GIS Job and Education Webinar
I recently found an online webinar from Directions Media on GIS jobs and education. Although I did not catch it live, I did see the recorded version. It was very interesting to see and hear about the various education and job opportunities from individuals who are either in the education or professional industry. This is part of a three series webinar job fair. See below for future dates.
http://www.directionsmag.com/sponsors/webinar.php?webid=8&from=webinar
Tuesday, September 23 (2008)
Tuesday, January 13 (2009)
Tuesday, May 12 (2009)
More Information on the Job Fairs…
Related Blogs:
It’s the Economy…& Jobs, Stupid
Education and Experience for a GIS Job
There are a variety of jobs in the GIS industry. Maybe you are looking for an entry level job or maybe you are looking for a career upgrade. Below are some general requirements based up some recent job posts. Some jobs may require more or less depending upong the employeer. To see what colleges offer GIS degrees, please visit the GIS Colleges page.
GIS Intern
Education
- Currently majoring in GIS or a related field
Experience
- ArcMap Software such as ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo
Skills
- Photo interpretation skills
- Data digitization
- Basic GIS Editing
GIS Technician
Education
- Associates degree in a related field; four year degree preferred; or the equivalent combination of education and experience
- Or equivalent education towards a Bachelors Degree in Geography or related field using GIS
Experience
- 2 years directly related GIS experience
- Image processing software such as Photoshop or PhotoImpact a plus
Experience exporting/importing/converting/projecting/reprojecting data - ESRI ArcGIS software, version 9.2 or higher
Skills
- Demonstrated photo interpretation and/or data collection skills
- Knowledge in map layout design
Understanding of GIS data formats - strong GIS skills with two or more GIS packages one of which being the ESRI suite of products
- Applicants must have a basic understanding of the concepts behind data management in a relational database.
Online Mapping for the Non-GIS Professional
I am amazed at the inability of workplace professionals to use GIS. They think that when there is a problem that requires using a map they have to turn to the GIS guru. And although it may only take the guru two minutes to return the requested data, they too can usually do the same thing with online mapping. Whether it is pure laziness, lack of desire to learn, or not being aware of the other options; we must inform and educate these non-GIS professionals.
Although I understand that GIS can be very complicated, it is becoming easier to use. People are using Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth more and more everyday. They are simple to use and provide some good quality information. Above and beyond these common “household applications”, there are some good mapping applications at the local level. These are mainly at the county level, but there are other organizations that provide similar stuff. The available data usually includes: municipality boundaries, school boundaries, streets, parcels, fire districts, aerial photos, census tracks, zip code areas, hydrology, and voter precincts. Some counties provide move and some less. All of this data is free and at the fingertips of anyone with a computer. Yes, my three year old daughter can look at this stuff.
So I am taking a wild shot in the dark and assuming that the average working professional has access to a computer; therefore they have access to a wealth of information. And yet they come to the GIS guru and request data about a parcel. “Can you tell me who owns this parcel? How much is it worth? Can I get a picture of it? Who is the adjacent property owner? Is that city or county zoning?” The questions keep coming, and since it is technically our job we provide the answers. When are they going to learn that they can gather this information too? Sure, leave the highly technical analysis to the GIS guru, but take some initiative and learn how to use an online mapping application.
And since I fall into the GIS guru category, you and I must help those who work around us learn how to find information on their own. There will be times when we will not be able to hold their hand, and what will they do then?
If by chance you are one of these non-GIS professionals, please take a few moments and learn about your local online GIS application. Go to Goggle and type in your county or city’s name along with the term “GIS” and find a link that is provided by your local government. It will normally be referred to as something like a Property Information System, Online Mapping Service, or Interactive Maps. They are easy to use and can be very beneficial while at the same time keeping your GIS guru focus on the more technical part of their job.
Here are a couple of examples of an online mapping application:
http://www.sangis.org/
http://wms.co.fulton.ga.us/
http://polaris.mecklenburgcountync.gov
http://maps.cityofmobile.org/citymap/Map.aspx
