Climbing the Field: Mohit Sabharwal Explains the Work of a Civil Engineer

“At the end of the day, a degree is just paperwork to show that you are a professional civil engineer…what matters is the experience you have,” says Mohit Sabharwal. I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to Mr. Sabharwal through a family relationship. We had a conversation about civil engineering when he was first made aware that I too was majoring in this field. Although, I did not know much about him at that time, we were able to converse over our interests in the field. Mr. Sabharwal had much to say regarding his work and his experience in earning his degree towards civil engineering. Overall, he has provided me with adequate amount of information for me to understand the work of a civil engineer and what I am able to do as I progress through my college years and during the course of my first job.

            When asked what interests he had towards the field at his early age, Mohit Sabharwal replied with an honest answer of “the work in this field will never end.” At an early age, he had no other interests and looked towards civil engineering as a field and noticed that there will always be a need for professional civil engineers. As he explained, the construction industry is only expanding with newer buildings and facilities being built everywhere. As the world expands and the population increases, civil engineers will always be a commodity that the construction industry will strive to obtain. He was able to understand that prior to entering college and began his education by majoring in civil engineering at the Punjab Technical University. Mohit Sabharwal is currently thirty years of age but has been in the United States for five years. When Mr. Sabharwal did enter the United States and began working, he wanted to work in his field of interest. Therefore, he had gotten his degree from India evaluated so that he may work in the United States as a civil engineer. During this process, he submitted his degree to the Global Solutions council and gained a B+ in his examination. As a result, he was able to work in the United States and continue to do what he wanted to from the start.

            After getting his degree evaluated, Sabharwal was able to obtain his first job in the United States at a subcontractor called SASCO Constructions as a site superintendent. He had been hired due to networking with the right people and having an excellent resume that portrayed his character and work ethic. Since Sabharwal had not worked in the field prior to this hiring, he was worried about his first few days at work. These worried included reading professional blueprints and understanding the owner’s expectations.  Sabharwal had always wanted to excel at his field and provide the best work he can. Thus, understanding what the owner wanted was the first thing to learn. However, as days passed, Sabharwal became efficient in his work and was no longer worried because he knew the level and quality of his work and became comfortable in the work environment. While working under SASCO Constructions as a site superintendent, Sabharwal had worked on an eleven hundred linear feet parapet wall in Brooklyn, which was completed two and half months prior to deadline, showing his efficiency and dedication to the company. He also worked for the construction of a parapet wall in Staten Island Rehab Center. Other locations of work include Brooklyn (where he worked on a six-story building) and Manhattan (where he worked on a basement to seventh floor elevator shaft). Sabharwal had worked as a site superintendent for one year and due to his increased progress, was offered to become an assistant project manager. Therefore, he had then worked as an assistant project manager at SASCO General Constructions. One and a half year later, Sabharwal was given another opportunity to work at B and Sons Construction Services which he took. He worked as a project manager for one year at this company in which the work was at a better scale and the projects were higher. From all these opportunities, Sabharwal was also offered a position at RAND Engineering and Architecture, DPC which is ranked second for an engineering company. He was offered this position as a result of solving a problem with a structural component of a building in a cost-efficient manner that many were unable to solve. However, Sabharwal had talked to someone prior who promised that he would help him and decided to stay loyal to his company. “That was one of my biggest mistakes,” explains Sabharwal.

            Through this climbing of the ladder for Mohit Sabharwal, he is now working at MST General Constructions as a project engineer. At MST, each project was at a budget of an average of thirty million dollars. Sabharwal and his company were hired by the School Construction Authority to work on P.S. 62, P.S. 44, and P.S. 67 which are at the time of interview, completed. Working for the SCA had given Sabharwal a new perspective to his field as the work had to be done with the greatest adherence since the SCA has the strictest penalties. Which is one of the reasons that inspections were done every day to ensure the sustainability and stability of the project. Some on-going projects taking place that Sabharwal is a part of include P.S. 197 under SCA and Taft Rehab building under NYCHA (New York City Health Association) in which Sabharwal is responsible for hiring subcontractor for masonry, fire escapes, HVAC (heating and ventilation), plumbing, roofing, housing, paint, and electricity. However, this is not all the responsibilities that come with project engineers. Sabharwal must also; maintain positive relationship and clearly communicate with clients, partners, designers, field team, and sub-contractors; read and manage plans, specifications, contracts, purchase orders, shop drawings, submittals, lean releases, RFI logs, and other project related documents; write and manage subcontractor agreements and ensure all necessary elements are present; maintain punch list with architect and build team; create bi-weekly schedules; provide cost-estimates; maintain bid process; release for payments for sub-contractors; and report issues for company.

            The responsibilities that Mohit Sabharwal has are vast and he had also stressed that he must record and document everything that occurs in the workplace. Even the smallest of details must be accounted for and recorded. If more information is need about a specific task or if things on the workplace do not seem to be going according to plans, he must contact his manager through email or phone. Thus, Sabharwal must consistently write emails for details and information regarding work and communicated with clients, partners, designers, field team, and sub-contractors. If he does receive an email from someone else relating to work, every email should be replied to. Even if the reply is short and brief or long and complicated, all emails must be read, and a reply should be sent out. As stated before, Sabharwal is also responsible for writing or recording all issues and creating an FID or FDC report. These are some of the writing that takes place in Sabharwals day-to-day work.

            Communication in the workplace is not done only through the means of email. Information throughout the company is also portrayed through meetings and calls. Meetings are held to discuss the status of the projects so continuation of the bi-weekly schedule can be made. Other meetings are held for important construction consultations regarding the worksite. Sabharwal must also communicate with the professional engineer through a meeting regarding any inaccuracy between the worksite and the plans.

            While talking to Mr. Sabharwal about civil engineering, I did not only gain information about the field, but was also was given some helpful advice. One of which was that I had two options in the field after graduating. One which is to become a professional engineer and work within an office and the other which is to become a project manager and work on the site. He explained that not anyone can become a project manager/engineer, only a qualified person with a civil engineering degree and a professional engineer can be hired for that position. Another advice that was given is that I need to understand what I am doing and go with my gut. If a problem arises, you should know that you are right and can explain to others because others might try to take advantage of your inconvenience. Therefore, ensuring the level of my work is at the standard that it should be would allow me to continue without any problem arising. Lastly, I should be documenting and recording everything that go on within the work site. Whether that be through taking pictures or recording on sheet or writing. Everything should be available as evidence for the purpose of protecting yourself and others from harm due to any inconvenience.

            In conclusions, through the course of this project, I have learned about the day-to-day work life of a professional civil engineer working as a project manager. Sabharwal had informed me that not anyone can become a project manager. He/she must be a professional engineer. Therefore, I have two options when I graduate from college with a civil engineering degree. For him, he always was interesting in working in the field. He didn’t want to work inside an office and instead wanted to be at the worksite and manage construction. That is why he became a project manager/engineer. I too am interested in the field work as I would learn a greater amount from working within the site then inside an office. Working on the field would give me more experience and provide me with efficient knowledge if I do decide to work within an office as a professional engineer in the future. Through the conversation with Mohit Sabharwal, I also understood that I would need to jump from one company to the other until I have reached a place that I want to be. I must also take the opportunities that I am given to showcase my knowledge. I cannot reach the position through my first or second job, I need to work hard and move from company to company until I reach that position. As a result of this interview, I will continue to strive towards my field and understand as much as possible because in college, my education will count more than my experience and later on when I do become a professional engineer, I can use that education to build up my experience.