I'm not sure what the category should really be, but since I'm not listing a job . . . here goes.
I know the "company" environment is probably much different than a sole-proprietor environment . . . especially a S-O-L-O sole-proprietor(since the mid 80s').
Now I'm almost 63 & retired . . . somewhat forced because of the economy, but also a bum foot, which is finally beginning to get better after over a year. Now I think, it would really be nice to get back to work.
I see job listings within and around, but when I look at the requirements, somehow I feel just a little inadequate in my qualifications to even apply, let alone to work up a resume with elaborate descriptions of my skills.
Maybe this is part of the price to pay after about 28 years of being my own boss and my own employee.
It appears to me that experience with Total Stations, GPS, computer drafting and research skills are probably all over-rated with the new button-pushing equipment and internet driven GIS that exists today. I see all these things generally accomplished by technicians . . . not surveyors.
So, aside from being a person who can review other people's work, draft maps and place my John Henry on a final drawing, I'm uncertain as to what a proficient S-O-L-O surveyor truly has to offer a company with today's technology.
Maybe I've taken skills I've refined through the years too much for granted and now see them, not so much as truly special skills, but more so as . . . well . . .
I think you are looking at it all wrong.
Being a former solo operator, you have done it all. From client contact, research, fieldwork, office calcs and drafting, invoicing, delivering, etc. Being able to handle all those responsibilities is a huge advantage over someone that can only do a few of those tasks.
The skill set it takes to be an efficient solo operator is pretty desirable, at least in my opinion.
Good luck
I've wondered if I would ever adapt to the busy office-bureaucratic BS-structured environment of many firms today after a similar number of years of doing my own thing. The largest single problem would be reacquainting myself with the 8:00 - 5:00 mindset. I'm productive when I want to be productive and much less so when I feel like it. Being forced to cram it all into a specific time frame would be very difficult after all these years of flexibility.
Yea, it'd be tough to hire the lot of ya.
Probably spend half my days trying to retrain ya and the other half hollering at ya to stop hanging out at the water cooler.
Plus the war stories would get a bit annoying. You know, the ones that start out, "well we used to do it this way.." or "You know what you need to do..."
But then again at least you probably don't spend much of the day texting on your iphone.
Being a successful Solo operator for years would probably be a threat to most who would be your boss in the typical firm of today. You probably would not be very happy. If you have kept your tools, open an office from home and be selective about what you take on so you can enjoy life and being your own boss, its an ingrained habit now.
jud
Jud,
You are probably right.
Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling Sould Ramp Up In Ohio
They hire young grunts to put in long hours humping equipment up and down the hills. You can catch on reviewing their work in the office.
Paul in PA
Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling Sould Ramp Up In Ohio
Retired69
WOW we are in same boat. Never been solo but am down to only 1 employee now. Had the worst gross income this year since I graduated from college. Have run as many as 4 crews and owned a construction Co for 10 years with 50+ employees.
Now I'm 65 and considering a job opening with the county. I think my biggest problem will be my inability to speak politically correct. I pretty much say what I'm thinking w/o thinking what others may feel about what I,m saying.
"But then again at least you probably don't spend much of the day texting on your iphone."
You're a mean one, Clearcut.
That was both subtle and deadly.
🙂
Don
I have worked solo, owned a small survey business and worked in the corporate environment...
You are probably more qualified in more areas than most who have worked entire careers in the government or corporate arena... at least that has been my experience...
Stay solo, or work with other solo or small businesses in your area... just my opinion 🙂
you guys....jeeeezzz..
Quit taking it all so serious. Get to the vet and get your butt-pimples popped and start feeling better.
I'm just a couple of years behind you. Had to take a year off in 2006 for health issues. Hung it up and sold the equipment. Thought I was done for good. I was wrong.
Look at all the experience you have. That's worth more than you know. Just because you can't blue-top crushed rock base 12 hours a day in 110 degree heat might not be a bad thing.
Find a niche for your experience. There are plenty of organizations that could use contract help on R/W, inspection, easement-prep,... God knows what. Use that noggin' and find your spot...there's a whole lot more out there than the bluesmockdoorgreeteratwallyworld.
