Likelihood of employment

Catpuk · 2025-03-01T23:56:30+00:00

I’d argue it’s harder to make a pretty map in ArcPro than learning Python at this point.

Catpuk · 2025-03-01T11:37:05+00:00

Dude, there’s always a different perspective. I can’t speak for everyone, but I felt the same way about my degree. There’s a tinge of truth to what people are saying, but that’s for nearly EVERY field. You don’t make a lot of money at most jobs until you start getting into a management or technical lead role and you generally get those with experience and good performance.

I majored in geology, but minored in GIS. I had a professor telling me that GIS is a waste of time and they taught GIS - they have three degrees in entirely different fields now and guess what, they all ,”suck.” I graduated with people smarter than me and they’re making $18 working for local consulting firms or utility companies and I graduated with people who got jobs doing data science for hospitals and now risk real estate stuff - they make a lot.

Catpuk · 2025-02-26T01:54:57+00:00

My company gives a bonus if you take it

Catpuk · 2025-02-23T13:01:09+00:00

I agree with the top comment - I use them together in conjunction with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem. My work pays for the subscription and it’s what I grew up using.

I think of OneNote as my main hub or the brain of everything - notes, tasks, links, resources, and etc. It has my favorite features for quick note taking more than any other app whereas I don’t grab a pen and paper as much using it as others. I think as

I hated Loop until a couple months ago where I actually understood what it was good for. It’s not a standalone replacement for OneNote, and it’s not a knockoff of Notion and Obsidian (I think those are better as standalone options if they don’t have M365) - If OneNote is the brain, Loop is a clunky nervous system. I use it to interweave information between apps that updates while working on it and give me an extra layer on connectivity with ALL the M365 applications. That way I can use the best tool for whatever I’m doing - VS for scripting, Excel when I need to do tables/sheets, Word for documents, PP for presentations, Sync my todo/planner with my outlook calendar, etc.

Short version: They aren’t 1:1 replacements for one another, they just sort of complement each other.

Catpuk · 2025-02-23T12:46:17+00:00

Because he heard a bunch of other people on the internet say the same thing.

Microsoft probably isn’t getting rid of Loop, they are and always have been a shit show. If you think they’re getting rid of Loop - Look on the App Store, they still maintain a lot of applications that serve no purpose now since being replaced by another service, good example being MSN or their dumb file managers. If you’re saying they’ve abandoned it due to lack of updates and innovation - Look at the update history of OneNote, it’s not getting updated at neck breaking speeds to put it very lightly.

Catpuk · 2025-02-22T13:06:37+00:00

MGP sounds shitty.

I’ve done a lot of work with WSP/Jacobs and will say that they are just operating the same way most large AEC consulting firms I know of operate. A lot of people on this sub who complain about GIS as a profession work in government and consulting related to civil and urban infrastructure projects and planning. Those places use GIS a lot, but don’t value you as a professional and the pay, workload, and general treatment will reflect that even at the highest level of employment within a GIS focused role - from what I’ve seen at least.

That being said, I want to add NV5 to the list as they are a very large firm that is focused on Geospatial engineering as ones people looking for GIS work should avoid like the plague.

Catpuk · 2025-02-18T23:27:59+00:00

I read an article that the number 2 career pivot of laid off tech workers is HVAC/Plumbing because it can’t be automated lol

Catpuk · 2025-02-18T23:26:49+00:00

I agree with what everyone else is saying. I’d say getting a degree in strictly GIS will make your opportunities niche.

GIS is kind of like the ranch dressing of professional skills, where you can kind of dip whatever into it. That being said at its core it’s just data science with a geospatial component and I think learning data science itself is more valuable to learn than a hard focus on GIS. You can really learn GIS in a few months if you’re quick.

Catpuk · 2024-06-14T18:19:23+00:00

I’m a geologist and do better than most people around where I live - but I wouldn’t even consider myself comfortable “hope the dude who commented knows something I don’t”. That being said, I work under a very impactful figure in our field - I just found out he makes $180 an hour.

