Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Where are you and where are you going?
TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

There are hundreds of remote gis, remote sensing, and even Geologist opportunities if you look up those words on Indeed for the entire US, then filter by remote and last 14 days. $20/hr seems entry-level, but more than enough to start for one guy w/ 0 kids. Let’s see if I can get one though.

I’ve been thinking private > public to work for, but looks like a lot of gis/rs work is public.

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TheWanderingScholar
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TheWanderingScholar »

Someone in GIS:

A lot of GIS is public work however some public institutes are moving towards remote work. However private work is possible with a couple companies hiring GIS techies.

My job is actually GIS contractor work in Austin. Let me know if you are interested in any case.

TakeTwo
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TakeTwo »

GIS is a very broad "field" and can mean a lot of different things but at the end of the day it is data manipulation, just with some pretty pictures instead of only spreadsheets. It takes a lot of varied skills, though, and, as mentioned above, you need to be able to show you have them. I just hired a GIS person and I can tell you that you will be competing with everyone who did a GIS project in their Intro to Environmental Studies class in undergrad. GIS is everywhere these days and that's good and bad, but it does mean you'll have to figure out how to stand out to get a decent job in the beginning.

Here's my path for reference. I starting taking classes towards a GIS certificate but eventually transitioned to a Master's, all online, so easy. At the same time, I started applying to every GIS job that came around. I think I stopped counting at 70 applications. I got 1 reply. It was for an unpaid Americorps position, which was not happening for me at the time. Eventually, I started showing up for the in person sessions of my online classes and meeting professors, etc.. I got hooked up with one project, then another, then another. These were all short term projects, but were definitely good for the resume. Then I got a contract job through school's job board that eventually turned into the full time job that I have now.

In short, sign up for a GIS certificate from a good size and (GIS) reputation school. The bigger the school the more opportunity to work on interesting stuff, too, I'd think. Meet people and and tell them you can help with their project(s) no matter what it is. Fake it till you make it, I guess. You seem smart enough to get away with that. Try to figure out what GIS niche you want to be in and try to match your classes and any projects to it, if possible. Ask about how the school helps alumni find jobs. Mine just has a mailing list which just forwards me all the opportunities that come through. There are a lot.

Good luck

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

Interestingly, some of the geology companies have given the feedback that my resume is too overqualified/fancy. Finished a few gis/coding interviews, so maybe that’ll go somewhere. I showed the interviewers sample projects and they seemed to be impressed. I honestly might quit trying to find work & be self-employed. Trying to find work is high-energy, low-reward generally.

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TheWanderingScholar
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TheWanderingScholar »

TopHatFox wrote:
Thu Sep 09, 2021 5:07 pm
Interestingly, some of the geology companies have given the feedback that my resume is too overqualified/fancy. Finished a few gis/coding interviews, so maybe that’ll go somewhere. I showed the interviewers sample projects and they seemed to be impressed. I honestly might quit trying to find work & be self-employed. Trying to find work is high-energy, low-reward generally.
Yeah, job searching is high-energy, low-reward overall.

zbigi
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by zbigi »

TopHatFox wrote:
Thu Sep 09, 2021 5:07 pm
Interestingly, some of the geology companies have given the feedback that my resume is too overqualified/fancy. Finished a few gis/coding interviews, so maybe that’ll go somewhere. I showed the interviewers sample projects and they seemed to be impressed. I honestly might quit trying to find work & be self-employed. Trying to find work is high-energy, low-reward generally.
Of course it depends chiefly on what exactly you want to, but quite often self-employment is filled with constant chase for clients, while, with jobs, you just need to find one once and the money will come reliably from then on. For most people, jobs are less stress and less hassle that self-employment.

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

@zhigi, for sure, I think for most a job is easier, but truth be told, “good” jobs are progressively harder to get and keep. My bro is currently working from 8 am to 8 pm, 6 days a week in a HCL city, and I’ve applied to 1000+ jobs on Indeed using an MSc + 2 years of xp for 10 interviews. Lot of Zoomers are (perhaps forcibly) getting by on YT + OnlyFans + Uber + parents.

I’m hoping the podcast will do a lot to help secure business leads. I’ve learned that the best way to get attention isn’t to apply, but to get ppl to come to you by doing something unique/outlandish in a good way (like building a 3D map of the world ppl can walk around in).

Truth is, don’t have much to lose and gives me something to do every day. My most recent interview team said they were impressed by my interviewing skills & Python/RS projects, but went with someone that already has 5 yrs xp in their industry-specific software. This same thing has happened 10 times now.

————

Aside from business, another thing I can do is find land and build a small house. Just a studio + garage. Won’t go homeless & again, gives something to do where I can turn lots of my time & some $ into $$$.

