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$50,000 NOTES
Posted by UFsurveyor85 on December 15, 2013 at 1:49 pmFacebook post text:
“Dreams are within reach if you don’t mind reaching for them. Just takes lots of patience, determination, relentless hard work, countless gallons of coffee and alcohol, great friends and a supportive family.
Gainesville[, Florida] has been good to me. I’ve met some great people here and made some damn great friends. Thank you Gainesville. You will be dearly missed.”
So now the next step: Finding a job. Anyone hiring? lol. I was wondering if anyone has any opinions as to what kind of salary a geomatics engineering graduate with all my responsible charge time completed should expect. (I’m sitting for my PSM exam next October). I was making 35k/yr as a party chief here in Florida before I came college. I’m thinking I could reasonably ask at least 45k/yr and maybe up to 55k/yr as a project manager until I get my license. Any thoughts?
DJ_Jaguars replied 9 years, 8 months ago 11 Members · 20 Replies -
20 Replies
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> Gainesville[, Florida] has been good to me. I’ve met some great people here and made some damn great friends. Thank you Gainesville. You will be dearly missed.”I can certainly attest to this statement. Four years, lots of memories, and a wife who has blessed me with two wonderful daughters is a direct result of my time spent at UF.
As for your salary requirements, it’s all going to be dependent upon the value that you sell yourself for in the interview. From my view, I think your requirements are certainly reasonable. However, your value to the company is going to be based solely on how you sell yourself. While companies in Florida are getting busier, most aren’t necessarily in dire need for help (as they were ten years ago when I graduated). There’s a good chance that the employer bringing you in may have the attitude that they want to meet you and get to know you. It’s going to be your job to make them believe “We have to have this guy” at the conclusion. Also understand that while salary is a nice benefit, it isn’t going to reflect your happiness at your job.
We aren’t in a need for people at the current time, but if you’re up in Jacksonville, feel free to shoot me an email and I’ll take you to lunch. While I might not be able to offer anything right now, perhaps eventually I’ll know someone to recommend you to.
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Why October And Not This April?
You need at least a doxen more texts to start. Post your complete current list and ask this board to add to it.
I am not sure you can still take a pile of notes like that into the exam.
If your experience to date has been in the Sunshine State I would suggest some face to face meetings with former employers. I am confident you did not burn any bridges. Do not ask them for a job, ask them for leads and opinions on where the profession is going.
HINT, HINT, HINT, Google “GIS jobs in FL”. I had 46 hits on first try, first job and more in you salary range. Do not aim for the top, you need a job, get one related to your education. Once you’ve saved some money then you can afford to be a surveyor.
Paul in PA
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
How are things going up at UF? I heard the other day that they were down to about 40 students. I know back in the day, the goal was to have at least 100 students at any one time.
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
I’d say things are going ok lately. Dr. Gibson retired after he was diagnosed with ALS last year. As far as attendance goes, my surveying classes usually had about 7 on campus students with another handful spread among remote locations (Apopka, Ft. Lauderdale & Plant city) attending through classroom video conferencing as well as some that were taking online classes. All together I’d say there were about 15 of us per year (that I’m aware of). I suppose if you counted that number twice for both years of the bachelor’s degree and then add in about 5 grad students, you would be nearing 40. What surprises me is that there are only 1 or 2 students that come in every year who have any field experience. I was the only one of my group of 7 that had ever looked through a total station when we started (or ever ran a field crew).
Here’s a photo of the 2013 students at the Tallahassee PLSS origin monument (outside the FSMS office). This includes all the on campus and remote students but no online students.
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Why October And Not This April?
I’ll be sitting for the exam in October because I still have to work on my “senior project” in the spring (basically an undergraduate thesis). I’ll graduate in May after that’s done.
I realize there are more books to be had. The ones pictured are just the ones I used for college and are only about a third of what I have. I’m hoping my dad will give me his books that I need.
From what I’ve heard lately, they quit letting you bring books/notes into the exam room. Either way, I’d need a pack mule to haul all those notes in there lol.
I appreciate the lead on all the GIS jobs around here. I’ll keep that in mind. Personally I’d rather be outdoors as much as feasible in the future.
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Damn, you snared up a wife too? I gotta say I’m jealous. My being single though certainly isn’t for lack of worthy candidates around here. This place is crawling with some of Florida’s most beautiful girls. Then again being single is “convenient” lol But yea, I’ve definitely had the time of my life here and I’ll sure be sad to see it in the rear-view of the moving van.
