Students aspiring to become construction engineers embark on a journey of learning through various courses such as construction materials and methods, mechanics of materials, and geotechnical engineering. They acquire knowledge about soils, structural design, and electrical circuits. However, an important question remains - how well are these students prepared for the real-world marketplace in terms of soft skills like interpersonal communication?

Bridging the Gap - Enhancing Communication Skills in Construction Engineering

Course Curriculum and Technical Skills

Students in construction engineering programs take a diverse range of courses to build a strong technical foundation. They study construction materials and methods, which equip them with the knowledge to select and use appropriate materials for different construction projects. Mechanics of materials helps them understand the behavior of materials under different loads, ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and other structures. Geotechnical engineering focuses on the properties of soils and rocks, enabling engineers to design safe and stable foundations. Alongside these technical subjects, they also learn about electrical circuits, which are essential for modern construction projects.

These courses provide students with the necessary technical skills to excel in their future careers. However, as the construction industry becomes more complex and collaborative, the importance of soft skills cannot be overlooked.

The Need for Soft Skills

Interpersonal communication is a crucial soft skill that construction engineers need to possess. In a construction project, engineers interact with a wide range of stakeholders, including utility companies, municipalities, the general public, and workers on job sites. Good interpersonal communication skills enable them to build relationships, negotiate, and resolve conflicts effectively.

According to a recent study co-authored by Tina Coffelt, professor in the Department of English, there is a gap between the courses construction engineering students are required to take and the communication skills they need for their new jobs. The study, “Which communication skills do I need? A multimethod study of communication needs in construction engineering,” published in the Journal of Business and Technical Communication, explored the communication skills employers seek in recent construction engineering graduates.

Data Analysis and Employer Expectations

Coffelt and her team, assisted by Neha Raju (MS ’24 construction engineering and management), analyzed 100 job listings and identified the most frequently mentioned communication skills. Oral communication skills accounted for over half of all communication skills mentioned. Among them, interpersonal skills were highly sought after, followed by the ability to work as part of a team.

When they interviewed 11 employers, they found that while new graduates had sufficient written communication skills, they lacked some interpersonal and oral communication abilities. Assertiveness, relationship building, and audience adaptation were some of the key attributes identified in the interviews.

The Importance of Communication Skills

Both written and verbal communication skills are highly valued by employers. In NACE’s Job Outlook 2020 survey, more than 91% of employers wanted new employees to have experience working as part of a team when identifying the business and professional communication skills most important for new hires. The Project Management Institute reported in 2013 that when there was miscommunication, 73% of projects were completed late.

Construction engineers need to be able to communicate effectively with different stakeholders to ensure the smooth progress of a project. Good interpersonal communication skills help them build trust, resolve issues, and collaborate with others. As Coffelt stressed, “Issues that happen in project management can be caused by miscommunication somewhere in the chain.”

A Way Forward

Coffelt’s study highlights the need to add interpersonal communication classes to the construction engineering curriculum. She and her colleagues developed new course material based on the study and incorporated it into two different construction engineering classes.

They continue to work with construction engineering faculty to examine interactions between construction engineers and tradespeople. This ongoing research aims to provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of communication skills in the construction industry and help them develop these skills effectively.