Working in the industry

There are many ways of acquiring the basic knowledge needed to work in any one of Queformat’s four main areas of activity.

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree
Many of our employees completed undergraduate degrees in geological engineering, civil engineering or geology.

Working as a geological engineer or geologist is not unlike being an investigator. These professionals:

• characterize the soil and rock on which dams, roads, houses or large buildings are constructed;
• assess various risks, including landslides, land subsidence, flooding and earthquakes;
• design solutions to minimize the fallout from such events, so that the works completed are solid and safe and the site complies with environmental standards.

According to Jobboom (Les carrières de la formation universitaire, 2006), the civil engineer “rigorously describes the parts, materials and operations needed for a construction project, whose costs he/she estimates and whose subsequent implementation he/she oversees.” Civil engineers can establish the optimal dimensions for underground support pillars based on the building load and ground characteristics.  

Obtaining a DEC (college diploma)
Candidates can qualify for Queformat’s four areas of activity by studying civil engineering technologies at CEGEP. Civil engineering technologists are curious, versatile and highly rigorous. The job, which essentially consists of overseeing the details liable to influence the project’s execution, can notably lead to soil analyses or materials testing. “Prospects for civil engineering technologists are very promising, and there is always the chance to acquire further training at the École de technologie supérieure or university.” (Jobboom, Les carrières du collégial, 2006)

Obtaining a master’s degree
Some choose to deepen the knowledge gained during their undergraduate studies with a master’s degree. For instance, each year, a number of B. Eng. graduates enter an environmental studies master’s program to acquire targeted expertise in land decontamination. Others enter the civil engineering master’s program to familiarize themselves with a specific aspect of geotechnics, dam engineering or soil mechanics.

Institutions
Many educational institutions offer training programs with qualifications that can lead to work in a number of Queformat’s areas of activity.