Good Morning,

“I don't personally know anyone who is a surveyor”.   

Get yourself some exposure to surveyors, the various work environments, actual use of equipment and just some ‘good old’ OJT will benefit you greatly and help you to put educational instruction into perspective.  A local company in your area, or a government entity, may be a good place to seek some sort of employment or even part-time volunteer work between semesters, if that is all you can find.  Watch, listen and learn.  Perhaps contact the State Surveyor’s organization in your area to seek contacts for this purpose.  I’ve got to run this a.m., but I’m sure you will have a ton of great replies here shortly. Great Question! 

My best wishes and hopes that you find surveying to be as rewarding as I and many others here have.

CV

Posted by: @alinaduncancross

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So, to all the career surveyors in here (I'm assuming that's most everyone) - what do you wish someone had told you when you began your foray into the land surveying field?

That's a great question to be asking.

I think the #1 thing I would recommend is try to have your first job be with a company that has multiple PLS so you can have multiple licenses become familiar with your work and potentially be a reference for you come licensing time.

What can I do now, as a student, to best prepare myself for the workforce?

If you're asked to do a capstone project I would recommend doing something somewhat routine over something quirky and flashy.  For example, there were guys in my program that went out and scanned historical buildings or old graveyards for their project.  That's cool and all but how often are you going to do that in the real world?  I did some of chain of title research and a simple boundary retracement for my project (I didn't know it in the beginning but the parcel I chose was reservation land at one point and ended up being sold out of the reservation to "the white man"; which appeared to be somewhat of a rare thing as it is no longer allowed by tribal councils) and that ended up being sooo much more applicable to the work I was doing following graduation that I wouldn't have changed my choice for the world.

Are there any continuing education programs or resources that you find helpful, even as a working professional?

Ask your employer to pay for your professional society membership and attend the monthly meetings and conferences each year even prior to being licensed.  Not asking for this was one of the mistakes I made.

There are a load of great youtubes. Look for Rami Tamimi, Landon Blake (Redefined Horizons), & David Woolley (Orange County Chapter, CSLA). And that friend of RPLS.com, The 3rd Dimension. 

Hopefully your school will be able to steer you to some work experience opportunities. One day on the job is probably what you are looking for right now. 

 "...To my astonishment I was informed on leaving college that I had studied navigation! -- why, if I had taken one turn down the harbor I should have known more about it...."  H.D. Thoreau, Walden

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was starting out was to work for as many different surveyor/engineering companies as possible. Don't worry about job hopping, especially when you're in the early stages of a career. Get as much exposure to all the facets of the profession early so you can learn as many ways of doing things as possible and later on you will have a better idea of where you want your focus to be and a more clearly defined idea of what you want and don't want from the profession. Early out it's hard to know these things, but getting as much exposure as you can, will go a long way to helping you map out the path you want to take. 

“I bargained with Life for a penny,
and Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store;

Life is a just employer.
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.

I worked for a menial's hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid”

― Jessie B. Rittenhouse

Network network network.  If you are in the Cincinnati area, you can go to the ISPL, PLSO, and KAPS meetings.  The Kentucky meetings are on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.  Start going to the meetings now and continue until retirement.

Another quick note:

Be sure to keep a good record of all of your work experience and ask any employer to do the same on your behalf.  I believe most jurisdictions have an experience requirement in addition to formal education. Typically, this requirement is “four years of acceptable, progressive, and verifiable work experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor”.  

This experience does not have to begin after the awarding of a formal degree, it can be gained (at least in part) simultaneously while you are pursuing your formal education.

And in addition: Visit this site frequently.  I do not like to speak on behalf of others, but I feel pretty safe in saying; “we are all rooting for you”.

If you have not already, I recommend joining the Young Surveyors Network.

"Modeled after and closely tied to the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Young Surveyors Network, the NSPS Young Surveyors Network is an organization dedicated to creating a national network of Young Surveyors within NSPS and its affiliate organizations".