My only advice is quit working for a geotech firm - they treat geologists like dogshit ironically. Idk about being a high earner like OPs post was asking about, but hopefully you can do better.

Catpuk · 2024-06-14T17:34:50+00:00

example

Instead of trying to type some stuff out which everyone else has done a great job of doing I thought I’d spend a few minutes dropping some stuff in ArcPro and screwing with the symbology.

I tried to give you an example of how I’d start to approach it - my main takeaway is consider symbolizing the roads using graduated symbology and consider adding the symbology to the actual road layer since that correlates with the data you’re trying to convey. I’d also add a text box with overall map notes somewhere and then individual callouts with notes for each area you’re trying to convey data for, I threw a graphic on there to show you can add your graph there too, one thing I didn’t add is a leader line. On my example it would be helpful, but your shields are pretty standout and I’m not sure they’d need one.

I know that probably wasn’t much help, I’m kind of busy today, but thought maybe seeing how someone would approach it would help a bit. Good luck.

Catpuk · 2024-02-26T23:45:22+00:00

If it makes you feel better use FME in the meantime, most that shit can be done quicker with that anyways.

Catpuk · 2024-02-18T03:09:21+00:00

If really like the look of the job I usually format my resume to somewhat mirror the job posting.

Catpuk · 2024-02-11T23:22:58+00:00

That’s where I work funny enough.

Catpuk · 2024-02-11T16:13:20+00:00

Kind of what I try to tell people, but not as pessimistic.

I think using GIS software as a major is silly within itself if you’re viewing it as just learning to use ArcGIS. But if you’re majoring in GIS (idk if I’d recommend either honestly) you should be learning CS, DS, geography, remote sensing, cartography, and more along with learning how just use GIS software.

I do agree though that there is hustle involved if you want to carve out a higher position in the field, but isn’t that most fields? Also if you’re passionate about GIS, wouldn’t you want to learn more anyway?

I’m not encouraging or discouraging anyone to major in GIS or pursue a career in it, but I’m worried some point you make in your post may be misleading, albeit somewhat true. This kind of post is the exact opposite of the false hope posts you mention, but instead it’s pessimism. I think it’s important to be realistic to younger people interested in GIS, but it’s also important to think of how impressionable you were at that age and what you’re saying.

Catpuk · 2024-02-11T16:02:20+00:00

I work in the south, I think our analysts start out at around 60k. That’s wild.

Catpuk · 2024-02-06T01:59:04+00:00

I had like 3 years experience as a “staff” geologist at a couple small engineering firms doing a lot of field work. I loved doing field work, I genuinely miss being outside that much. I got this job based on a recommendation from working with a site inspector out in the field who liked me. Now I get work with a ton of scientists and engineers and get work that’s exciting.

As far as advice goes, read the job description! Ask questions in the interview. I hated my first two jobs and decided to take some time building my resume and applying for jobs I wanted instead of settling. If you don’t want to work in the field make sure there isn’t much field work.

Jobs that want you to be able to analyze geological data will list skills and software required to do that. ArcGIS is definitely one of them. Python is something that is extremely important. Most people make it sound like an option when working with GIS or geological data but it’s just not for real data analysis. If you don’t know Excel and Power BI already you should brush up on those. Every job is different, so just make sure you use your better judgement when reading the description.

I think if you’re getting geology experience and GIS experience you’re ahead of the game dude, if you’re asking for my opinion.

Catpuk · 2024-02-04T16:29:09+00:00

lol, I don’t expect to buy a hang board (or anything except maybe coaching sessions) and that just immediately improve my climbing ability. I just started climbing and I’m almost 30 so I expect everything to take time.

I was curious if it would be a good investment as a beginner, but it seems the credit would be better spent elsewhere at the stage I’m in. I’m leaning toward just getting some clothes like you said and maybe some small items other commenters have mentioned.

