I've been doing some real soul searching about my career in surveying. I've realized that I'm kind of burnt out on the construction staking that we do at the company I work for. I am still really young and have decided that I really want to travel and see places I would otherwise never get the chance to. I am willing to relocate if necessary but I was wondering if anyone knew of a survey company looking for a party chief or an instrument man that does extensive travelling. I know that even if nothing comes of this the burn out will go away. Surveying is what i was meant to do, couldn't imagine doing anything else. It's just been mind numbing during these hard times because my company has basically pulled itself into a shell and only went "cookie cutter" residential work.
Any help is appreciated,
Thanks Guys
I think there is one job like that and Daryl M. has a lock on that.
Big Construction companies tend to go where the work is. Have you considered that?
You would need to start looking at companies like Kiewit, Mustang, etc.
Ditto, make sure your skill level matches expectations, don't be afraid to be clear about your actual level of experience.
Having said that, know you will be thrown in over your head at times because they simply have nobody else to send. Anybody can whine about why they didn't hit their marks, the goal is to find a way over, under, through and around the obstructions and setbacks, and hit the marks anyway.
Know nobody will notice or care, as they just expect it to always happen. Make sure the check each week is worth the hassle.
CEI, Universal-Pegasus, Golden Rod, Wilbros, LW surveying, EHN, Trico, Town & Country, Aucoin & Associates, J & M Pipeline Surveyors & SKW, Inc. to name a few. I can give contacts at several of them.
Matthew named a couple and take P.L.'s advice to heart. The man knows whereof he speaks.
Look for a company that has a contract with an Army Corps of Engineers district and you will get all of the traveling you want. The pay is usually scaled as is the per diem. Lots of different kinds of work, from hydro to boundary and all in between. I have worked in the Vicksburg, Little Rock, Mobile, Jacksonville and New Orleans, and Memphis Districts and usually had a great time. This is a link to the Mobile District where I am currently working. If it works you will see a list of current contractors and the duration of their contracts. Happy hunting.
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/en/AEcontr/projtype.asp?ProjType=Mapping%20&%20Survey
If you are interested in foreign travel for work, you might want to look into the geophysical exploration (seismic) industry. Be a doodlebugger and see the world. You are young, and that is a good thing, because most of the places you will work in the geophysical world are No Countries for Old Men. It's been a while since I worked in that industry, but I did it for a long time and once a doodlebugger always a doodlebugger. It can be very interesting and well-paid work for a good I-man or party chief especially if you know some GNSS stuff.
Upside: the experiences you might have and much of the gear you might use will be top of the line. Downside: most of the exotic places you might visit will not exactly be the garden spots of the world but don't let that stop you.
Daryl does post cool pics of where he works, but he is not unique. A lot of Alaskan surveyors perform remote surveys. It is almost a guarantee, especially if you are lower on the totem pole, you will travel as an Alaskan surveyor.
Universal Ensco
> Ditto, make sure your skill level matches expectations, don't be afraid to be clear about your actual level of experience.
>
> Having said that, know you will be thrown in over your head at times because they simply have nobody else to send. Anybody can whine about why they didn't hit their marks, the goal is to find a way over, under, through and around the obstructions and setbacks, and hit the marks anyway.
>
> Know nobody will notice or care, as they just expect it to always happen. Make sure the check each week is worth the hassle.
That is some excellent advice and i appreciate it. Definitely something I've run into over the last couple months.