If you are in Ohio you might want to check out the Surveyors Historical Society event in Marietta in September. They have a reasonable student rate. You might gain some useful background knowledge and meet people.

https://www.surveyorshistoricalsociety.com/aws/SHS/pt/sp/rendezvous-25

Posted by: @cv

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Another quick note:

Be sure to keep a good record of all of your work experience and ask any employer to do the same on your behalf.  I believe most jurisdictions have an experience requirement in addition to formal education. Typically, this requirement is “four years of acceptable, progressive, and verifiable work experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor”.  

This experience does not have to begin after the awarding of a formal degree, it can be gained (at least in part) simultaneously while you are pursuing your formal education.

And in addition: Visit this site frequently.  I do not like to speak on behalf of others, but I feel pretty safe in saying; “we are all rooting for you”.

This is the absolutely most important thing to do for licensing.  I'm trying to cobble together the work and projects, and blame myself first for not fully understanding the process, and then roundly every single syrveyor save one that actually encouraged and required me to track my work.  This is the biggest downfall in our profession is the Surveyors in charge are not helping and guiding the upcoming license seeking mentees nearly at all.  Luckily, Im finding the NCEES reviewers are providing feedback that is valuable when I submit my information.

Additionally,  join your local survey chapters, attend meetings and conferences as much as you can, find a true mentor, not one that is all talk and no walk, and if youre working somewherethat hasn't minted any other licenses in the past 5 years get out and go somewhere that has.  I use that as a yardstick before i even waste time interviewing.  Ask a potential employer/recruiter " In the office, how many people gained their LSIT and then surveying Licenses in the past 5 years.  Unsurprisingly youre going to hear most of them say none.  Thats a good benchmark to determine if youre in the right place or not, and maybe help with yor decision on where you want to end up.

and yeah work for more than one surveyor, and definitely dont stagnate in a one person shop for your whole career in this day and age, youll miss out on far too much stuff that is important.

Welcome to the site, still the greatest knowledge base on the web( and no Wendell doesnt pay me to say that) and I absolutely know this place helped to get me additional information that helped me crush the FS and PS on the first tries with no question nor worries as Burned those test down with enthusiam an confidence.

Great career choice, tell others, we need so so many more!

A lot of good stuff I won't bother repeating, but I'll add two tidbits..

First and foremost, have fun learning and working. If you can't do that in your chosen profession, change your path. The trap of doing something well while hating it will eat your life.

Second, pace yourself appropriately. That's mental and physical. Set a productive but sustainable pace with attainable intermediate goals. If you aim for PLS with no stops along the way you risk becoming discouraged or burned out. Keep setting and hitting the small marks and one day you'll realize everyone is asking you for advice. If you take care of yourself physically you'll be able to show them how things are done..

Good luck!

Don’t be afraid to talk to land owners and adjoiners.  I used to think I can’t share what I’m doing, it’s top secret.  As I got older I learned if you talk to people, they may help you out or at the very least gain appreciation for what you do.  

Become familiar with the NCEES site and the FS Reference Manual.  Review your states' Board website and codes of practice and requirements.  As mentioned before join the NSPS YSN.  Join your state professional surveying society and their YSN if they have one (student membership should be inexpensive and some are free).  Attend local chapter meeting and volunteer.   Get an internship as soon as possible.

How did you come to the decision to pursue land surveying and not know any surveyors, or have any experience at all? Seems random to me, but I wish you the best.

All good tips and advice above.

I would add, come fall (fewer over the busy summer months and long days), check out Trent Keenan's  MentoringMondays, RoundTable Tuesdays and WisdomWednesdays for interesting and informative presentations.

Trent Keenan (Diamondback Land Surveying) also has a contact list of folks willing to assist those new to surveying, or those that are needing a question answered, that may come in handy for you. Check out Jerry Mahun's online library. Register to receive Kyle Brook's (Confluence Land Surveying) Daily Survey quiz questions, and for practice tests.  Coan (Math for Surveyors) and Van Sickle (Surveying Solved Problems) were also used often when I was studying for the exams.

Lots of good info out there for those willing to look.

Posted by: @jbw

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How did you come to the decision to pursue land surveying and not know any surveyors, or have any experience at all? Seems random to me, but I wish you the best.

