Recent Master's degree graduate seeking West Coast employment

eddym, post: 352605, member: 9126 wrote: Hello all,

I've recently earned my Master's degree in Civil Engineering - Geomatics from Oregon State University (OSU). I earned my Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the same institution. I worked for a consulting engineering firm in Portland for a year between earning the two degrees, but found that work to be too sedentary and too often indoors for my tastes.

While pursuing the Master's degree with an emphasis in Geomatics, I served as a graduate teaching assistant for every undergraduate surveying course offered at OSU (surveying theory, highway location and design, and plane surveying), I took all of the course offerings of the OSU Civil Engineering - Geomatics program, and I conducted years of GNSS height modernization research that culminated in a report to NGS that I co-authored and should be published in the ASCE Journal of Surveying Engineering in the near future.

Outside of academia, I have years of public and private surveying (construction layout and as-built documentation, cadastral surveys, ROW documentation) and engineering (structural analysis, water systems design) experience.

I'm seeking a position that lets me put my surveying and engineering experience to use in the field and in the office. I think a smaller operation would suit me best (I'd love to learn from a grizzled veteran who's seen it all), but am not opposed to working for a larger outfit. In the same vein, I'm drawn to smaller cities and towns more than I am to population centers.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I think I've hit all of the important notes. Please send me a private message if you'd like to speak further. I'll gladly provide references and a resume.

Lastly, I hope to attend the PLSO conference this month and very much look forward to the opportunity to meet with those of you that will attend.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Michael Eddy

Michael: Would like to talk to you about employment with Omsberg & Preston in Eureka, CA.

Kim Preston

Kim Preston, post: 353073, member: 10994 wrote: Michael: Would like to talk to you about employment with Omsberg & Preston in Eureka, CA.

Kim Preston

I've had the opportunity to meet, and crunch some data with Mr.Eddy.
I can easily say, that any firm lucky enough to hire him, will be making a smart business move.

Clay Brooks,PLS
City Surveyor
Corvallis, Oregon

Surveyor NW, post: 353274, member: 6073 wrote: I've had the opportunity to meet, and crunch some data with Mr.Eddy.
I can easily say, that any firm lucky enough to hire him, will be making a smart business move.

Clay Brooks,PLS
City Surveyor
Corvallis, Oregon

That's very kind of you to say. Thank you, Clay.

Michael,
Have you have looked at the classified ad section of PLSO.org and you have checked Indeed and craigslist etc? There have been quite a few positions open in the Pac NW.

Hi Jered,
I've been scouring Indeed but hadn't considered Craigslist or the PLSO classifieds until you mentioned them. They're both proving to be great resources, thank you for the heads-up!

Hi Eddy,

In a roundabout way in researching survey equipment, I found this! What about staying in Oregon? I would like to talk to you about a really great opportunity that will have you working on both engineering and surveying. A combo of office and field work in a small, but growing geotechnical, civil, and environmental engineering firm. Please let me know if you are interested!

Jennifer

Received this notice through my Master's Degree Program, perhaps a good fit for you:

https://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TRIMBLE&cws=1&rid=7338

You have a master's degree in Geomatics and have had field experience yet you do not mention if you are a PLS. Your education indicates a salary far above a starting position, which at most firms would put you above other PLS staff. Firms may well be reluctant to hire you on that basis. That Trimble position may be your best education fit, yet I doubt it would be outside enough to meet your desire.

This reminds me of a comment made once by Dr. Joshua Greenfeld, Professor Emeritus at NJIT who has a PhD in Geodesy/Photogrammetry and MSc in Geodesy from The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio. His first degree was a BA in Geodesy and Cartography from Tel Aviv University. At one point in his teaching career he applied to New Jersey for licensing and was told his bachelors degree did not meet the minimum requirements per the law. Other NJIT students might correct me if I misremembered that story.

Myself, I was a PE for many years before getting more surveying credits and actually signing on to work as surveying field crew to gain sufficient boundary surveying experience. The PA Board had many questions and it took two Board hearings to convince them that was the case.

Good luck in finding the right fit, but do not feel rejected if you hear the word, "overqualified".

