7C3GJJk
Transportation Exam (Episode #162) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MtL_96CwLs
Resources - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/water-resources-engineering-books/
Water Resources Practice Exam - https://gum.co/uXqg
PE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/depth-exam
NCEES Website - https://ncees.org
NCEES YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/NCEESMedia
Pass Rates - https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/pass-rates
PPI - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi
School of PE - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/sope
Pearson Vue - https://home.pearsonvue.com/
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter

Dec 16, 2022 • 28min
CEA - A Deep Dive Into the Transportation Depth Exam
In another episode of our “Deep Dive” series, we examine the PE Transportation Depth Exam. From the general civil engineering topics for the breadth portion to the more in-depth transportation topics, codes, and standards required for the depth portion, as well as the best resources to use, you have it all broken down right here!
Tune in to Learn:
The overall PE exam experience
An overview of the exam specifications
8 breadth topics you need to know regardless of your chosen depth section
10 in-depth transportation topics (and sub-topics) for the PM portion
The 9 codes and standards required — and how to use them on exam day
The best transportation resources to help you ace the PM portion of your exam
The transportation exam’s surprising pass rates — for both first-time and repeat takers
Our Partner:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Resources Mentioned:
Transportation Exam Specs - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-Tran-April-2022_r3.pdf
Construction Exam (Episode #159) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msg8mzjyxd8
Geotechnical Exam (Episode #160) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMyXSUC6WEw
Geotechnical Exam (Episode #161) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh_B7C3GJJk
Interview with Tim Miller (Episode #51) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMS11n5s3yY
Resources - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/transportation-engineering-books
Transportation Depth Practice Exam - https://gum.co/tsBg
PE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/depth-exam
PPI - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi
School of PE - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/sope
NCEES Website - https://ncees.org
NCEES YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/NCEESMedia
Pass Rates - https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/pass-rates
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Dec 10, 2022 • 28min
CEA - A Deep Dive Into The Structural Depth Exam
Are you in the structural engineering arena? Then you’ll regret not giving this a listen. Today, on another episode of our “deep dive” series, we cover the PE Structural Depth Exam. We dive deep into the details of the specs, how to prepare for it, the best resources available out there, the pass rates, etc. We cover it all…right here!
Tune in to Learn:
The overall PE structural exam experience and what it looks like
Can NCEES ask you something that's not in the specifications? And will they?
Are theory questions a big part of the PE structural depth exam?
8 breadth topics you need to know regardless of your chosen depth section
3 structural topics (and their subtopics) to study for the PM structural depth portion
The 10 codes you'll need to know — and how to use them on exam day
The best resources to over-prepare you for the structural depth exam
Pass rates for both first-time and repeat test takers
How to build an effective study schedule you'll stick to
Our Partners:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Built Bar - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/built
Resources Mentioned:
Construction Exam Episode (#159) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msg8mzjyxd8
Geotechnical Exam Episode (#160) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMyXSUC6WEw
Structural Resources - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/structural-engineering-books
Structural Depth Practice Exam - https://gum.co/FxMa
PE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/depth-exam
Structural Exam Specs - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-Str-April-2022_r3.pdf
PPI - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi
School of PE - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/sope
NCEES Website - https://ncees.org
NCEES PE Civil Reference Handbook - https://account.ncees.org/login
NCEES YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/NCEESMedia
PE Exam Pass Rates - https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/pass-rates
SE Exam - https://ncees.org/engineering/pe-structural
OSHA - https://www.osha.gov
Pearson VUE - https://home.pearsonvue.com
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy

