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How to Find and Qualify for GIS Jobs

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GIS jobs are growing even in today’s economy when other types of jobs are stagnating. The qualified applicant looking for GIS jobs will find opportunities exist for their specialty almost everywhere they look and in nearly every field from government to non-profit organizations to city planners and weather broadcasts

What is a GIS Job?

What is a GIS specialist and what does this professional do? The great grandfather of the GIS professional was a cartographer, a mapmaker who broke down reports he received from others or what he had seen for himself about a specific area and made maps that told travelers where the shores could be found where mountain ranges and passes existed. Today though, we have moved beyond those fumbling initial phases and GIS consists of taking graphical data from things like satellite photos and digitizing them turning them into forms that can be assimilated by a computer. The software then organizes the data, a GIS analyst will make sense of it and eventually the output is in the form of something as useful and everyday as Google maps, animated weather projections seen on the local weather channel, environmental surveys and even visual graphics for your GPS.



Qualifications for Jobs in GIS

Geographic Information Systems jobs (GIS) consist of multiple disciplines with varying needs for education some require advanced degrees and others require only the basic knowledge and skill sets. It is recommended for those interested in a career in GIS as a technician that they receive a Bachelor degree from an accredited university. In fact, schools now offer GIS majors, which focus on geography, geomorphology, computer system skills, strong computer language skills such as VB and analysis and many other skills required. These majors are designed to prepare the individual student for a wide range of jobs in this field. Persons who already possess a Bachelor or advanced degree might only take leveling courses designed to bring their skills (such as cartography, geology and computer science and courses on GIS software and CAD) up to par with the knowledge that a GIS professional needs.

Cartography, geology, computer drafting, software and computer basics will be required during these courses.

Advanced degrees such as Masters Degrees are usually preparation for GIS jobs with more responsibility in management supervision and project planning.

A GIS Intern Job requires a bachelor degree and knowledge of the appropriate software and systems. This is an entry-level position and it is quite common for recent graduates to begin as interns until they acquire sufficient on the job experience to qualify for more challenging roles.

Where to find GIS Jobs

The reality is that GIS jobs are plentiful. However, they are not like other jobs in that GIS may not even be mentioned in the title word GIS in the job posting or they may be in many places you did not think to look. That is because of the interdisciplinary nature of the GIS jobs. How it is advertised and what it is called depends upon the agency or company and their use for the GIS professional.

Even so, jobs in GIS are common and the demand for these professionals is every increasing. The job search begins with your resume. It is important you list all hobbies, any experience, and specialized areas of interest that bear upon GIS as well as your applicable educational experience. Work experience even as a GIS digitizer helps your resume stand out.

City government, state and federal governments all make heavy use of the GIS professional, this includes the forestry service, and weather services city planners even the census bureau. Non-profit environmental agencies and advocacy agencies use GIS professionals on a consultant basis frequently.

Reading online on forums concerned with geographic survey, cartography can help come up with some GIS job leads. An online search with the name of the city or state you are hoping to find your dream GIS job in is a valid choice.

Careful registration with online GIS related job search sites could also help find the right job in the GIS field for you. If you are not selective about registration, however you can soon become overwhelmed with emails about jobs that may have no bearing on GIS. You should monitor your email volume while on your job search and then verify the validity of the topics carefully. If the emails are consistently not applicable to your jobs in GIS, then modify your notification criteria.

GIS in use is almost everywhere and becoming ever more common. The requirements are a good education firmly grounded in the basics required for the GIS professional, a good resume, and persistence.
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 internships  technicians  GIS  bachelor's degree  satellite imagery  GPS  advanced degrees  degrees  maps  computers


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