1. Transitioning to the Workplace
A discussion of the factors associated with transitioning from school to work

2. Terminology
• Intern: entry level, low-paying or volunteer, part-time jobs. Common
route to full time work for some organizations
• GIS specialist/technician: 1-2 years hands on experience with GIS based
software
• GIS Analyst: 2-3 years experience with GIS based software
• GIS coordinator/manager: 5-6 years of experience in the field
• Cartographic specialist: GIS tech. focused on constructing maps using
GIS

3. GIS Certifications and Competencies
• ESRI
• http://www.esri.com/training/main/certification
• Desktop, Developer (coding), Enterprise (administration of systems)
• State of California
• Research Analyst 1 & 2 (GIS): https://jobs.ca.gov/Bulletin/Bulletin/Index?examCD=4PB0601
• Focused on assessing years of training, education and experience, not actual knowledge
• Required to apply (be reachable) for GIS jobs in Calif.
• GISCI: GIS Certification Institute (GISP certification) https://www.gisci.org/
• Involves a portfolio review and an exam
• My experience/findings:
• Counties: one year experience
• State/Federal: three to five years of progressively more responsible experience

4. GIS Communities
Places to network/place your career information
• RAGU: Redding Area GIS Users group (meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month,
5:30 to 7:00, Roundtable Pizza, west end of Mt. Shasta Mall.)
• FarNorCalGIS: http://www.farnorcalgis.org/
• Meets quarterly, usually 10:00 to 2:00 at City Hall
• ESRI: http://www.esri.com/
• GeoNet: https://geonet.esri.com/welcome
• Free, electronic news letters (ArcWatch, ESRI Globe, ArcNews, ArcUser)
• LinkedIn GIS communities (https://www.linkedin.com/)
• Groups: GPS/GIS jobs, ESRI Technical Certification, GIS, Going Places with Spatial
Analysis, Society for Conservation GIS

5. GIS Communities
Places to network/place your career information
• URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems Association:
http://www.urisa.org/
• GIS Lounge: http://www.gislounge.com/
• Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/

6. GIS Communities
Places to network/place your career information
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
• Slide Share: http://www.slideshare.net/
• Personal website: http://www.weebly.com/

7. Web-based GIS job sites
• Get GIS Jobs: www.GetGISJobs.com
• Provides a weekly e-mail with available jobs
• Google the website of the organization that you are interested in. Request an RSS
• GIS Lounge: http://www.gislounge.com/gis-career-resources/
• The GIS Jobs Clearing House: http://www.gjc.org/
• Indeed: http://www.indeed.com/q-GIS-jobs.html
• Can specify location and specific job titles (Location is interpreted very broadly)

8. Transition to Work Documents
•Job applying documents
• Cover letters
(https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Cover+Letters)
• Resumes
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thcD5MKhf6A)
• Portfolio construction and display
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRMqycQFz8)

9. Transition to Work Skills
•Job Applying Skills
• Informational Interviews
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV2-FN8M99A)
• Networking
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY-PEvX4ySs)
RAGU, FarNorCalGIS, LinkedIn, GeoNet
• Interviews
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnbjBYuzH1A)

10. Presenting yourself:
Sources of “how to” information
• LinkedIn Pulse
• YouTube videos (Aimee Bateman) (eHow)
(Vanderbilt University)(Richard Bolles)
• Google
• Articles available upon request
• RAGU
• FarNorCalGIS

11. Local companies using GIS

12. Questions, comments, input
• GIS related articles available upon request