Do any of you have recommendations for good, really professional surveyors in the Chicago area who might be interested in training up a young guy in the art of surveying? I've been working in civil engineering site design for the past two years in Texas since finishing up school, but will probably be moving to the Chicago area sometime next year. Since I'll be changing jobs anyway, it's the perfect opportunity to transition out of engineering into surveying - get an entry-level field job, learn the ropes, and eventually get licensed.
Advice given me, by a TC, who used to work for us. (I as a teenager, taught him to hang a plumb bob, under a transit) TC is about 15 years my senior.
He said: "Before you get licensed, you should work for at least 3 different surveyors".
He said: "I learned to be pedantic, about details, from you and your dad, running a transit, and 200' tape, with plumb bobs".
He said: "I learned technology from PTS. PTS had a suburban, and kept 3 chainsaws, small, medium, and large in it. He had EDM'S, multiple tripods, and tribrachs. He had every computer gadget he could get, to make it easier.
And, from CJ, I learned to do quick compass surveys, with a tape. Plumb bobs, we're not needed, as we had chaining pins".
Anyhow, some surveyors are GOOD surveyors, but lousy business people. Some are good business people, but lousy surveyors.
Those that are both, are rare, and may not need any help, because they are too busy.
If I were starting out in surveying, I have no idea which one you need first, but you need them all. If you can find a "father in the trade", who will teach you, that's in my mind, a good thing.
Nate
We have an office in Chicago (Burbs). Chicago is a different animal. Surveying in Chicago proper will be polar opposite from Texas. Prep for lots of condo surveys, high rise staking, ALTA wazoo, local natives bugging you, stolen equipment, and transportation and infrastructure projects non-stop.
We are hiring:
https://careers-sam.icims.com/jobs/3667/crew-chief---survey-party-chief/job
DM if you have have any questions. Good Luck!
So Chicago has a reputation for Bad surveyors hence the post title?
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Oh Boy! Who Doesn't Love a good Condo Survey.?ÿ Esp with realtors, Attorneys, tenants, animals, broken elevators, scary stairwells.....?ÿ Everybody should do at least 5 good Condo Surveys to be licensed.?ÿ Or just eliminate the process from the profession and let lawyers and realtors work with tape measures and BullsH!t like they already do anyway.......Oops.?ÿ Was I using my outside voice again??ÿ ;)?ÿ