Wal*Mart Byer Job
Saw they were hiring. Checked it out. The wanted me to sit at an exit in the cute little blue smock. As people left the store, I was to wave appropriately and say, "Bye. Bye. Bye."
the new button-pushing equipment and internet driven GIS that exists today
That's not how the real work gets done around here. Sometimes you just gotta go out in the field and measure.
Market your strengths: The ability to singlehandedly go to the site, gather data, and present that data in a map format.
- Quick reaction
- Low Overhead
- Minimal Supervision Required
- Years of experience
I've been SOLO for 12 years now, but I'm only 42. I think at this point, if I couldn't survey on mine own, I would find something else. I would never be happy working in an office or under anyone ever again. I've thought about other careers like farming with my father full-time, maybe owner-operator of a dump truck for side money. Plus I have a realtor license and I have clients that pay me to evaluate developments and value my advice. I wouldn't make as much money, but I would be happy and that's more important.
Being on the Corporate Surveyor side of the street, I will give you my view on your dilemma:
My apologies in advance for reading between the lines…
You could use a “TUNE UP” in some of the latest software and equipment and you would be good to go. If you only did one or two types of surveys over the past 30 years you may need a “TUNE UP” with some diversification too. You probably did not keep up with the latest and greatest in software or survey equipment over the years, but that should be an easy learn for you if you want to do it.
Perhaps your best assignment would be as a Project Surveyor where you are the contact with the field crew doing the work and the Survey Tech doing the work. Maybe you could review the processes being used and help them be more efficient. Maybe you could upgrade the end product a small step by applying some of your useful experience.
This would provide value to the company that you would bring to them. I don’t see you talking marketing, but you do seem able to write and communicate, so maybe that is what you could do for them. If you want to work for a government agency maybe you should run for County Surveyor.
If it would make you feel better, get your “TUNE UP” before applying for a job. If in fact you are one of those surveyors mentioned above who can't get along with others and can't take directions from a boss, accept retirement and start looking for opportunities to volunteer. You will be OK.
Interesting to read some of the replies, when you look at this famous image what do you see?
Your statement can be construed a number of different ways.
It appears to me that experience with Total Stations, GPS, computer drafting and research skills are probably all over-rated with the new button-pushing equipment and internet driven GIS that exists today. I see all these things generally accomplished by technicians . . . not surveyors.
Can be viewed sympathetically like Jimmy C. and others or the other side of the coin would be this translation:
"I'm set in my ways, (been there done that) and as a result I've become a dinosaur in an industry that's ever changing."
I was surveying when I was 15 (I'm 48 now)and I've always kept an open mind to new techniques and technologies, those that view technology with contempt will eventually fall victim to it. Darwin called it the theory of natural selection.
Back in the mid 80's there was a guy out in this area named Bruce Blair. Bruce had a company called Survsat and they were on the cutting edge of GPS. I was working full time for a company and saw an ad in the paper by Survsat for weekend help on a GPS project. The job was 50 miles away and I didn't have a car. I called Bruce and he gave me directions, there was no internet (mapquest or google maps), but I figured out a way to get there via public transportation. I was only able to go once, but I went.
I've always tried to use all the resources at my disposal to become the best I could be. This and the old forum have been and continue to be invaluable to me. There were guys on here who I've badgered and harassed, who were willing to give me some of their time and help me in some areas where I was weak and inexperienced. I am very grateful to those individuals and I've put that knowledge to use.
I am now solo and I invest in the latest technologies, why? Because it makes me more competitive. One of the problems with being solo is that you "can" become your own sounding board and "may" create your own realities. Sometimes it's good to get out there and see what others are doing and how it may benefit you.
All that being said.
If you can incorporate your knowledge and experience into what ever environment you wind up in and use it to realize some real efficiencies you'll create win/win situations. If that's not what you're interested in, then you probably should go back to doing your own thing.
This is just my opinion and we all know what they say about opinions.
Good luck in whatever you choose.
Ralph
E X C E L L E N T ~ P O S T.
G R E A T ~ R E S P O N S E S, so far.
Lurker Out.
Very good post, but tell me more about the image. What am I supposed to see?
It's the old hag vs pretty young woman conumdrum. One viewer will see a lovely young lass glancing to her right with a red necklace/choker about her neck. Another viewer will see an old gal with a white headscarf and a big nose with the red strip being indicative of her mouth.
Ok, I see it now. I saw the young lady at first. I had to look at it for a long time before I saw the old lady.
