Do you think I might have a realistic chance of entering Land Surveyor profession, given I'm in my mid-40s and female, plus an immigrant (from Eastern Europe)?
If I went for it, I'd start from getting a certificate or AAS in Geomatics/Surveying, an internship through college, which would take about a year, but not sure if I'd have any job prospects....
I have a degree in Computer Science and several years of working as a software engineer. While I've been good at programming, working in the office, sitting and staring at the screen, while under high pressure, deadlines, etc, all day is not my thing and had been literally killing me. I ended up in this profession almost by accident (long story), while I wanted to go for a Civil Engineering degree instead. Math, geometry are easy subjects for me. Despite my age, I'm in very good athletic shape, and things like climbing fences, carrying and using heavy equipment wouldn't be an issue. I taught myself compass navigation and generally am good with maps. Just not sure if combination of age, gender and having an accent would prevent me from working. I'm not going to stay in software engineering, and would go for a major life change in any case.
I'd appreciate honest answers even though they might not be good news for me.
Go for it
lightrange, post: 435868, member: 12864 wrote: not sure if combination of age, gender and having an accent would prevent me from working
You will fit right in with New York City DOT and other agency's in that area. I often do training in that area. White and male, without an foreign accent, is now the minority in that area.
leegreen, post: 435872, member: 2332 wrote: You will fit right in with New York City DOT and other agency's in that area. I often do training in that area. White and male, without an foreign accent, is now the minority in that area.
Sorry, didn't clarify--I'm interested not in city environment but the opposite, being out in nature/outside cities: stuff for pipelines, etc.
I am not one to throw you to the ticks real fast. In fact, I am not one to throw anybody to the ticks very fast.
So, I have this comment.
IF surveying is "Your cup of tea", you will be happy there.
IF surveying is NOT your "Cup 'O tea", don't do it.
Find a surveyor, who is semi-progressive, (computers, CAD, GPS, and total stations) and go work for a day or three.
Just "Check it out" before you invest too heavily.
It's a life, more than a "Living".
Nate
*** "Throw you to the ticks" Means "Send you to the woods, with computers, GPS and Total station....etc"
N
Nate The Surveyor, post: 435877, member: 291 wrote: *** "Throw you to the ticks" Means "Send you to the woods, with computers, GPS and Total station....etc"
N
Woods is where I'm usually found (without computers and GPS), in my free time.....
So, just contact a surveyor and say I want to try it out for few days, before I decide to go to school for it? I can sure try, just not sure they'd just take someone from the street, who's not an employee or intern ....(with all the fear of injury liability that is out there)
Do some research on typical salary range in the area where you hope to be working. The pay for surveying jobs, particularly in rural areas can vary greatly depending upon not only the State, but often the part of the State you're interested in. There are some organizations you could get with that will have you working in mostly rural environments that pay quite well. Often such jobs require a good deal of travel. But more commonly, and especially if you hope to be able to return home each evening after work, you could be looking at salary ranges anywhere from that which would provide a reasonably comfortable but modest living, to barely above minimum wage. Make sure that the typical salary range for entry level in your area is at a level you can afford to live on after having paid for your education.
Once you find that the money is at least adequate, look into the year to year and seasonal trends in your area. If you work in an area where the work is typically seasonal, but the pay is good, it might work out well to be busy 8 to 10 months and make enough to sustain yourself for an extended 2 to 4 month vacation. But if the pay is marginal and the work spotty, you may be better off considering whether you can do something different with the training and experience you have in software.
I don't think that your gender will be a liability to finding a job. You said that you're athletic. That gives you a big advantage over a man with similar qualifications but otherwise not in such good condition. One of the most important aspects that an employer hiring for an entry level position is going to consider is whether or not you seem like someone who will be able to show up ready to work reliably and on time. For that position, I'd much rather have a reasonably intelligent and motivated person with no experience than a sickly couch potato with a few years of surveying on his resume.
If you've looked into the local conditions, it looks like you could remain at least reasonably busy, making at least enough to pay your bills, and most importantly, seems like something you would enjoy doing, then start by following the plan you've laid out. I hope it works out for you.
I would say try pipeline as a rodman, let them know what you have to offer, get in the field for a year, then talk to them about what you inspire to do with your life. My boss is a woman and she rocks. Like my old friend used to say if your crew shows up in the morning and you can find the control point then your day is golden.
