Ep. 76 - Area Civil Engineer, USDA and NRCS - Jae Sutherland

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Jae Sutherland, a 2004 Van Buren graduate who is an Area Engineer for the US Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Jae shares what she does as a civil engineer, how attending a camp at Notre Dame contributed to where she is today, and much more. Whether you are interested in an engineering career or are still exploring your options, I hope that what Jae shares today will help all of you make better career decisions and have fulfilling career journeys. Enjoy the show!1:34 - A typical day as a Civil Engineer3:28 - What NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) is and how it pertains to farmers in Wisconsin4:47 - Solving problems both before and after they become problems5:42 - Jae’s plans when she left high school6:20 - Engineering camp at Notre Dame exposed Jae to a variety of career options.7:25 - Aspects of Civil Engineering that people might not consider8:41 - Internships and the role they play in Jae’s career journey10:48 - Finding an internship in Oklahoma - connections help12:42 - Making the move to New York after finding a posting on USAJobs13:54 - The New York City watershed - a great training-ground15:58 - “Details,” or temporary promotions - a great way to try a new career17:00 - Becoming an area engineer in Appleton, Wisconsin17:45 - Acting as an area conservationist18:20 - The advancement steps for people in Jae’s position20:41 - Camps, volunteering, and other opportunities for students to get involved while in high school22:10 - Using AutoDesk and GIS to manage data23:17 - Students can start using AutoCAD and GIS even before they move into a career.24:40 - Job shadow and ask questions!Questions?Connect with Brian on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brian-bratt/) or e-mail ([email protected]).Connect with Jae on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jae-ann-sutherland-p-e-81411414) or by e-mail ([email protected]).