If you'r not 10 minutes early, you're late. Don't be the guy the PC is waiting on.
In fact, a good I-man is anticipating the next point and is ready to shoot as soon as the rod is level. Be that guy in all aspects of your job.
But first and foremost, find out how your PC and company do things, learn their methods and routines. That means asking questions but also listening to the answers and thinking about what they mean in a bigger context than just the current moment.
Tell the PC you know you are green and that you will have questions. But your questions are all part of an effort to get better and faster with minimal mistakes.
Learn the codes!
Welcome to the good life my friend. It is truly a wonderful way to make a living.
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All of the above is good advice, here's mine: show up. 5 minutes early - every day. Work hard. Don't bitch & complain. If there's a lot to legitimately bitch about, look for a new job.
Do your level best to follow instructions. If your crew chief looks good, YOU look good. don't argue. show up early, do not make appointments that require you to leave the site earlier than the chief wanted. Be dressed appropriately and prepared for the conditions. just this takes a lot of practice. I speak from the experience of not doing very well myself.
Don't break anything or leave anything behind at office or job site.
Make sure all equipment is charged daily.
Don't slow the crew down.
Buy lunch for everyone.
Don't complain or take part in any bitch-sessions, for at least the first few months. Sometimes when you're new, it seems like everyone loves each other in the company, but you find out after a while who's on who's sh!t list.
If you get paired up with a chief who has no formal education, don't think you know more just because he might not understand least-squares adjustment. Also don't be discouraged if he's got a chip on his shoulder, and is constantly trying to show how much more he knows, without an education, than you do.
Dealing with people is the toughest part of anything. All the technical stuff seems easy compared to that.
And have fun.
Traditionally* the new guy brings a bottle of bourbon for his manager.
*okay, it's not really a long standing tradition, but I can see no downside to it becoming one.
As an I-man, learn to set up the tripod on point and level up quickly and efficiently. Follow your party chief's advice as to when to mount the instrument; before or after setting up the tripod and securing the leg points. Get ready for a backsight and have the field controller on and ready for data input. Do your job right, and check zero on your backsight often. If occupying a setup for any length of time and the backsight man will move immediately after the first shot is taken, turn a temporary angle to a point you can check an angle every now and then. Check and compare your backsight distance with the first distance used to measure it. Look for obvious errors in red laser distances, such as, did you measure to that fence corner 30 feet away or that tree limb 8 feet away; watch the "red dot;" what did the instrument measure to? And don't play with the red laser. Those eye damage warnings are there for a reason. Pay close attention to any changes in prism height the rodman makes and change the field controller accordingly. Pay attention to your EDM settings if your instrument has a red laser. Infrared setting for prism shots, red laser for no prism shots. If the tripod is bumped, check level and backsight. When instrument is first mounted, and during the leveling process, make sure to "untension" the tripod by applying a slight twist to the legs to release any internal tension built up during the setup process. After a setup is complete, box up the instrument and move to the next point; NEVER carry a tripod mounted instrument over your shoulder to the next point.
These are just a few things off the top of my head. Some are common sense, some are from the textbook, and some are from field experience. I wish you the best in your new career. You will enjoy being outdoors, meeting people, and researching ground history to compare with written and oral history. You will love the work!
Learn hand signals in case of radio communication failure.
Learn Field and Line Codes quickly.
Don't talk about surveying education unless asked a direct question about it.
Walk fast not slow, don't be the reason anyone has to wait on you, pack a lunch just in case the crew doesnt stop for lunch, bring more water than you think you will need. Then just watch and learn how the field crew does things.
My first boss told me: if I could take the best quality of every party chief I worked with, I would be the best party chief, ever.
I took it one step further: if I could could recognize the worst quality and do the opposite, I would be even better!
Show up 15 minutes early and make sure the truck is ready to go; take out the garbage; sweep the floor boards; stock the hubs, guards and pins; be ready to roll when the party chief comes out with the days work.
Don't be nervous and you'll do just fine...
Dougie
All of the above advice is great. But also remember getting to work 15 minutes early makes a great impression. 😎
Keep a few spare PK nails, spikes and flagging in your vest so when the PC runs out you can be Johnny on the spot.
Your boss will evaluate you on this: How much easier do you make his life? I don't mean by being a "Yes man," but by focusing on problem solving instead of problem creating.
The big first mistakes rookies make: ROD HEIGHTS. RLS/drafter can maybe figure out what the code is if you screw it up. But sometimes that height is just impossible to catch....and depending upon how high fallutin' the project is...it can carry the possibility of ending your employment and possibly the company entirely. You essentially carry the rod and with it the company's fate at times.
Also as you approach anything, ask yourself: how could somebody sue me right here?
NEVER, EVER put the instrument on the legs and walk away, no matter what the distraction, or what happens, BEFORE YOU TIGHTEN the screw fixing the instrument to the legs.
It happens so easy; you start to set up, someone stops for directions, or the chief asks a question, you leave the gun sitting on the legs, forget to screw it down, pick it up to move it a bit and it crashes to the pavement. You NEVER want to be in that predicament.
Always report the truth.
Showing up early helps too -
Ken
