CAREERS IN GIS

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A good majority of GIS jobs exist in local government…state, province, county, parish, city, territory, village, etc.  This statement should not be something new to many of you.  If you are looking for a GIS job, local government is a very good starting point.  The problem is that you and every other qualified GIS professional knows this same information.  To complicate matters, whether you want to admit it or not, politics may enter into the mix as to whether you find out about a job or even get an interview.  Becoming friendly with those who may have political connections can never hurt your chances at getting your dream GIS job.

Now I am not suggesting that you compromise your ideals or make all sorts of political contributions to simply get considered for a job.  You just need to get acquainted with those who may carry some weight in your local government office.  Councilmen, aldermen, representatives, committee or board members…these are the individuals that you want to connect with.  Remember these individuals are locals (or should be).  They represent you and the interests of your community.  Why would they not want a qualified local person to receive a job opportunity instead of someone from outside the area they represent?  Their recommendation may not guarantee a job for you but it gives you an inside connection.

In true political fashion though, you need to get your face out there.  A cold email to these individuals simply saying that you live in the community may not get much of a response depending on the size of bureaucracy that you are trying enter.  Instead, go to public community meetings and introduce yourself before or after the meeting.  Be persistent but not pushy.  Getting in a handshake along with just a few minutes of explaining who you are, what you are qualified to do, or what you can offer can open all sorts of doors.

A good way to find a job in the GIS industry is to stay on top of what new innovations may be out there in terms of software, technology, or analysis methods.  Attending conferences and meetings will give you exposure to new things and possibly give you new creative ideas on how you can apply your talents.

So which conferences should you attend?  Where do I begin?  Most major GIS software companies offer conferences that highlight their own software.  ESRI (ArcGIS), Intergraph (GeoMedia), Pitney Bowes (MapInfo), GE (Smallworld), Autodesk (AutoCAD Map), etc. all have major conferences in the United States and around the world that can or should be attended if it is within your means.  Then there are related industry/research conferences….AAG, Where 2.0, FOSS4G, URISA, GIScience, GITA, NACIS, SCGIS, etc.  Beyond that there are regional conferences held by specific city or state organizations.  (I’m not listing all of those or the list will just keep going.)  These are usually your best best since the conferences are usually smaller and give you a chance to network.

You need to be aware of not only what is current but what are others doing.  This gives you a strategic advantage when you apply for a job.  You need to bring something new and fresh to a position otherwise you are just like everyone else who is applying.

You may say that these larger conferences are great but I cannot afford or do not have the time to attend them.  That does not mean that you need to be shut out of the conferences completely.  Many conferences post a good number of their presentations and proceedings on the Internet.  Click here to see a huge number of presentations given at the Where 2.0 conference.  If you go here, you can see the presentation lineup from the FOSS4G 2008 conference.  You can get some of the presentations from the 2009 ESRI International User conference through this link.  A little digging on the Internet can go a long way.