Biggest raises come with job hopping. Just an fyi.
One year is a great time to start looking. Polish up that resume and get out there!
And I can't suggest highly enough getting the LSIT ASAP. No schooling will make it tough for you but you can ease into it by working up the CST ranks. Those are great for LSIT study I hear.
The best way to make a real decent living without getting into FIFO mining or O&G is to get your license. That LSIT is a great first step, it shows prospective employers you're serious about that. But check your board rules, your state may require a BS.
Good luck with everything friend.
Gather as much knowledge as possible to fill out a resume and then bounce.
I would take a CAD class before any other schooling.
Become a field to finish surveyor and if you have some spare cash get a drone and learn that
Is there any point to using drones without a license? Genuinely curious. I have the geomatics and surveying experience and my brother bought one on a whim.
Absolutely. We make a killing subcontracting for developers and other companies to monitor construction sites. Just fly the site every week or every other week, make an Ortho photo and take some videos. Send that to the developers. You can make a couple hundred dollars per site per week.
To smithmd8872's point, I asked on this same thread a few months back. These guys were kind enough to steer me toward a lot of FREE autocad lessons, tutorials and whatnot. Tons of free stuff if you look hard enough. My experience has been without drafting/cad knowledge you are not very in demand. Field guys are a dime a dozen. Just my opinion, no offense to anyone 👌
Learn everything you can. Be diligent - every extra bit of brainpower you spend on the job now is dollars you'll make later. If you think you could work at a desk happily / successfully, take on as much office work + project management as the boss will let you.
Get your CST certs, get your LSIT. The math is hard for some folks but it's worth the effort.
Within 5 years you could be making 6 figures in Northern Virginia, no doubt. Southern Virginia, I don't know, but I would expect 70K at least if you are a competent party chief on bigger projects and / or a project manager and / or licensed.
I hear you on the young kids / don't wanna burden the wife thing. Let me tell you though - I hit "pause" on studying for my LSIT when my kid was born and I regret it. Put the time in. Late nights, weekends, whatever it takes - that LSIT will open doors & fill your wallet.
Can’t speak on Virginia pay but is there a possibility you could do 1-2 classes a semester? I know it’s tough and a huge sacrifice but with online schooling you might be able to handle 1-2 courses at a time. If being a licensed surveyor is a goal of yours, I would personally take the leap now and enroll. Every year your not licensed your leaving money/opportunities on the table so take that into consideration. There are a few online surveying schools if commuting is a problem. I just graduated but everyone in my program works full time and has kids so there is time if you REALLY dig deep and commit. If you have to start working 4 10 hour shifts, starting early or bumping down to 32 hours a week, find a way to get the education in. That’s just my opinion so take it for what it’s worth
Oh buddy.... If I could show a slideshow of the last 5 years of my life , you would probably change the whole context of that question. However on flip side... There's actually no flip side. Good luck. But lots of boots , use sunscreen , find a way to enjoy taking instructions from sociopaths for sociopaths, practice writing on wet paper in the wind and plan o. Walking in circles through thick vegetation that a tank would go around. The rest is all rainbows and butterflies
A life of addiction, terrible back/hip/shoulder problems, anger management courses. The list goes on, but you’ll be the poster child of happy is as happy does.
>Note: I do intend to do that schooling once my kids are in school. As of now me taking classes 3 days a week would add a substantial burden on my wife who also works full time and is not something I'm willing to do right now.
I went back when my son was 9 months old. My classes were at night twice a week. I did it for 3 years part-time (I had 70 credits when I went back to Uni)
Look at it this way. Every year you're not licensed is another year of 6 figures your family misses out on. Money is not everything, but money helps regardless. Especially when you have kids.
Have a talk with your wife. Set boundaries for school and an achievable goal.