Survying can be a well paying proffesion, but mostly for licenced proffesional surveyors. Pay is some areas for non-licenced field staff can be very low. There are areas where you can make a decent living though. Your gender will not be a problem. Your age will only be a problem in that by the time you have enough experience to make good money you may be ready to be done. If you can speak English half as well as you write English that won't be a problem either.
eapls2708, post: 435879, member: 589 wrote: Do some research on typical salary range in the area where you hope to be working. The pay for surveying jobs, particularly in rural areas can vary greatly depending upon not only the State, but often the part of the State you're interested in. There are some organizations you could get with that will have you working in mostly rural environments that pay quite well. Often such jobs require a good deal of travel. But more commonly, and especially if you hope to be able to return home each evening after work, you could be looking at salary ranges anywhere from that which would provide a reasonably comfortable but modest living, to barely above minimum wage. Make sure that the typical salary range for entry level in your area is at a level you can afford to live on after having paid for your education.
Once you find that the money is at least adequate, look into the year to year and seasonal trends in your area. If you work in an area where the work is typically seasonal, but the pay is good, it might work out well to be busy 8 to 10 months and make enough to sustain yourself for an extended 2 to 4 month vacation. But if the pay is marginal and the work spotty, you may be better off considering whether you can do something different with the training and experience you have in software.
I don't think that your gender will be a liability to finding a job. You said that you're athletic. That gives you a big advantage over a man with similar qualifications but otherwise not in such good condition. One of the most important aspects that an employer hiring for an entry level position is going to consider is whether or not you seem like someone who will be able to show up ready to work reliably and on time. For that position, I'd much rather have a reasonably intelligent and motivated person with no experience than a sickly couch potato with a few years of surveying on his resume.
If you've looked into the local conditions, it looks like you could remain at least reasonably busy, making at least enough to pay your bills, and most importantly, seems like something you would enjoy doing, then start by following the plan you've laid out. I hope it works out for you.
I will consider all this.
I'm open to relocation, especially for the start, pretty much anywhere.
I'm not sure how to research year-to-year seasonal trends.... When I look at jobs on indeed/craigslist, mostly it's experienced surveyors that are being sought.
Discipline/reliability is not an issue with me.
I wouldn't want to go back to the full-time office environment, I wanted that I'd just continue in my current profession, which I see as a dead end.
I don't look my age/look a lot younger, but thinking of my age being entry level honestly does makes me scared. In my current industry it'd be near-impossible to be entry level being in your 40s, and also a female, would be a death sentence, may be only through good friend connections.
superfly, post: 435882, member: 8421 wrote: I would say try pipeline as a rodman, let them know what you have to offer, get in the field for a year, then talk to them about what you inspire to do with your life. My boss is a woman and she rocks. Like my old friend used to say if your crew shows up in the morning and you can find the control point then your day is golden.
There've been a thread on this board "Woman seeking rodman position...", from a while ago....She said she tried for a very long time, but nothing, she couldn't land a job, even though her husband worked in the same field. Advice was to get skills like CAD, GIS. So I guess getting a certificate would be a good idea.
You may be correct ,however i'am working on a job with 6 crews and 2 crews have husband and wife teams.
lightrange, post: 435884, member: 12864 wrote: I will consider all this.
I'm open to relocation, especially for the start, pretty much anywhere.
I'm not sure how to research year-to-year seasonal trends.... When I look at jobs on indeed/craigslist, mostly it's experienced surveyors that are being sought.
Discipline/reliability is not an issue with me.
I wouldn't want to go back to the full-time office environment, I wanted that I'd just continue in my current profession, which I see as a dead end.I don't look my age/look a lot younger, but thinking of my age being entry level honestly does makes me scared. In my current industry it'd be near-impossible to be entry level being in your 40s, and also a female, would be a death sentence, may be only through good friend connections.
If you start now you can put in close to 30 years or better. I would go for it.
Thanks for all the replies, sounds encouraging. I expected to hear "forget about it".
Do it, life is short, its yours to own.
there are many variables, you got a great outline above.
I say Go For It.
20 years from now you don't want to be wishing you had gave it a shot.
Tell us where you might want to go,,, maybe somebody there has an opening...
Two of the sharpest land surveyors I've ever known were women. Yes, if you like working outdoors, go for it.
I happen to start surveying in the military right after high school...worked in the civilian life surveying for an engineering /surveying firm..then when I reached the age of 40 I decided to go to school to get my BS so i could sit for the PLS exam...it took me 9 years to get my degree and in that time I took the CST exams to level 3, took the SIT and now I'm studying for the PLS Exam at age 51... If I can do it anyone can...
