Hi everyone,
simple but very useful information for all of us, postgraduate or not, who are seeking jobs in the GIS field.
There are some skills that are sometimes required in order to get a job, such as python scripting or SQL language that look advantageus for GIS analysts, but they are more related to IT than other disciplines and take time to learn and practice.
Coming from the Environmental Science background, SQL Python or R-Cran languages are not part of any course.
So, should one study those "extras" by his/her own in order to get a job at the entry level?
Thx for any suggestion
Nic
I am not in GIS, but s user. To get the entry job, you need degree, credentials. If you have GIS job experience that would be helpful. You should have a professional attitude, and skills in seeking out available information, strong and organized in documenting files, setting up data library, and be flexible in handling different types of requests, whether its pretty, but informative maps/products, to keeping layers up to date, to developing DEMs, raster data, flow routing, stream network, LiDAR uses, writing code for various needs, and being reliable, responsible employee, works well with people, able to keep up with technology and learn new skills. In an entry job, they will expect you have the basics. Your environmental science background should serve you well. I dont know if you need these other scripting languages to be efficient, but your question sounds like these are more advanced, beyond the basics. Get your degree, develop a quality resume and go after that job. If you need to volunteer or work for temporary work service, do that. Many professions now use GIS. Be a kind, helpful, knowledgeable and efficient person, that goes a long ways toward success.
Hi!
I believe that "at the entry level", no; insted, you need to show that you are capable of linking the operational stuff (use of GIS tools) and the geographic thinking to solve problems and improve situations. If you already know the "extras", great; use it as a good. On the other hand, when you "get in" (job), the extras is something that you should learn to be consider "differentiated".
It worked for me.
Best regards...
I do know courses including SQL and Python, have taught hundreds of students and have recruited GIS-literate project staff. The point was made by Eduardo, You have to be able to think GIS, starting from a practical question. A GIS software package can be grasp quickly once you think spatially/geograpically.
Thank you William, Eduardo and Hein, all good points.
I strongly agree that thinking geospatially is the key.
Everyone is able to click and run a tool in a GIS GUI (ESRI or opensource) to transform DEM into Hillshade raster. But if one has the right background and knowledge to takle the problem from a geospatial viewpoint, GIS become a powerful platform.
Even more powerful when one has the "extra skills" to go deeper, developping personalised routines (py scripting for example to integrate within ArcMap) , personalised models and tools and relational databases quries (SQL).
In this case (triky question), do you think that given the same GIS expertise level, the candidate with stronger SQL-Python skills look more autonomous and efficient that a good experienced geographical thinker?
Nic
Hi!
In my opinon, the difference between this two is: the good experienced geographical thinker will give me the direction to the answer, the strong SQL/Python candidate will build the path to the answer. Both have pros. and cons., and the choice (for which professional) will depend on your demad/needs.
Best regards...
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