GIS Jobs and Careers

Geography CP 400 : GIS Certificate April 12, 2006 Program

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

Developing a Career in GIS

T echnica l S k i l ls+ Tem p ora l sk ills+ T im e less sk ills

In te r Persona l S k i l ls + C om m u n ica tion

+ R e la tion sh ip s

Bus iness S k i l ls+ A d m in is tra tive

+ C u s tom er S ervice

Career Success

GIS Programmer / Analyst

Duties Desired Skills

Entry Level Salary

Design & Develop Interfaces for Customer use (via ArcView or the web)

Java/VB script VB.net ASP Markup Languages (html, xml) GIS Software

Approximately $24.00/hr at Seattle Public Utilities

Business Analysis and Requirements Gathering (many apps involve linking other systems to display their data thru GIS)

Understanding of GIS

Technical Issues

Project Management (60-30-10 Goal Requirements / Design-Construct / Test )

Timeless Skills Communication Relationship Management Customer Service Problem Solving

GIS Data Developer/Maintainer

Duties Desired Skills

Entry Level Salary

Research & Interpreting Source Data Managing Source Materials

GIS +/or Engineering Background

Organizational Skills Map/Plan Interpretive Skills Research abilities

Approximately $20.00/hr at Seattle Public Utilities

Creating and Editing Data Quality Assurance Progress Tracking

GIS Software experience Attention to Detail Ability to Work Independently

Coordinating and Communicating Documenting

Timeless Skills Listening / Writing / Speaking Relationship Management Customer Service Problem Solving

GIS Cartographer

Duties Desired Skills

Entry Level Salary

Use of cartographic elements and tools to present geographically referenced information & communicate a message

Cartographic design abilities Interpretative skills Ability to work under pressure

in a production environment GIS Programming Skills Ability to analyze data sets

Approximately $22.00 /hr at Seattle Public Utilities

Perform geo-spatial analysis & display results

Experience with GIS software Experience w/ variety of data

formats

Maintenance & admin of thematic data sets and maps displayed on web

Timeless Skills Communication Relationship Management Customer Service Problem Solving

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”

Senior GIS Analyst

Duties Desired Skills

Salary Range

1. Direct application design efforts to fit into an enterprise architecture

2. Involved in creating & refining E-Architecture and SDLC methodology

This position needs most, if not all, of the skills listed in the three previous positions

$35.00 to 41.00/hr at Seattle Public Utilities

3. Lead Implementation of new technology

4. Facilitate integration of all technology

Significant Experience as a data geek, programmer, analyst and cartographer

5. Coaching & Mentoring 6. Project Management

Timeless Skills Communication / Organization Rltnshp Mgmnt / Cust Service Problem Solving

Other Typical GIS jobs

• Software Administrator (ArcGIS, SDE, ArcIMS, ArcServer)

• Desktop GIS Support

• Public Access/GIS Storefront

• GIS Trainer

• Unit Supervisor (Data, Apps, Mapping)

• GIS Manager / GIS Coordinator

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

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.

• Problem Solving: Ability to recognize, diagnose, triage, and address issues.

Entering the GIS Workforce

Prepara tionB ook Tra in in g

S k ills D eve lop m en t

E xperienceIn te rn sh ip s / Tem p oray W ork

R ea l W orld P ro jec t E xp erien ce

Job Procurem entS earch , A p p ly, In te rview

A s a n ew ro le in cu rren t job

Working with or in GISG IS is p rim ary work

U se G IS too ls + d a ta

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.html#helpwanted

Other resources that have GIS jobs

• www.monster.com

• www.dice.com

• hotjobs.yahoo.com/

• giscareers.com

• http://careers.geocomm.com/

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

More on Resume development

• Look at other resumes to see what grabs your attention, is easy to read and is informative

• Don’t 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

Interviewing Strategies

• Do some research up front

• Dress appropriately

• Arrive early

• Be an active listener

• Bring paper & pen and use them • Put yourself in the organization’s shoes;

(how can you help solve a problem they have)

• Relax and breathe

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

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

Advise from GIS Managers

• Any Experience helps in the beginning

• Capstone Project is valuable; use itSubject / 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

Final words of Wisdom

• Patience and Persistence• Follow your Passions but be flexible too• Organization and Priority Setting• Take some Big Risks, but not the little ones• Learn to accept less than perfect..sometimes• Be Ethical in everything you do• Establish and work to maintain Balance • Know what you know, what you don’t know and

recognize that what is…….is.

The End