I did the same thing.  After high school, I got an AS degree in Athletic Training.  Decided I didn't want to pursue my BS at another institution and set out a semester and worked.  While trying to figure out another career choice, my mom, who was a loan officer at the time, mentioned how they had a heck of time getting Land Surveyors to do surveys for their closings.  I started doing some research since I had never heard of it and didn't know a soul who did it.  It checked more boxes for me than I could of imagined.  So I looked up schools that offered it.  Low and behold the school I had just graduated from, did.  Other than a couple of high level math courses, I had all of the general courses done and would only have to take the Surveying courses.  I reached out to the Surveying Professor, he had me knock out those math classes during the spring semester and I joined up with the incoming freshman survey group in the fall.  Here I am 26 years later.  

Posted by: @jbw

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How did you come to the decision to pursue land surveying and not know any surveyors, or have any experience at all?

I entered the British Columbia Institute of Technology's Civil Engineering program in 1982 on the strength of a picture in the course catalog of a guy in a hardhat looking through a theodolite. I was 22 by that time and knew I had to get busy with something, but just what that was had not yet spoken to me. I knew no one in the business. The picture represented not being chained to a desk, which was something I dreaded, yet required some brain power, which I hoped for.

Later, after graduation, a posting in the unemployment office got me on a survey field crew. The rest is history.    

@jbw I took some GIS courses during my first stint in college and enjoyed them, but I don't want to spend every workday sitting indoors in front of a screen. I did some research and found that a career in surveying could potentially satisfy both my GIS interest and my desire to spend time in nature in the course of my work. Additionally, I want a career that will give me a better work-life balance than either of my parents has (RN and chemist), and it seems that, though surveying is by no means an easy job, the environment and culture of the profession may be slightly less stressful than most others that someone my age could end up working in. Please correct me if that assessment is incorrect, or if I am missing any information you think I should know while pursuing this degree!! I sincerely appreciate the contacts and resources you included in your response. I will be exploring all of them today/this week, they sound like invaluable references to have as a student and beginner!

@jflamm Thank you for sharing your path to becoming a surveyor, this makes me hopeful that I've finally chosen the right path!! I spent roughly 3 semesters in college after I graduated high school, but some unfortunate circumstances with my family led me to decide to drop out and start working instead to save money and provide for myself. Now that I have the ability to go back, I've thought long and hard about what career would be right for me. I have many different interests, and most of them don't exactly translate into jobs that pay a living wage. I decided to instead look for a career that would allow me to still enjoy all my interests outside of work by providing me with a reasonable work-life balance and fairly compensating me for the time and effort that the job requires. I'm not 100% certain of anything, but after some research, I realized that land surveying could be a great fit for someone like me who enjoys variation in my day-to-day activities, spending time outdoors, and exploring the world around me.

Hi Alina, 
My advice would be as follows: 

1. If you just want to make more money, become a civil engineer. The workload and math skills are similar. Surveyors get to deal more with historical stuff, law, and get to play outside.... often with cool toys. Engineers make significantly more money, and the expense to start your own business (or do side work) is considerably less for an engineer. 

2. If it isn't a requirement of your program graduation, immediately apply to write the LSIT / FLS exam once you graduate. Your head will be full of all that fresh knowledge you learned, and at no time later in your life will it be easier. 

3. Never stay at a job you aren't content at. There is SO much variety in the survey world, that if you aren't happy with the workplace, mentoring, or culture, move on. If you have passed the test in #2 above, this becomes much easier.  

4. In the survey world, industry specialists make the money, generalists always have work. Learn to be a generalist, and pick up a specialty if you can. Boundary retracement surveyors never own yachts, but they always have steady work. Oil and Gas work can be lucrative, but it is often seasonal.

Posted by: @jflamm

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Posted by: @jbw

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How did you come to the decision to pursue land surveying and not know any surveyors, or have any experience at all? Seems random to me, but I wish you the best.

I did the same thing.  After high school, I got an AS degree in Athletic Training.

Laughing, I often joke that surveying is never a first choice. My graduating class was full of folks that allready had degrees in Geology, Geography, GIS, Mathematics, and even an Archeologist. 

I was unusual with a degree in Adventure Tourism.