CEA - Becoming an Engineering From Honduras to the US with Martha Castellon

Becoming a professional engineer is a difficult task at any point in time, regardless of where we were born or live. However, challenges become even greater when we choose to pursue a career in a different country. Not only are the language and culture adoption barriers to overcome, but the way things work out in the new place can also be intimidating. Today, our guest explains how she managed to overcome all of these.

Daughter of two engineers and sister of talented siblings ranging from engineers and doctors, Martha Castellon was born and raised in Honduras. Needless to say, she grew up surrounded by engineering conversations and soon realized she was good at math and physics. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Honduras, she could not find a job there and, following her parents’ advice, she decided to learn English and come to the US to get a master’s degree. Being an international student, however, required her to find a job within three months upon completing her graduate studies. Otherwise, she would have to leave.

Today, Martha shares the troubles she’s been through while on the job hunt in the US, how volunteering (you read it right!) helped her land a position as a road design engineer, how the language barriers caused her to take the FE more than once, and how the Ultimate Civil FE Review Course helped her in her goal of passing this exam. She also shares some tips for those preparing to take the test, how planning ahead can greatly improve your odds, as well as how the CEA community and team members along with tons of practice problems helped her prepare, take, and pass her FE exam.

Resources Mentioned (some links are affiliate links!)

Martha Castellon - martha_castellon@hotmail.com

Getting from College to Career, by Lindsey Pollak - https://amzn.to/2Zgf9Cy

CEA Episode 49 (International Professional Engineers Noah and Mostafa) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhSPXSU5t9M

Oklahoma State University - https://go.okstate.edu

The Ultimate Civil FE Review Course - https://civilfereviewcourse.com

If you’re a civil engineer, Autodesk offers a suite of software that you’ll definitely be going to be using - http://civilengineeringacademy.com/autodesk

If you need exams, solved problems, or courses, make sure to check out our home base - https://civilengineeringacademy.com

Haven’t joined up in our free community? What’s wrong with you? J/K. Ok, just go there and join a group of like-minded civil engineers! - https://ceacommunity.com

Join over 4000 engineers like you and learn the tips and tricks to passing the FE and PE. We even have a free resource for you! - https://civilengineeringacademy.com/join-our-newsletter

Reach out to Isaac - isaac@civilengineeringacademy.com