Dec 2, 2022 • 25min
CEA - A Deep Dive into the Geotechnical Depth Exam
This is our second episode in our “deep dive” series. And this time, it’s all about the geotechnical depth exam! If you're gearing up to take that one, this is for you. We dive into everything you need to know about it, from the overall exam experience to the topics and codes that need to be top of mind on exam day.
Tune in to Learn:
The overall exam experience: how much it costs, where you take it, the exam structure
What the geotechnical PE civil exam really looks like
A big part of the geotech exam today that didn’t use to be a “big deal” in the past
The 8 breadth topics you need to know regardless of your chosen depth exam
The 10 in-depth geotechnical topics you need to internalize for you depth section
Which geotech-related codes and standards do you need for your depth exam?
The best resources to over-prepare you for the geotech exam — and where to find them
The surprising pass rates for both first-time and repeat test takers
Our Partners:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
PPI - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/ppi
School of PE - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/sope
Resources Mentioned:
Construction Exam Episode (#159) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msg8mzjyxd8
Geotechnical Exam Specs - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-Geo-April-2022_r2.pdf
Geotech Resources - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/geotechnical-engineering-books
Geotech Depth Practice Exam - https://gum.co/ZLbi
PE CBT Exam Simulator - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/depth-exam
NCEES Website - https://ncees.org
NCEES YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/NCEESMedia
PE Exam Pass Rates - https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/pass-rates
OSHA - https://www.osha.gov
U.S. Department of Labor - https://www.dol.gov
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - https://www.usace.army.mil
US Department of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) - https://highways.dot.gov
ASCE - https://www.asce.org
Pearson VUE - https://home.pearsonvue.com
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Nov 19, 2022 • 22min
CEA - A Deep Dive into the Construction Depth Exam
Are you taking the construction depth section on the PE exam? Then this is for you! Today, we break down the specifications, detailing everything you need to know about it. From the construction topics, you need to internalize to the codes and standards you need to get familiar with.
Tune in to Learn:
What the PE Construction Exam looks like
The 8 topics of the breadth portion of the exam and what they entail
The 7 topics you'll need to internalize for the construction depth portion of the exam
The codes and standards you'll need to know for the construction depth exam
What are the pass rates for the PE Construction Exam?
Our Partner:
Audible - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Resources Mentioned:
NCEES Website - https://ncees.org/
NCEES YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/NCEESMedia
Construction Specs - https://ncees.org/wp-content/uploads/Civ-Con-April-2022_r2.pdf
OSHA - https://www.osha.gov/
U.S. Department of Labor - https://www.dol.gov/
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/civilengacad
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com

Nov 13, 2022 • 30min
CEA - Teaching, Creating a Company, and Developing Balance with Ed Quesenberry
Have you ever dreamed of starting your own engineering firm but you are unsure how to handle all the demands? Today’s guest did just that. Ed Quesenberry established his own practice back in 2003, and today he teaches you how he balances it all: business owner, principal engineer, adjunct professor, husband, and father.
Tune in to Learn:
One thing you build in college that can help you for the rest of your career
The biggest challenge you'll face starting your own engineering firm
Reasons to get into Structural Engineering: should you do it for the money...alone?
The industry's inherent profit problem — and how to solve it
What it's like to be a civil engineer working in academia
Balancing life responsibilities as a business owner: is it more difficult?
The most important thing recent graduates should look for in a job, but most don't
What young structural engineers just getting started in structural design should know
The importance of licensure to advancing your career — in and out of a company
Our Partners:
Audible - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/audible
Built Bar - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/built
Resources Mentioned:
CEA #156 With Dirk Bondy - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/cea156
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo - https://www.calpoly.edu/
Beaverton Library - https://www.beavertonlibrary.org/
Portland State University - https://www.pdx.edu/
International Building Code (IBC) - https://www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/2018-i-codes/ibc/
Brunelleschi's Dome, by Ross King - AMAZON
Connect With Ed:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-quesenberry-57113161/
Equilibrium Engineers - https://www.equilibriumllc.com/
CEA Resources:
Website - https://civilengineeringacademy.com
The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com
The Ultimate Civil PE Review Course - https://civilpereviewcourse.com
FE and PE Practice Exams - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/exams
Free Facebook Community - https://ceacommunity.com
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@CivilEngAcademy
Free Newsletter - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/newsletter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theceacademy
Twitter - https://twitter.com/civilengacad
Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com


