topic Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience. in GIS Jobs Questions

Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 03:41:55 GMT

First time posting on GEOnet. Let me know if this is not the right place to post...I am looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience. I am currently in Community College to get A.S. degree in GIS. I am currently in GIS 201 course. I was wondering if any of you members can assist me on finding a part time GIS job with gis education of only up to gis 201. I know about GIS Internship program but they all require me to submit a resume and I have not had any job for 3 years since I have been cooking off and on with various restaurants and fast food joints. To make the long story short, how do I get my feet wet into the beginning of GIS career with no gis work experience and just GIS education up to GIS 201. Thank you for reading.

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MitchHolley1 — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 03:50:56 GMT

This is a pretty good place to start :

The GIS Jobs Clearinghouse

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:08:32 GMT

Thank you. Hopefully I will find something that does not require entry level gis skills since I am still in school. I just need a foot in the door. Hopefully someone out there will take me in even I had been cooking odd jobs for the last 3 years. It would be great to showcase my portifolio of my prjoects and hmw I have done in classes.

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

AdrianWelsh — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:19:07 GMT

Mark, I know you mentioned internships. I think that those are a great place to start. I got my "start" doing an internship (or two) for the Student Conservation Association. This really helped me get my foot in the door and allowed me to gain real-world experience when I had none.

I would also suggest inquiring at your local city government office (or county or similar government agency). Sometimes they have opportunities for interns with little-to-no-experience. Sometimes, if you're desperate enough and they have no money, they would likely welcome some 'free' work in order to do some grunt tasks that they do not have time for. This would give you great experience to get your feet wet in the world of public sector GIS.

There are some places online and otherwise where you can do some free GIS work in order to get more experience in it. There are some examples listed here:

Where to get started with volunteer GIS work? : gis

Honestly, who cares if your resume has a big blank spot. If you're looking for entry level stuff or a career change, this is likely to be expected.

Good luck with your search and welcome to the GeoNet!

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

ChrisDonohue__GISP — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:58:30 GMT

To expand on what Adrian Welsh mentioned, there are many organizations that seek help with GIS work and are looking for help, even from folks with little background. There's tons of "simpler" GIS tasks that need to be done, like digitizing, that organizations need and are willing to bring in someone and train.

Many of these are government and non-profit organizations. And in terms of timing, now is a good time to look for these types of jobs, as many organizations staff up for the summer. For example, many government organizations have internships available in the summer that open up for application now (and some are only open to students currently attending college). And it is not just government - private firms that deal with field studies often need extra help in the summer months to help in study setup and then work with the data as it rolls in from the field crews.

Some specific resources:

If you are a member of the Society of Conservation GIS, they have a job board that often has internships.

Society for Conservation GIS

Also, of course, if you want to go all-out, there is this:

Student Opps Common Questions - ESRI Internships (paid!)

Chris Donohue, GISP

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

JoeBorgione — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 15:52:06 GMT

One stop shopping:

https://www.gislounge.com/job-listing-sites-in-gis/

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 16:48:12 GMT

You haven't mention where are you from or do you have any prefer location ?

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 01:02:10 GMT

Thanks to everyone and they were extremely helpful ! Robert, I am from Washington DC area. I would not mind working in dc, va, and md. I have to say I would love to work at NGA (30 mins away) but they require security clearance for any GIS job. I will keep an eye on those listing posted on clearinghouse and one shop shopping.

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 01:27:41 GMT

I emailed to Loundon County GIS department to see if they need any extra help or if any of the staff there has any time to provide mentor-ship. Wish me luck! ( i presently live in Sterling which is in Loundon County)

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

DEAF_PROBERT_68 — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:51:45 GMT

Why not keep networking with NGA and if you are still interesting to work for them you just have to keep in touch with them and learn about them. I have a friend that works there and told me they are always keep hiring . What he called that "Mass hiring" once a while so I thought I would you let you know.

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

AmandaManning1 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:28:30 GMT

Go to conferences. Even if it's not in the exact GIS field you want to work in, do it. URISA has a conference in the fall for transportation in DC. There are a lot of local people that go there. URISA usually has a student cost. Being a member of your local URISA group will also help. Their student membership is usually around $75 for the national level. I'm not sure what the local group would cost if you went just through them. URISA members are also able to look at other job opportunities and school options. Also email or drop into the office hours of your professors. Depending on where you go to school they might also have an email group for posting GIS internships and jobs. Any functions at school for the GIS students, go to that. There are usually company scouts at that, you can at least talk to them about what they are looking for. Over all NETWORK. You will also want a portfolio of you work for interviews. Even if they are school projects, show them.

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

Muqit_Zoarder — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 07:39:13 GMT

Hi, besides you can also start as a freelancer. You can look for a GIS related job in www.upwork.com ..

Thanks

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Fri, 06 May 2016 18:36:13 GMT

I like this idea... Any tips on how to be a freelancer ?

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

MarkGrossman — Fri, 06 May 2016 18:37:53 GMT

I am planning on attending an all day conference next week which is Loudoun County GIS Conference. Should be fun and interesting !

Re: Looking for a part time GIS job with no GIS work experience.

AdrianWelsh — Fri, 06 May 2016 21:45:13 GMT

Mark,

The best bet is to look up what freelancing opportunities are out there by browsing through sites like upwork.com (there are plenty of other sites too). Look through those opportunities, see what you think you may be able to qualify for, and apply. I have run through a couple of these opportunities before and they are very hit-and-miss. Sometimes they want a lot of work for little pay and sometimes they want just anything. You just have to see what is out there and take-what-you-can-get sometimes, unfortunately.

But, the freelance jobs are great places to gain experience in many areas of GIS.