Paul in PA, PE, PLS

https://kiewitcareers.kiewit.com/job/Kiewit-Northwest-Engineer-1-WA/290114900/&apos ;">Look here No PLS required

Paul in PA, post: 357471, member: 236 wrote: You have a master's degree in Geomatics and have had field experience yet you do not mention if you are a PLS. Your education indicates a salary far above a starting position, which at most firms would put you above other PLS staff. Firms may well be reluctant to hire you on that basis. That Trimble position may be your best education fit, yet I doubt it would be outside enough to meet your desire.

This reminds me of a comment made once by Dr. Joshua Greenfeld, Professor Emeritus at NJIT who has a PhD in Geodesy/Photogrammetry and MSc in Geodesy from The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio. His first degree was a BA in Geodesy and Cartography from Tel Aviv University. At one point in his teaching career he applied to New Jersey for licensing and was told his bachelors degree did not meet the minimum requirements per the law. Other NJIT students might correct me if I misremembered that story.

Myself, I was a PE for many years before getting more surveying credits and actually signing on to work as surveying field crew to gain sufficient boundary surveying experience. The PA Board had many questions and it took two Board hearings to convince them that was the case.

Good luck in finding the right fit, but do not feel rejected if you hear the word, "overqualified".

Paul in PA, PE, PLS

Hi Paul, these are all valid points. I do not have my PLS, but I do plan to take (and pass) my LSIT in the next two weeks. I've been told I'm overqualified in a couple of instances, but I should take this opportunity to make it clear that I don't think ANY work is beneath me or my limited experience/education. I knew I was running the risk of making myself overqualified for many surveying positions by pursuing the graduate degree, but I'm not sure I would have developed a passion for land surveying otherwise.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful reply. -Mike

Roadhand, post: 357506, member: 61 wrote: https://kiewitcareers.kiewit.com/job/Kiewit-Northwest-Engineer-1-WA/290114900/&apos ;">Look here No PLS required

I will look into this position today, thank you!

Mike, let me know when you are ready to move to central Indiana.

StLSurveyor, post: 357458, member: 7070 wrote: Received this notice through my Master's Degree Program, perhaps a good fit for you:

https://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=TRIMBLE&cws=1&rid=7338

A friend from my program recently started working for Trimble and has nothing but good things to say, thank you for pointing me towards this position!

Brad Ott, post: 357510, member: 197 wrote: Mike, let me know when you are ready to move to central Indiana.

I certainly will! I'm giving more and more thought to the fact that airplanes have made the nation much smaller and nothing is TOO far from home.
Thank you for your reply.

eddym, post: 352605, member: 9126 wrote: Hello all,

I've recently earned my Master's degree in Civil Engineering - Geomatics from Oregon State University (OSU). I earned my Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the same institution. I worked for a consulting engineering firm in Portland for a year between earning the two degrees, but found that work to be too sedentary and too often indoors for my tastes.

While pursuing the Master's degree with an emphasis in Geomatics, I served as a graduate teaching assistant for every undergraduate surveying course offered at OSU (surveying theory, highway location and design, and plane surveying), I took all of the course offerings of the OSU Civil Engineering - Geomatics program, and I conducted years of GNSS height modernization research that culminated in a report to NGS that I co-authored and should be published in the ASCE Journal of Surveying Engineering in the near future.

Outside of academia, I have years of public and private surveying (construction layout and as-built documentation, cadastral surveys, ROW documentation) and engineering (structural analysis, water systems design) experience.

I'm seeking a position that lets me put my surveying and engineering experience to use in the field and in the office. I think a smaller operation would suit me best (I'd love to learn from a grizzled veteran who's seen it all), but am not opposed to working for a larger outfit. In the same vein, I'm drawn to smaller cities and towns more than I am to population centers.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I think I've hit all of the important notes. Please send me a private message if you'd like to speak further. I'll gladly provide references and a resume.

Lastly, I hope to attend the PLSO conference this month and very much look forward to the opportunity to meet with those of you that will attend.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Michael Eddy

I sent you a PM.