text: what is expected of a recent civil engineering graduate in a firm or the job market? for example in an structural firm what employers would expect of somebody with no experience civil engineers understand that when you leave college, they will have to teach you what to do & what is really important regarding their field. a civil engineer grad could end up many places, including an actual engineering practice, or for a construction company (for example).  when i hire newly minted college grads, i look for intelligence, the ability to learn, problem solving ability, patience, and the understanding that they are not the end all be all of the universe. after that, i / my company can teach them what they need to know.