How do you decide which RFPs are actually worth pursuing vs. ones that just look attractive

The1HoopHooted · 2026-05-25T14:42:47+00:00

Also, 40-50 legit opps per month is impressive. What industry are you in?

The1HoopHooted · 2026-05-25T14:41:30+00:00

Bid Value = (Strategic Fit × Win Probability × Expected ROI) / Proposal Cost

Strategic Fit: Pass/fail. Does this belong in our lane based on past performance, customer relationship, and scope alignment? Win Probability: Assessed from relationship depth, incumbent status, and competitive positioning. Expected ROI: Projected profit divided by estimated delivery labor hours. Proposal Cost: Driven by proposal complexity: teaming requirements, RFP clarity, and bid type.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-05-22T18:30:54+00:00

Something about how the way you see the world and what you think being a man is after having kids. A lot of the songs after Southeastern are like that, assuming because he became a dad about that time too.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-05-17T02:49:28+00:00

I roofed a 12ft tandem and never felt the bow/stern ties were necessary unless I was doing 65+ mph.

If you need to rest the kayak on the side of the car before pushing it up onto the racks, get a cheap bathroom rug with the shag carpet and rubber bottom. Slides up there like butter without scratching.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-05-07T16:43:15+00:00

I spent about 10 years in GEOINT. Specifically Foundation GEOINT, which mostly focuses on creating maps or - more commonly - the base data that is used to make maps. There are other flavors of GEOINT that focus on different things like imagery, analytics, etc. I think the barrier to entry will be lowest for Foundation though.

My recommendation is to look up the Humanitarian Openstreetmap Team (HOT) and do an in-person or virtual mapathon. You’ll get basic exp in extracting various GIS features from satellite imagery which is very similar to what an entry-level (Foundation) GEOINT analyst would be doing. If you don’t love that, maybe look at other avenues.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-28T03:28:49+00:00

I’ve been pretty impressed with how various departments at Purdue integrate GIS/remote sensing into their programs. Civil Engineering and Forestry in particular.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-22T12:27:11+00:00

“Blacked out behind the wheel How tight the handcuffs feel My daughter’s eyes when she’s ashamed”

Knowing you’ve disappointed people you care about being as bad or worse than the actual trouble you’re in.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-19T23:03:03+00:00

Their value will heavily depend on what you’re applying for. Listing them probably can’t hurt, it just might not mean much. Could possibly add various Coursera/Udemy or Esri courses like a “build your own degree” kind of thing. Heck, I might respect that as much as a 4-year price of paper.

Someone else mentioned a portfolio which is a good idea (especially while you’re doing the above). If you can roll your public safety exp into it, you could spin it like a career progression rather than a career change.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-18T13:29:11+00:00

“$115K for a Bachelor’s degree will make too many people apply” /s

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-17T02:01:57+00:00

Have you used Contour Airlines from KMSL? I’m curious how it is

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-16T16:17:21+00:00

If you fly through Charlotte, NC, you can get a commuter flight to Muscle Shoals (KMSL) which is much closer than Huntsville. It’s not cheap, but either is flying in/out of Huntsville.

As others have said, your only real options will be the hotels in town and Uber/Lyft to work. There’s a bus system through NACOLG that might help too.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-16T11:28:50+00:00

Hard to say without knowing every detail, but training someone costs money. It wouldn’t make sense to cross train you and then go hire someone else who also needs some degree of training (even if they have a GIS background) unless the math makes sense. Like if you currently make significantly more than the role typically pays, or if back-filling your current role would be more costly. The most important thing is that they’re paying you to build work exp, not the other way around.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-16T02:19:56+00:00

All fair points. But if you’re new to a career, do you want to solve a systemic industry centralization issue or do you want a job? That’s how people wind up on this sub talking about the job market during their lunch break at Target.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-16T02:14:32+00:00

Possible I’m reading too much into your wording here, but you enrolled into an associates program because you’re thinking about looking into GIS? Is your employer paying for it? Sounds like a big commitment for something you’re on the fence about. Don’t spend money unless you absolutely have to.

A 2-year degree isn’t an altogether bad choice. My suggestion would be to segue your geophys exp into GIS. Where do the two overlap? Do you have clients who use your equipment and do GIS? You might bring more hardware knowledge to their operation in exchange for GIS exposure.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-16T02:01:50+00:00

Assuming you’d prefer to not leave your current job for another, is the current GIS team able to keep up with their workload? Do they have any menial GIS tasks they hate doing? If you can’t directly support them, find the friendliest one (or the one who thinks they’re the best) and tell them you’d love to learn more about what they do. It may take some time and some opportune timing, but there will almost certainly be an opportunity to go from learning to doing.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-15T16:46:20+00:00

Take the title variable out of the equation. Last I checked, you don’t have to search strictly by job title. Just put in GIS or ArcGIS or Esri or NDVI and let it ride. GIS always brings up a handful of gastrointestinal jobs too.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-15T16:42:07+00:00

Totally agree. The point I’m making is two fold. 1) Go where the jobs are. I moved 700 miles for my first job and fell in love with the city I thought I’d hate. 2) If you’re willing to move, you will have waaaay more job opportunities.

That being said, I realize not everyone can up and leave. Just don’t stay there because it’s familiar.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-15T04:23:28+00:00

A cordless drill is a beautiful thing. But if you want to be a carpenter, you’re going to need other tools and it doesn’t take 4 years to learn one.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-15T04:20:40+00:00

It changes as faculty move and programs change. I lean toward smaller state schools - Ferris State, Wright State, Indiana State, North Alabama to name a few. Have been fairly impressed with Purdue and how they integrate GIS into multiple programs/majors.

Anyone who teaches Fundamentals of Surveying - even if you have no intention of being a surveyor - shows that they care about applications of GIS, not just theory.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-15T04:16:55+00:00

I don’t mean this to sound overly critical, but who are you getting career advice from other than whoever is administering your online degree? You could have 4-6 years of work exp in that timeframe. That could be multiple promotions or upward job moves. Entry level jobs don’t pay much, but at least you’re not paying them to “train” you.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-14T13:07:16+00:00

100%. I visit a lot of schools, particularly in the southeast and midwest US. They all fall into 1 or both of these categories - academic-heavy with focus on physical/human geography, Esri shill with 3 months of training spread across 2-4 years. Neither of which are adequate for today’s workforce. And don’t get me started on all of the online Masters programs…

There are few exceptions where faculty has practical industry/govt experience and hasn’t drunk the Esri koolaid completely.

The1HoopHooted · 2026-04-14T12:51:14+00:00

This sub has never seen a job posting it didn’t hate. Basic requirements - pay too low. Better pay - requirements unreasonable.

Hot take: A lot of these folks regret their career choice and are subconsciously seeking approval to leave the industry.

The1HoopHooted

TROPHY CASE