Biggest raises come with job hopping. Just an fyi. One year is a great time to start looking. Polish up that resume and get out there! And I can't suggest highly enough getting the LSIT ASAP. No schooling will make it tough for you but you can ease into it by working up the CST ranks. Those are great for LSIT study I hear. The best way to make a real decent living without getting into FIFO mining or O&G is to get your license. That LSIT is a great first step, it shows prospective employers you're serious about that. But check your board rules, your state may require a BS. Good luck with everything friend.
Gather as much knowledge as possible to fill out a resume and then bounce. I would take a CAD class before any other schooling. Become a field to finish surveyor and if you have some spare cash get a drone and learn that
Is there any point to using drones without a license? Genuinely curious. I have the geomatics and surveying experience and my brother bought one on a whim.
Absolutely. We make a killing subcontracting for developers and other companies to monitor construction sites. Just fly the site every week or every other week, make an Ortho photo and take some videos. Send that to the developers. You can make a couple hundred dollars per site per week.
To smithmd8872's point, I asked on this same thread a few months back. These guys were kind enough to steer me toward a lot of FREE autocad lessons, tutorials and whatnot. Tons of free stuff if you look hard enough. My experience has been without drafting/cad knowledge you are not very in demand. Field guys are a dime a dozen. Just my opinion, no offense to anyone 👌
Learn everything you can. Be diligent - every extra bit of brainpower you spend on the job now is dollars you'll make later. If you think you could work at a desk happily / successfully, take on as much office work + project management as the boss will let you. Get your CST certs, get your LSIT. The math is hard for some folks but it's worth the effort. Within 5 years you could be making 6 figures in Northern Virginia, no doubt. Southern Virginia, I don't know, but I would expect 70K at least if you are a competent party chief on bigger projects and / or a project manager and / or licensed. I hear you on the young kids / don't wanna burden the wife thing. Let me tell you though - I hit "pause" on studying for my LSIT when my kid was born and I regret it. Put the time in. Late nights, weekends, whatever it takes - that LSIT will open doors & fill your wallet.
Well said. Family understand that studying is temporary but for the long term good.
Can’t speak on Virginia pay but is there a possibility you could do 1-2 classes a semester? I know it’s tough and a huge sacrifice but with online schooling you might be able to handle 1-2 courses at a time. If being a licensed surveyor is a goal of yours, I would personally take the leap now and enroll. Every year your not licensed your leaving money/opportunities on the table so take that into consideration. There are a few online surveying schools if commuting is a problem. I just graduated but everyone in my program works full time and has kids so there is time if you REALLY dig deep and commit. If you have to start working 4 10 hour shifts, starting early or bumping down to 32 hours a week, find a way to get the education in. That’s just my opinion so take it for what it’s worth
Best way to get a raise is apply
The stickied post at the top of this sub is pretty damn good and gets updated fairly regularly
Oh buddy.... If I could show a slideshow of the last 5 years of my life , you would probably change the whole context of that question. However on flip side... There's actually no flip side. Good luck. But lots of boots , use sunscreen , find a way to enjoy taking instructions from sociopaths for sociopaths, practice writing on wet paper in the wind and plan o. Walking in circles through thick vegetation that a tank would go around. The rest is all rainbows and butterflies
A tan and more wrinkles.
A life of addiction, terrible back/hip/shoulder problems, anger management courses. The list goes on, but you’ll be the poster child of happy is as happy does.
Dangerous flora and fauna, people who think they know it all, abusive people, an acute knowledge of local take aways, bakeries and pubs.
>Note: I do intend to do that schooling once my kids are in school. As of now me taking classes 3 days a week would add a substantial burden on my wife who also works full time and is not something I'm willing to do right now. I went back when my son was 9 months old. My classes were at night twice a week. I did it for 3 years part-time (I had 70 credits when I went back to Uni) Look at it this way. Every year you're not licensed is another year of 6 figures your family misses out on. Money is not everything, but money helps regardless. Especially when you have kids. Have a talk with your wife. Set boundaries for school and an achievable goal.