Could also continue to travel around. Alaska seems like last, best place remaining. Midwest is left in the lower-48 US, though that doesn’t sound that fun haha. Revisiting the NE could be more fun for the leaves. Outside the US, visiting all the countries of Europe would be cool, but probs hard due to COVID. Canada is locked down for leisurely travel.

Finally, I could join the army corps of engineers as an officer and hope they use my gis/geology and don’t require me to get the poke.

white belt
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by white belt »

TopHatFox wrote:
Thu Sep 16, 2021 1:37 pm
Finally, I could join the army corps of engineers as an officer and hope they use my gis/geology and don’t require me to get the poke.
Going the officer route on active duty for a specific job in the Army can be a bit of a crapshoot. Although in theory if you want to be an Engineer and have requisite skills, it should be a slam dunk for them to slot you as an Engineer Officer. The reality is you will have to submit your list of preferences and the Army chooses for you, so it’s possible you end up in a different career field. If you join the Reserves/National Guard then things are a bit different and you will have a lot more control of your career field and where you work since the assumption is you also have another full time job tied to a specific location.

The Army mandated the vaccine unless you can prove exemption for religious or health reasons.

Edit: Also the Navy has the Seabees, so that may be something to look into as well if you’re interested in that sort of thing. Maybe they trend more towards construction than GIS stuff.

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

@whitebelt, just read that, shoot. Welp, looks like that’s an option off the list.

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TheWanderingScholar
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TheWanderingScholar »

Yeah, joining the Army can be a crapshoot is honestly a gamble.


As I said before, I can give you a recruiter's email and ask if he has any GIS leads still available. Last week they were still trying to find people. The clientele my company works for has Apple and Google in it repertoire. You are a slam dunk for the entry level position. I got in and I make around $40k pre-taxes, and I didn't have the Python or RS projects like you do to show off. Not a lot but you are on the website for nearly as long as me. You can make it work.

Just PM if you are interested in his email and let me know. I am heading to the office tomorrow to pick up some remote work equipment and I can bring it up with my supervisor.

However, you are more than likely going to need to get the poke.

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

Recruiter’s email sounds very good. Okay, I’ll PM you. ^-^ Good to know about the poke.

Sent it, but not sure if went through; says it’s in outbox folder, but not under sent folder.

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TheWanderingScholar
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TheWanderingScholar »

I got it. I'll give you the email tomorrow ASAP. Just finished my second workout of the day and I have a six hour drive tomorrow.

Kriegsspiel
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by Kriegsspiel »

RE the Corps of Engineers, almost all of the jobs, including GIS and actual engineering jobs, are done by civilians, not the Army officers. You just apply through USAJOBS.gov.

The Old Man
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by The Old Man »

RE Army Corps of Engineers: Served with them as a government civilian in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thought it was a reasonable outfit. The jobs are overwhelming done by government civilians. You are principally managing contractors. Frankly, you could extend your scope to the government in general (i.e. state and local governments). Military officers provide leadership.

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

Agreed, officer military is crapshoot. Plus, leadership or extended extrovert activities draining; technical specialist much better. Civilian employment preferable for me. Setting up a LinkedIn with a bunch of key words this week to supplement Indeed.

Also doing research on reputable coding boot camp to supplement those skills.

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

Found mining Geo job out in NV for a few weeks. Pay is few hundred per day. Said yes, curious to start.

Applying hard to gis jobs, did 300 apps on indeed other day. Maybe can combine gis with mining, or specialize in one after trying both.

Wonder how one gets oil Geo job, usually no apps for these on Indeed. I know environmental, govt, or academic geology almost never worth investing in as career.

Dave
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by Dave »

Glad to hear it, hopefully it goes well.

If I understand you, it's a short-term position. Any chance it leads to another position?

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

It could. Unsure if geo good major after all, will see

Salathor
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by Salathor »

TopHatFox wrote:
Sun Oct 03, 2021 4:30 am
Wonder how one gets oil Geo job, usually no apps for these on Indeed. I know environmental, govt, or academic geology almost never worth investing in as career.
Two of my best friends became geologists and both, I believe, had initially said they wanted to go into oil exploration. I think they ended up going civil/environmental and academic, respectively. I guess that's just where the work is? Everybody probably wants to get into mining!

TopHatFox
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Re: Fox's Journey: And Onto the Sunlight!

Post by TopHatFox »

@Salathor - Yeah, I can see that. It's not impossible to get into mining, but oil seems to be so far.

Environmental is easiest, but you're also overworked & underpaid rather than just overworked.

Academic may as well be the hardest, as you need a PhD and to find a professor job.

Will probably have more details after doing the mining stint for the few weeks.

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