How to get government jobs after finishing engineering in ECE?

Is it possible to shorten the route of studying a civil engineering degree if I already have an Econ degree?

• I am a fresh grad with a degree in arts major in economics but I find it hard looking for jobs. I consider myself more concentrated and interested in Public Economics and Econometrics because most of my research papers done in my 4th year study relate to the public sector such as health and education; as well as using quantitative methods for research and analysis. But so far all the junior/assistant level government jobs that involve research and policy analysis require certain years of experience. Most other jobs that require economics degree are jobs like financial management, financial planning, risk management, insurance, etc. And I have to compete with people with finance background, and those with related experience and so I didn't get any feedback so far for these jobs. I am thinking of working part-time and study civil-engineering since I'm quite interested in it and that it's more practical. But then I asked one university department head in civil engineering and I found out I have to study a high diploma first to be able to apply for a degree program in civil engineering (at least in hong kong). and because it's part time i have to study 3-4 yrs high diploma and then 3-4 yrs for the degree total around 6-8 years. Is this normal? His explanation is that everything is different compared to economics, you have to study geology, mechanics, construction drawing, etc, even the math is different. But I heard in some other countries people can major economics in his/her degree, political science in masters, then civil engineering in PhD. Is this possible? How did they cope with the difference in math and all the technical stuffs mentioned like soil mechanics, hydraulics, survey, etc? And generally any suggestions on what I should do? I have also applied in some other fields like logistics, trading, and just general clerical and administrative roles. But often the interviewer would ask questions like "I thought economics is a field of business how come it's in arts?" and I don't really know how to answer him/her. Often I just say that's how my university distinguishes economics as a field of arts because it's part of social science. Anyone have similar experience? Thanks!

• Answer:

  it possible to shorten the route of studying a civil engineering degree if I already have an Econ degree , just it need to get the good informative and experience there