GIS/Mapping Types - Do You Like Your Job?

[OverTurn]

I'm considering a degree in GIS. Job experiences with this kind of degree? I know there are tons of things you can do with this degree, but what are some specific things that you all are actually doing? Happy with your job? Flipping burgers now? Experiences?

[farmer]

I'm not a GIS guy, but I have worked with a few. They were working for a mining exploration company, and were a godsend to have in camp IMO. I don't know a ton about their day to day stuff, other than they spent a lot of time compiling all of our drill, soil, rock, etc data, telling us when we fucked up in giving them the info.

Because they worked on computers basically all the time, suddenly they were our local IT experts as well. And by IT I mean anything with a plug. TV isn't working? call Curtis. Phone sucks? Call Curtis. Boss can't figure out how to make a video play on his laptop after work? Call Curtis. Pretty thankless job in our camp at least. I didn't spend too much time in the office, but another guy I worked with said that after one morning of being in there with him, he was ready to get back into the field after seeing the shit he had to put up with.

OTOH, he stayed with the company when many others were leaving, so he can't have hated it too much.

[khakis]

I would recommend against a degree in GIS. If you like maps and computers, and have a spatial problem-solving kind of brain, take some GIS classes, apply it and maybe you will find that you want to do GIS as a career. But maybe you'll realize you don't and you have a very specialized degree and skill set and aren't really qualified to do anything else. I kind of fell into my current position/career in GIS due to my fairly diverse background in which I used GIS to do some pretty neat stuff and in the process got really good at figuring out how to use use it to do what I wanted to do. In grad school I took every class i could sign up for in GIS because I liked it and knew it was an important skill, but in the end my "directed study"-type experience (identify a problem, realize that it is something that can be solved spatially, figure out how to solve it) was the most valuable process I went through. At the end of the day GIS is just a tool (or set of tools), and if you direct your whole education to learning how to use the one tool, all you'll ever be is a technician. If instead you get a degree in something a little more abstract/theory oriented, and get good at GIS along the way (maybe a minor or certificate), you'll not only be more marketable but also will not be at the mercy of the guy who wants a map, but instead able to understand the problem you're supposed to be analyzing or conveying in a map, and play a meaningful part in the project, which will in turn allow you to make yourself a more valuable part of the team. Shoot a PM if you want more specifics. Oh and I'm happy with my job some days, others not so much, but I do have a job and no real fear of losing it, so I've got that going for me...

[grubbers]

I would recommend against a degree in GIS. If you like maps and computers, and have a spatial problem-solving kind of brain, take some GIS classes, apply it and maybe you will find that you want to do GIS as a career. But maybe you'll realize you don't and you have a very specialized degree and skill set and aren't really qualified to do anything else. I kind of fell into my current position/career in GIS due to my fairly diverse background in which I used GIS to do some pretty neat stuff and in the process got really good at figuring out how to use use it to do what I wanted to do. In grad school I took every class i could sign up for in GIS because I liked it and knew it was an important skill, but in the end my "directed study"-type experience (identify a problem, realize that it is something that can be solved spatially, figure out how to solve it) was the most valuable process I went through. At the end of the day GIS is just a tool (or set of tools), and if you direct your whole education to learning how to use the one tool, all you'll ever be is a technician. If instead you get a degree in something a little more abstract/theory oriented, and get good at GIS along the way (maybe a minor or certificate), you'll not only be more marketable but also will not be at the mercy of the guy who wants a map, but instead able to understand the problem you're supposed to be analyzing or conveying in a map, and play a meaningful part in the project, which will in turn allow you to make yourself a more valuable part of the team. Shoot a PM if you want more specifics. Oh and I'm happy with my job some days, others not so much, but I do have a job and no real fear of losing it, so I've got that going for me...

+1

go for a degree in a field that heavily relies on gis (forestry, natural resources, etc.), but isn't gis specifically, and take as many gis and remote sensing classes as you can. you'll be far more marketable in the job market.

[stapes]

I am just about ready to finish my certificate in GIS. Looking at internships/entry level work opportunities now. I graduated with my undergrad in business in '06.

I really have enjoyed the coursework so far. Always was a map geek and that's kind of what led me in this direction. That, and I know some people in the field. Hopefully I can find something full-time soon. This area (Front Range) tends to have a decent amount of opportunity in GIS, or at least did before the economy took a shit.

Khakis- are you working in the Front Range now?

[mcsquared]

I would agree with what others said. A "GIS" degree doesn't really say much. The best thing about GIS is that it touches just about every field and discipline. And having GIS knowledge can make you a better, more desirable ______ (geologist, civil engineer, environmental consultant, software developer, etc). But just being a GIS person doesn't really do much.

[khakis]

Khakis- are you working in the Front Range now?

