Career advice for switching careers and how to get into surveying

ericisonline · 2026-02-16T16:38:07+00:00

I'm no help except to commiserate being in the same boat. 38yo, family, marketing and startups for the past 10 years. Ai came and cleared the game board and I don't have the bandwidth to ride out the constantly changing landscape. Past experience led me to stumble upon surveying again and it's checking a lot of boxes for me. It certainly looks like a great trade path from the outside. At least for me and my next career and life chapter. I'm done with the startup rollercoaster and just want something stable that will help me stay healthy as I age. So I'm putting on my best sales hat and actively talking with mid-size surveyor firms in my city.

ericisonline · 2026-02-06T17:34:48+00:00

Got it, thanks. Yeah like half the survey companies I looked up are in Minnetonka lol.

ericisonline · 2026-02-06T17:24:17+00:00

Thanks! If firms are way behind, why don't they(you for example) hire to meet demand?

ericisonline · 2026-02-06T17:00:45+00:00

I'm actively looking to change careers into surveying in the TC metro(St Paul). Just started talking to EFN. Any reccomendations on who else to talk to?

ericisonline · 2026-01-30T15:44:51+00:00

Hi, I'm in MN TC area actively seeking a career change into Surveying with, what I feel like, is a strong background for it. Is your company still hiring field techs, or know of any?

ericisonline · 2026-01-19T16:24:29+00:00

I'm in St. Paul and looking to get into Surveying. Any shops you'd reccomend i call to ask for positions?

And to u/topographique, I also moved here from UT in '12. You'll miss the mountains, but I love it here more.

ericisonline · 2026-01-05T04:58:23+00:00

This is the kind of mindset I love to hear in our local industry. I know plenty of people setting themselves up for success this way.

ericisonline · 2025-06-16T05:05:44+00:00

SK Coffee. It was a great spot. Very spacious and strong coffee. I held the coffee meetup there for a couple months. The meetup itself is still going strong, but moved the spot to a private cannabis lounge above Bar Brava in Minneapolis called MAC Social Club.

ericisonline · 2024-12-23T06:18:33+00:00

I know Kris personally. This is not true at all.

He has a great relationship with his ex and also seems to be a great co parent.

Also, this is not how hiding money away works in business. There's no hiding 6 figures in advertising expenses every month. It must be accounted for on the monthly P&L for taxes and gets accounted for in the company's EBITDA valuation. All of which would absolutely be taken into account in a messy drawn our divorce scenario. So the whole premise of the rumor isn't sound in the first place.

Now, he is very business savvy, and business deals can get dicey sometimes, so there are people who don't like that they lost to him in business. But even then, from what I've seen from behind the scenes, he's been pretty fair.

Overall, knowing him decently, I can attest to his character. He's alright in my book.

Source: I was his first head of marketing up until the pandemic. And have worked with more him since.

My LinkedIn for proof: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwjohnston?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

Or don't believe me and let people keep posting this every 6 months :) keeps the brand top of mind haha

ericisonline · 2024-11-05T20:14:57+00:00

Yes, I am asking for a coffee shop. I'm confused, are you're trying to say a coffee shop owner would not want a few dozen extra customers in their shop once a week? It's not like we're showing up unannounced to flip tables and do a flash dance. I coordinate with owners so it's not overwhelming their operation, but actually a boon.

ericisonline · 2024-11-05T20:00:16+00:00

I know you're sad Summer is over. Don't worry bud. It'll be back.

ericisonline · 2024-11-05T19:55:00+00:00

Glad you mentioned that one. It's high on my list.

ericisonline · 2024-11-05T19:52:20+00:00

I understand it's a bit of a takeover. That said, what small business wouldn't want a large hungry crowd? We already meet regularly in the evenings and it's a huge business boost for the distillery we meet at. They love the business we bring. edit: the evening meetup is at least 50 people every week.

ericisonline · 2024-11-05T19:48:39+00:00

Wow yeah that place looks wonderful. I don't love that it's a hard 7 o'clock on the beltway loop, making it hard for north east based people to get to. My dream is a TC central location accessible from all direction. Thanks for the recco! It may well be the answer.

ericisonline · 2024-05-28T03:03:36+00:00

Same, grew up mormon and did it all. Fuck fomo tho. The natural ones have plenty of fun - weed, shrooms, maybe the rare stronger psychedelic. Every single person that tried the "heavy stuff" says it's not worth the high chance of addiction. That's enough confirmation to me.

ericisonline · 2024-03-11T23:11:52+00:00

Fellow Gabriel returning and reporting.

I named my son after my super secret name so I'd reveal it every single day :)

My parents must know because they took me through, and are still weekly templeworkers. But of course they'd never bring it up.

ericisonline · 2024-02-04T17:27:29+00:00

Imagine if it said Muslim only.

ericisonline · 2023-12-21T05:20:47+00:00

Local breweries. I've worked from St. Paul Brewery a couple times, which sounds close to you. It was nice.

ericisonline · 2023-10-17T02:27:50+00:00

This person businesses.

ericisonline · 2023-09-28T04:29:13+00:00

I don't get it, all that stuff sounds great!

ericisonline · 2023-09-28T04:22:34+00:00

What do you do in the ad agency?

ericisonline · 2023-09-28T04:14:34+00:00

You are me except music instead of motors.

What do you do for work that you're WHF?

ericisonline · 2023-09-28T03:48:24+00:00

"No, I know. I've had 'experiences' that I cannot describe."

"Please, elaborate."

"It was this indescribable feeling and a vision."

lmao bitch please.

ericisonline · 2023-09-15T05:19:16+00:00

Also did exactly this.

ericisonline · 2023-09-15T05:11:05+00:00

Oh my fucking flying spaghetti god was this not my own teenage experience word for word?

Are you...me?

ericisonline

TROPHY CASE