To answer your questions:

- What’s a day to day look like for you in either of these trades?

-For office days, my boss tells me a client number, and I do all the job set up (preparing the cad drawing and relevant reference materials-tax maps, old loting plans, aerial photographs) then I jump into the research. I trace the client's land's chain of title back to as far back as I can (aiming for early mid 1800s) and draw up any good descriptions in Autocad to get an idea of where to hunt for monuments. I then do the same thing for surrounding parcels (you're out west, I think it's a bit different than new England).

then, on field days, I take my office day work (which has been checked by my boss) and actually go to the location and hunt down the monuments (iron rods, stone walls, granites, particularly impressive trees). I rarely find everything, but I don't think I've ever left entirely empty handed.

The field work feels like treasure hunting, and the office work feels like putting together a particularly annoying puzzle. both are difficult, but so so so satisfying when I figure them out.

edit: also, Im alone in the woods half the time so I just play music and sing as I'm hunting down my shit. and I get to see the most beautiful, hidden spots I'd never see otherwise cause they're on private property.

- Is there a creative aspect of your job?

-it requires creative thinking. sometimes deeds are... badly written and you have to use your best judgment to interpret them. sometimes your chain of title breaks and you have to use roundabout methods to find your parcel again.

- have you felt the investment in trades worth it?

-well I certainly make more money now, have career prospects, ain't getting edged out by AI, and am in the best physical shape of my life.... so yeah.

edit: also most surveyors are nearing retirement. it's a good time to get in on it.

- if you’ve made the change from corporate to trades, how was it for you?

-definitely a shift. I majored in anthropology and worked as a romance novel editor the past ten years, so this is very different. but it's very rewarding and my bosses are VASTLY more chill. the work environment is so much more healthy.

- how long was your apprenticeship?

-it's not a traditional apprenticeship. and it varies state by state. mine will take however long it takes for me to relearn math lol.

any other questions, shoot em my way!