lightrange, post: 435873, member: 12864 wrote: 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'd caution against pipeline surveying. You'll get hours and make money, but probably won't learn too much real surveying besides running a GPS unit. And you'll have to like traveling and living wherever the job is.
I've met too many pipeliners who can't even setup a BS prism, after working for 10 years. They usually expect a lot of money, they're used to per diem, and also jumping around from company to company.
This is sad but true, there is however a lot of boundary survey done on a pipeline prelim. If you have 6 crews working 2 of them will be boundary only, when your company finds out you are good at it, you could be requested by the RPLS to be the go to crew. The work at times can brutal mindless pack horse type work. The above post is probably correct, there are better ways. I guess the only reason I suggest it is pipeline survey has been good to me.
Good luck
[USER=6636]@JPH[/USER]
I have employed several pipeline surveyors during their down time.
They can really gather a lot of information and do it well.
They are not accustomed to spending much time looking for monuments and do not locate as much general things like fence details and other details needed to fill out a complete land survey drawing.
They rely upon highway stripes as their control for r/w.
Have had more than one tell me that I was not complying with the law in keeping notes.
Just laughed and said that they should rethink what they don't know.
I suggested pipeline work as a way to get a foot in the door.
For good or for ill, there are long hours, traveling and possibly seasonal work.
I have worked with party chiefs who were licensed surveyors and others that had never used a total station.
For myself, it provided an opportunity to get some experience and make some money before going to school full time.
Do it. 30's and 40's will bode well for us. I know the younger are our future but I have become frustrated with the real young ones...and that's a cultural thing....not our profession's fault.
The New England states have a lot of job openings for field crew. I just got an email from a recruiter about a job in Nashua, NH. Companies are hoping to hire experienced field crew, but they are mostly going to have to train people up. We lost a lot of experienced people due to layoffs during the last recession. You might want to consider contacting some recruiters to help you in your job search. U-Maine, UNH, and Wentworth Institute of Technology all have surveying programs with different means to advance your surveying education.
Sounds like you definitely have a shot and a valuable skillset already. As others have mentioned, I think there is a high probability you will be stuck in the office most of the time. I don't think that's a gender thing exactly, but more because you already have the computer skills. Ideally you could split your time and work in the field sometimes and office other times.
Just remember too, when you are working out in the woods, it is usually no picnic. Hike through the woods and pick the worst possible direction to have to walk through the roughest thicket visible, and invariably that will be the path you'll have to take when surveying. I do it all the time and love it, but it is not for everyone....