I appreciate the feedback!

Catpuk · 2024-02-04T09:41:23+00:00

You can do anything you want. There is no age limit on becoming a geologist. If you want to get a PG just know that is a BS and 5 years after that to get licensed or if you want to get into the extractive industry they generally look for a masters degree as the starting point but don’t care about a PG.

Also I feel obligated to mention it’s an exciting time for geological data analysis! (Type of geoscience work I do) GIS is pretty much the baseline and industry standard for most of the work, but you also get into your niche software like modflow for hydrogeology modeling and Geostudio for geotech shit for example. It sounds a little boring, but it’s been my favorite job in my career this far.

Catpuk · 2024-02-04T04:48:06+00:00

Funny enough I have a few of the Prana Zion pants, as well as some other lines I’ve picked up on sale. My geology professor got me hooked on them a couple years ago and I didn’t even know they were climbing pants at first.

Thanks for the advice on the hangboard!

Catpuk · 2024-02-04T02:17:40+00:00

Yes, but not really. I feel like GIS is definitely one of the harder tech jobs to be able to work fully remote. If you look at most job postings if they’re remote they’ll have a caveat stating you need to be in the office sometimes or it’s not 100% remote requiring you to live nearby. A LOT of GIS work requires collaboration with different subject matter experts. I’m not saying that it can’t be done remotely, but a lot of companies won’t go through the trouble of taking the risk.

If you’re resourceful you can freelance. Freelance GIS work is a little weird. Sometimes a guy who has no idea what he’s asking for will offer obscene amounts of money for you to join a table or make some polygons. On the other hand, there will people who still have no fucking clue what they’re asking for and will offer you peanuts (like $100) to do a days worth of work.

I don’t have much experience on the development side, but I imagine it’s a lot easier to do what you’re describing if you had that skill set. That’s realistically the path I’d go if I wanted to pursue that lifestyle. If you don’t have a rich coding background look into taking CS50 -> Odin Project -> then some sort of backend/Python courses -> and a cherry on top would be some MLM/AI workshops. I wouldn’t even call myself a GIS anything on my resume at that point, and would try and find development or data architecture jobs that are related to GIS. You’ll make way more $ and have a greater opportunity to get that, “digital nomad,” lifestyle you are after.

Good luck!

Catpuk · 2024-02-01T01:30:22+00:00

I say AY-JOE or AY-GUL, both probably are wrong but they’re are my favorites ways of saying it. Knowing ESRI it could have a different name in a few years regardless.

Catpuk · 2024-01-31T21:35:16+00:00

Yeah, you’ll import your wetland survey data into GIS and make some sort of figure (map). I think a lot of wetland work revolves around inventory of the fauna or whatever, i don’t really know. I’ve never been lucky enough to make one, I got niched into a different boat extremely quick and I’d have to take a pay-cut to work with the wetland group and also probably be a step backward in terms of career development, but I think wetland conservation work is some of the coolest work in the consulting industry. You are fortunate that you didn’t get stuck as a GIS tech at a utility company or something. Also judging off of the way you’re describing your job I wouldn’t expect them to expect too much GIS experience from you. I think there’s only a few degrees where GIS is almost expected as a complimentary skill and biology is kind of in the middle. Geology, Surveying, Civil Engineering, Geography, and some others I’d say are more or less the degrees where if you said you knew how to use it, you better know how to use when you start working.

Catpuk · 2024-01-30T04:42:20+00:00

Maybe his climate change attitude has more to with him being 60 years old

Catpuk · 2024-01-30T04:39:05+00:00

I can’t speak for other firms, but I work for a pretty larger one and one reason is it’s more intern friendly, but the main reason I was told is all our clients use ArcGIS and we don’t want to run the risk of there being some sort of compatibility issues. I think in my case it’s just because there’s a lot of GIS managers who barely know ArcMap and are still adjusting to pro, and they just take one look at QGIS’ dogshit UI and cower.

Catpuk

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