GIS Jobs and Careers

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GIS Jobs and Careers
Geography 463 GIS Workshop May 26 2005
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Presentation Outline

• GIS Job Titles, Duties, and Relevant Skills
• Career Development Tips Strategies
• Learning Objectives
• Develop an understanding of some common types of
  GIS jobs and what professional GIS work is
• Learn basic strategies for advancing your career

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Developing a Career in GIS
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GIS Programmer / Analyst
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GIS Data Developer/Maintainer
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GIS Cartographer
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Capability Categories

• Apprentice Beginner, has knowledge in a few
  areas of the business
• Practitioner Capable performer of the job
• Leader Can do it all, and provide guidance
• Master Excels in all areas, a franchise player

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Senior GIS Analyst
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Other Typical GIS jobs

• Software Administrator
• Desktop GIS Support
• Public Counter Support
• Unit Supervisor
• GIS Manager

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Requirements for all GIS jobs

• Interest in geography, survey, and cartography
• A professional approach positive attitude
• Ability to work productively in teams and
  independently
• Ability to see the world from a multi-dimensional
  and multi-disciplined approach

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The Timeless Skills

• Communication Listening, Writing, Interacting,
  Presenting information, Speaking
• Relationship Management Establishing and
  maintaining human contacts throughout a
  profession, a business transaction and/or a
  community.
• Customer Service Establishing a desire for
  persons to want to continue to do business with
  you or your organization

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Entering the GIS Workforce
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Identifying Opportunities

• www.seattle.gov/jobs
• www.gjc.org
• marketplace.nwsource.com/jobs/ (seattle times)
• www.urisa.org/Jobs/jobsmktpl.htm
• www.colorsnw.com/classifieds.htmlhelpwanted

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Other resources that have GIS jobs

• www.monster.com
• www.dice.com
• hotjobs.yahoo.com/
• giscareers.com
• http//careers.geocomm.com/

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Resume Preparation

• Include a career objective up front
• Highlight your skills
• Education provide basic info, and any awards or
  relevant research
• Make it informative, yet easy to read
• No typos or ambiguities

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More on Resume development

• Look at other resumes to see what grabs your
  attention, is easy to read and is informative
• Dont stretch the truth, it could come back to
  haunt you
• Have at least one other person read your resume
  before you submit it
• Follow up with phone call when possible

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Interviewing Strategies

• Do some research up front
• Dress appropriately
• Arrive early
• Be a good listener
• Bring paper pen and use them
• Put yourself in the organizations shoes (how
  can you help solve a problem they have)
• Relax

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More on Interviewing

• Be succinct, yet complete in responses
• Be sure to highlight your timeless skills and
  relevant experience
• Ask questions about the job, organization,
  possible assignments, next steps in process
• Aim to take up 90-95 of time

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Behaviors of successful professionals

• PERSONAL
• Quality of Work
• Customer Service Excellence
• Personal Initiative
• Positive Attitude
• Innovative Thinking

• INTER PERSONAL
• Successful Team Member
• Leadership Instincts
• Loyalty
• Strategic Thinking
• Tactical Efficiency

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Advise from GIS Managers

• Any Experience helps in the beginning
• Capstone Project is valuable use it
• Subject / Content / Quality are important
• GIS is in use everywhere, keep your search broad
  and not just in government organizations
• Analytical Thinking will be of great help

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Final words of Wisdom

• Patience and Persistence
• Follow your Passions but be flexible too
• Organization and Priority Setting
• Take Big Risks, but not the little ones
• Learn to accept less than perfect..sometimes
• Be Ethical in everything you do
• Establishing Balance
• Never Panic, you can almost always regroup

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The End