November 16, 2015 The Early Years – Successfully Transitioning from College to the Workforce 2015 Annual Conference Raleigh, NC Eric Smith – CDM Smith

Agenda  Introduction  Who Am I?  Why This Topic?  Building a Solid Foundation – Four Phases  Assessment  Planning  Preparation  Implementation  Recap  Questions 2

INTRODUCTION

Who Am I?  Eric Smith  Project Engineer at CDM Smith  Graduated from University of Central Florida – 2010  B.S. Civil Engineering  B.S. Environmental Engineering  Work Experience  Groundwater remediation work with small firm in FL (1 year)  3.5 total years with CDM Smith  1 year in FL  2.5 years in NC  Work Focus  Water/wastewater with emphasis in hydraulics and pumping  Young professional 4

Why This Topic?  Transitioning to the workforce can be tricky waters to navigate  Lots of unknowns  Job market is ever-changing 5  Transition is filled with change  Trade summer vacation for Paid Time Off  Trade 15 credit hour semesters for 40+ hour work weeks  Trade loan accumulation for loan payment plans  Trade semester exams for client deliverables  Trade grades for end of year appraisals  Mistakes in college = bad grade…Mistakes in work = $  Principles discussed here are applicable to all stages of your career

Key To Making a Successful Transition – Building a Solid Foundation

Building A Solid Foundation  Early success is critical to a long and healthy career  Average Age at Graduation:  Bachelors – 22 to 24 years old  Masters – 24 to 26 years old  Retirement Age:  65 to 67 years old  39 to 45 year career!  Anything worth building needs a solid foundation  Relatively small investment to ensure the rest of the building will last  Opinion – Foundation is built during the first 5 years in the industry 7

Building A Solid Foundation  Plenty of real-world examples on the importance of building a solid foundation.  House  School  Pump Station  Treatment Plant  Shopping Mall  Etc.  Four phases of building a solid foundation  Assessment  Planning  Preparation  Implementation 8

Phase I – Assessment Pump Station Foundation:  Site Assessment  Geotechnical Investigation  Research Career Foundation:  Assess where you are  To get where you are going…you have to know where you are starting  Know the job market/industry  Know your strengths and areas of growth potential  Set realistic expectations  Be a lifelong learner  Embrace all tasks that come your way…even the menial ones  Be adaptable 9 Getting a Handle on the Situation

Phase II – Planning Pump Station Foundation:  Determine client needs  Perform survey  Develop site plans  Submit permits  Create design documents for bidding Career Foundation:  Identify a mentor  Set short-term and long-term goals  Professionally  Personally  Find ways to utilize your skills 10 Looking Ahead at What Could be

Phase III – Preparation Pump Station Foundation:  Clear and grub site  Site grading  Excavate as required Career Foundation:  Set a trajectory to achieve short and long term goals  Join professional organizations and network  Teamwork makes the dream work  Get to know your co-workers  Develop a positive reputation 11 Setting a Solid Course

Phase IV – Implementation Pump Station Foundation:  Construct foundation  Build the pump station  Develop an operations and maintenance plan Career Foundation :  Get outside of your comfort zone and say “Yes!”  Ask to go to client meetings  Try to get out to construction sites  Find a healthy work/life balance  Recognize that hard work pays off  Remember…first things first 12 Putting into Practice

Recap

Summary Building a solid foundation is the key to successfully transitioning from college to the workforce  Focus on the four phases of building a strong foundation  Assessment – “Getting a handle on the situation”  Planning – “Looking ahead to what could be”  Preparation – “Setting a solid course”  Implementation – “Putting into practice” 14

Questions?