Yep I'm in downtown Denver. There are lots of good entry-level opportunities here...if you're decently connected I may not be able to offer any advice you haven't already heard but feel free to drop me a PM if you need a sounding board.

[iamTRuTH]

My company is hiring a GIS Specialist right now. PM for details

[SweetCorn]

I studied GIS/remote sensing and with a BA took a pile of classes un-related to GIS. I've had incredible luck with finding and landing various opportunities with large and small companies across the west.

Be forewarned, you will be working with computers, all the time. This was kind of a bitter pill for me to swallow initially, but I realized the opportunities computer work could offer, so I stuck with it and eventually embraced it.
One angle as a GIS-er I always worked because I knew I didn't always want to be at the desk was to do ANY field work that was available. Hands on experience with survey grade GPS will help you snag this type of work big time.

At most of my jobs, I would get to spend at least some percentage of my time in the field. Didn't matter if I was mapping sewage systems in Kansas for two weeks, it was a nice break from the office grind. Other field gigs were better, even got to travel overseas a handful of times, even lived overseas for a bit doing GIS work.

One other thing that can make you very attractive is to become a GIS guy who can program. Personally, after 10 years + in the industry, I would get a GIS based degree and take computer science courses in programming (does your school offer Python?) rather than History of Rock Music, which is what I did. Won't be as cool at the time but will serve you better in the long run.

I've certainly spent a fair amount of time hating my jobs over the years though. Depending on the job, the work can be very tedious, mind numbing and downright un-satisfying. Not all GIS jobs are like this though, you gotta find a good one at the right company. Personally, I really think the programming aspect can help keep things fresh too. I've found this out after almost 10 years in the industry and it's really helped re-ignite some enthusiasm in my work.
In the past though, I've even contemplated chucking it all for a couple years and living out of a van and climbing all the time or doing something radically different.
It's still a grind, but it can be a fruitful one.

Currently I work about 30% in the field and the rest of time I make my own schedule working from home. I've got lots of distractions outside my door, good climbing and skiing, but my situation wasn't just given to me, I had to put some time in for sure.
Good luck.

[fish]

thanks for the input on this

[grubbers]

anyone have any suggestions on good places to look for gis jobs? already know about gis jobs clearinghouse and gisjobs.com and i check indeed.com regularly as well. i have to move out of my apartment by the end of august and i'm not planning on staying in vermont. hoping to at least have some good leads on jobs elsewhere when i move home temporarily with the parents (i'd like to keep that as temporary as possible). looking to relocate essentially anywhere out west where i'm not too far from the mountains.

[JeffreyJim]

All I can offer is there should be plenty of jobs in the way of oil and gas type positions. Any sort of E&P or even midstream company will need GIS services and MOST are still living in the 90s when it comes to this shit.

If you've got any sort of database integration skills (I know, GIS is really just a spacial database) you should have no problem pulling in a good job.

My $0.02

[stapes]

anyone have any suggestions on good places to look for gis jobs? already know about gis jobs clearinghouse and gisjobs.com and i check indeed.com regularly as well. i have to move out of my apartment by the end of august and i'm not planning on staying in vermont. hoping to at least have some good leads on jobs elsewhere when i move home temporarily with the parents (i'd like to keep that as temporary as possible). looking to relocate essentially anywhere out west where i'm not too far from the mountains.

geosearch.com

[Katoom]

GIS can be a great line of work but just beware that many GIS gigs do little in the way of analysis.
GIS analysis is the cool stuff.
Working with web based dynamic mapping products can be a blast too but some programming savvy is usually needed.
A lot of GIS jobs deal mostly with map making and data conversion which can get old.
For me it was all a springboard to full time programming which I find more fun if you can believe it.

[HustleHard]

I'm working in GIS right now and I truely enjoy it. The only bad part is there isn't much time away from a computer screen. I'm in government work so i cant work remotely, but if you get hooked in with the right set up, you can work from wherever.

[drivanovich]

Yep I'm in downtown Denver. There are lots of good entry-level opportunities here...if you're decently connected I may not be able to offer any advice you haven't already heard but feel free to drop me a PM if you need a sounding board.

I'm moving to Denver with a GIS certification and looking for advice from professionals into the field for networking opportunities and advice for career direction. Do you have any contacts or leads for a entry-level GIS opportunity preferably with environmental science background. I would love a sounding board of GIS places in Denver and places for biking!

[drivanovich]

I am moving to Denver in a month and looking for contacts and entry opportunities in the GIS field. I saw you have been working with GIS for a few years and would appreciate any advice for the job search in Denver. I have a certification in GIS with only about 3 years experience mainly in the field. Also do you know the nearest back country skiing around Denver? Slightly off topic but also very important for moving to a new area.