I know several but only worked with one so far. She was a very good rod/chain-person.
Right here on this very board.
http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=user&show_user=63
This is the professional side of Land Surveying.
> Is the # of women surveying slim to none? And how likely is it for a women to hired?
Have been involved with surveying for over 40 years. Started teaching surveying, part time, at a community college over 20 years ago and full time in 1996. The students were working toward two year degrees in Civil Engineering, Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management and Architecture. Surveying courses were required for all but Architecture. Had women in nearly every class during the entire time.
Understanding surveying procedures and the data required to layout buildings or document property boundaries is a basic skill in the design build industry.
> Is the # of women surveying slim to none? And how likely is it for a women to hired?
I know many women surveyors. Two of my former bosses were women. but yes, the majority of folks in this industry are male. The numbers, or ratio mean nothing with regards to employment though. Most qualified person get's the job.
Have met very few
Surely they are everywhere I am not. There is no reason for women to shy away from the surveying profession. None!
I Can Name 4 Female Surveyors
I used to work for a woman surveyor in Alaska that ran remote jobs with one too several crews. She got her start with the BLM as a chainman ... She works as BLM's chief surveyor in Oregon and Washington now. There were/are actually quite a few women in BLM... that might be a route to look into ...
I Can Name 4 Female Surveyors
> I used to work for a woman surveyor in Alaska that ran remote jobs with one too several crews. She got her start with the BLM as a chainman ... She works as BLM's chief surveyor in Oregon and Washington now. There were/are actually quite a few women in BLM... that might be a route to look into ...
I was wondering when you were going to "mention" that woman... 😉 B-)
> Is the # of women surveying slim to none? And how likely is it for a women to hired?
I'm not sure about the answer to your first question but I have a couple of suggestions for getting hired. I am impressed by applicants (male or female) that come by the office to apply in person, have a copy of their resume, have all of the information with them to fill out an application, are dressed appropriately for the position, and follow up with me after a few days. Getting hired in these times is tough for anyone especially if you are new to the profession. Be persistent, organized, confident, enthusiastic, and always follow up. Liz
I Can Name 4 Female Surveyors
My former boss was married to a woman PLS. They are divorced now.
I Can Name 4 Female Surveyors
Daryl, Nice pictures from the past. That Party Chief sure looks familiar; seems I have seen her photo recently visiting some middle east countries. Actually, she is a highly respected surveyor. I asked her to sign my 2009 Manual and she graciously obliged. Tell her hello from me.
I know several very capable women surveyors with BLM. When I was teaching at Phoenix Community College there were several women in the classes who are now registered. If Belle wants to be a surveyor then the fact that she is female should not hold her back.
Jerry
woman surveyors
Most of the surveyors I know came to chose the profession in their late twenties, after some other sort of experience, about half the time related experience of some sort.
Most women I know at that age aren't in that same transition, for some reason. I have heard that male brains aren't fully formed until about then...
But gender isn't the only way we lack diversity here in the USA. I notice it when I attend any event.
As the profession moves to four year degrees, I would expect for there to be clearer paths for women.
It would be good for the health of our profession to be more diverse. I am not one to argue for diversity just to have it look good, I think diverse ideas and outlooks is something we need right now.
When I started surveying, back in the 80s, men worked in the field, women worked in the office.
PERIOD
There was ONE women chainperson, she was the bosses daughter in law.
She would stand aside when the men had to do real work.
I don't know of any woman who could do the field work I have seen over the years.
Yes, we could find them tasks to do to make them feel like part of the crew, but in reality they could not be a contributing crew member.
At my last company, a girl was killed by a truck as she ran the rod.
I don't believe men and women are equal in all aspects, it's foolish to think you can be something that God didn't intend for you to be.
a load of tosh
There are several registered women Surveyors in Georgia, all very good Land Surveyors. When I was a party chief in Atlanta, there was a woman that was my instrument person. She was one of the very best instrument operators and overall best people I have ever worked with. She went on to get her license, and last time I saw her, was doing well in her practice. We need more people to get involved in Surveying to replace us old geezers as we retire, so my advice to you is go for it. It's hard work, but very satisfying work. If you like the outdoors and don't mind getting dirty, you will like it.
Good Luck!
Dale Yawn
Savannah, Ga.
Daryl,
If Tosh is what I think it is, then I agree with you completely.
Sir,
God's intentions are known only to God. With all that He has to worry about, I don't think that career choices are high on His list.
Dale
That's pretty much how I remember it when I started back in the '80s as well. Anyone that didn't look like they had the physical characteristics to handle the position (man or woman) probably wouldn’t be hired.
Fortunately I was able to find another way – became licensed in the late 80’s, started my own company in the late 90’s with just myself and a robotic total station. I took on just residential lot surveys for the first couple of years and then pursued topographic design surveys for engineering firms. When I had the need for heavy line-cutting or certain two-person tasks like taking soundings across a lake in a jon boat (this can be done with one person and a robot but I don’t recommend it!) I would get my husband to help on the weekends or after work (he was a high school teacher/coach).
As my business grew I would hire other solo surveyors to help with these tasks and eventually hired someone full time, etc. So it can be done but maybe not in the conventional way. Liz
I Can Name 4 Female Surveyors
In 1976 a young woman came to work on the field crew I was running. She was the second female graduate of a surveying and highway-technology program at a local state-run vo-tech. The first female graduate had to go to court to get the school to accept her. Things have changed a lot since then.
In 1998 the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors elected its first woman president. She has been the only one so far, but there are two women on the 12-member Board of Directors, and I expect one or both of them will move up in the future. The Wisconsin society's first woman president was elected in 2007.
At present there are about 10 women licensed in MN out of about 520 licensees. One of them is a county surveyor. Several own their own businesses.
Something else has changed since 1976. The days when a person without any experience could be hired as a field tech and learn everything on the job are just about gone. There are few if any 3- and 4-person crews where trainees could get started. Technology has made the work more efficient, but has also made it essential for new surveyors to have either vo-tech or college training.
Belle, you should go to school. Vo-tech would be a start. A college program would be better. And of course employment is still spotty, judging by the posts on this board. There is work in some areas but not in others.
In practice, I do not remember ever personally seeing a woman on a crew. I have seen several working in office positions.
Relayed directly to me a number of years ago, a local surveyor had at one time an all woman crew and said that they were the best crew he ever had.
While I was a teaching assistant at college, there were several female students in the surveying courses (mostly because it was required for the Environmental Engineering Tech degree).
Last year, it seems that KAPS had one scholarship recipient who was female.
Having been in surveying for over 20 years now, I would wager that there are a number of people who still think a woman's place is in the kitchen. Those folks may be missing out on some valuable crew members.
Don't let some people's antiquated ideas keep you from pursuing it if you want to. There is no reason why you can not be an excellent surveyor.
:good:
How funny.
One of the best licensed surveyors who works for me is a woman.