I don’t make it out to Jacksonville much but who knows, I might be living there in 2 months. Might have to take you up on the lunch if I do though lol. Thanks
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
Here is my Surveying Practice class picture at the monument around 1997ish. Good times…
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You have a great start.
Party Chief experience and now a degree.
Good going.
Like you said, now for the job.
I am not in Florida and you did not say you wanted to stay there.
From what I see, you could do best in PA, TX or ND.
Right now there are not that many choice positions available, but one opens up occasionally.
Maybe I am not in the camp that Jeremy talks about where you “sell yourself” to get the highest pay (not anything against Jeremy or that idea) I just think that may work better later in your career.
For me it has been more like taking something reasonable for pay and then turning it into promotions and experience by doing the best work.
If the employer does not want to pay a reasonable amount, you need to keep looking.
There will be some places that you don’t want to work.
There will be some people you don’t want to work for or with.
Your challenge will be to determine that during the interview.
I’m thinking that is more important than selling yourself to get the highest pay.
Let your personality come through as your selling point and you will do better in my opinion.
Just be a down-to-earth guy who gets along with everyone including the boss.
Your positive attitude and the way you carry yourself will seal the deal.
Best wishes! -
So how are things going at UF nowadays?
Nice!… It would appear as though they changed the dress code since 1997 lol
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Thanks. I agree. I’ll sell them who I really am and not try to live up to someone I’m not yet. I’m not nervous about the interview process, quite confident actually. I agree with Jerry though that money is not happiness. I would much rather have a team of great people to work with for less pay, than a motley of hard heads to suffer through for a few extra bucks. I’m just trying to get a feel for where the market is. As for the where part, I really would like to stay around central Florida as much as possible though if I have to, I’ll consider out of state options.
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Personally, I’ld Rather Eat
Priorities.
Anyway, Florida is a good place to be outdoors the rest of the day.
Second point is, check and see how much the big firms let their licensed individuals go out and play. Stuck in an office more than likely.
OK, tell us about your senior project. I am sure there are a few on this board who have not been very critical of anyone in the last hour or so.
Paul in PA
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
Did I just read that he has Lou Gehrig’s disease?
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
Yea, that’s what I heard from a couple other professors. He was my favorite professor throughout the whole program. I had him for route geometrics. Great guy.
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I would suspect that not too many places are hiring right before Christmas. January-February is usually when companies start gearing up for the season. Just a thought.
But it still doesn’t hurt to throw out some resumes. Good luck.
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Frankly by your post I see you are looking at how much money you can make. I understand, tuition is quite expensive this day and age. My suggestion would be to set goals on what you want to achieve as a professional. Based upon your goals and what you perceive to be satisfying in you career path, take interviews and select whom you best think can offer you a challenge, money and the ability to change your goals as you go along. I have a few young gun friends who graduated with 4 year degrees in land surveying/geomatics and after a few years working with large firms were caught in a Catch 22 scenario with no way out of the cubicle from a project surveyor. With your 4 year degree, getting licensed in other states will be easy. There are very many small firms out there that after a few years more of experience would love to hire you. Keep your doors open and try not to look at the carrot stuck immediately in front of your nose.:-P
Pablo B-)
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
I went to Troy State and Dr. Gibson drove up on saturdays to teach one of my Geomatics classes after another professor left. Yes we had classes on Saturday. This was a very basic class and were going over how the time zones change every 15° (if I remember correctly.) When a smart ass asked him if he could tell what the time was at the North Pole. Gibson said that until we start laying out Igloos it didnt matter what time it was at the North Pole.
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
Hey, thats Duque! i worked with him for a few years.
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So how are things going at UF nowadays?
> Hey, thats Duque! i worked with him for a few years.
Yes, I can confirm that is Mr. Duque. Great guy.
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I would say move to AK, I’m in (or was in) the 6 figures as a party chief, but our fine governor decided to slash the budget for this year and pretty much shut down all our water and sewer projects as well as our fuel farms and power plants, heck, I may be bagging groceries by the end of summer! Most likely spend the summer rebuilding my cabin in Anchor Point.
Still some bucks to be made on the slope, the Guv certainly made sure that BP, Conoco and Shell got the tax breaks they needed to fleece us some more!
-JD-
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I know this is an older post, but if you’re in the Jacksonville, FL area we’re currently seeking a PSM for our operations.
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