URS Employee Reviews for Civil Designer

"I find it quite helpful and must admit, these are excellent questions."

What do you like about working at URS?

"Working in the private sector for my 34 year career, it was a pleasant and interesting 3 months working in the corporate environment. I was truly disappointed when several of us got the word that our employment with URS was coming to an end.I was impressed with the professionalism and the background of all the different ethnic group of employees there. I was hoping that being employed by URS opened the door to having the opportunity to work in many locations of the country."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be aware that URS is a large corporation and not a small company like many private firms. Go in with an open mind and remember what your job function is and the task at hand. In most cases, individuals, like myself have the background as a project manager, but at URS I am no more than a Civil Site Designer. I was comfortable with that scenario. If you are a non-degree individual know going in that it will be the Professional Engineers that will manage most projects and rightly so. I was comfortable knowing that I can concentrate on the task at hand and that is design projects and not have to be concerned about the items that go with managing the project. This is something that new employees need to keep in mind."

What don't you like about working at URS?

"I was truly dumb founded when I was not offered a position in a different department or other office locations across the USA and the world. As an employee for three months or as an employee for fifteen years, I believe that URS' human resources department is obligated to search for a position and to offer those positions to the employees that are being relieved of their duties with the firm. I must admit that I was surprised I was not at least offered a position elsewhere. I am not married to the Dallas - Ft. worth area and I have the flexibility of working anywhere and everywhere. The bottom line is that I feel URS didn't take care of their property.......me the employee. Being one of the largest corporations in the world, I felt I was not treated fairly."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I believe that the company should look more at the experience level instead of educational level of possible new employees. Many situations will require individuals with professional licenses, but on the other hand, it is the work of those individuals who are experienced and have little college that get the work done in a timely fashion. Too much of the budget and way too much emphasis is wasted on those individuals who lack experience simply because they are not taught in school many of the technical aspects of the real engineering world. It's just my opinion that many companies get too top heavy with licensed engineers and E.I.T.'s and truly need to look at hiring more people with the technical backgrounds. I believe that many companies need to make their Human Resource Department people do more than work with new employees and prepare orientations. HR staff should be concentrating on and doing the leg work in finding positions for their current employees when the need presents itself like in my case. Yes, employees should be looking online in the careers department as well and applying for positions there as I have done many times. I really want to return to the URS system and I hope that is a possibility soon."