It’s not a subject that most people are aware of when they are looking for majors in college, but it is one that offers a great deal of scope and potential, both as a money spinner and as a personal development tool. A career in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is not only exciting, it also has a future.
In order to work in the GIS industry, you need to study certain subjects like:
- Geography: It’s natural that you must be interested in and have an aptitude for geography when you’re considering a career in GIS. You must know how the location of land and sea and their relationship to each other affect the way we travel and use information in order to understand our world better.
- Mathematics: You are going to be involved in developing technological systems, so you must be aware of mathematical theories that are used to develop the logic that these systems use. You must have an aptitude for mathematics and be able to understand even complex principles and theories with ease.
- Computer Science: Since all systems are computerized, you must know how to use these systems to understand, develop and operate GIS systems. Besides, when you are well versed in logic and computer science, it’s easy to understand GIS systems and their complexities.
Besides a general and in-depth knowledge of these subjects, you also need to have good analytical skills, the ability to solve problems and good communication skills to deal with people from all walks of life and different cultures. You should also be adept at gathering information and sorting and managing it according to the needs of the system you’re working on. Also, a general understanding of how GIS systems work and the knowledge of how to evaluate their performance and assess their accuracy do add to your advantage when you’re seeking a career in this field.
A career in GIS is similar to one in computer science and its related fields – you are most likely to be employed as a systems administrator, programmer, database manager, research analysts and other similar jobs. In addition to this, you may also be given roles that deal with managerial and administrative responsibilities. There are a few specialized jobs that deal specifically with cartographic knowledge and skills, so if you are interested in them, you must be a talented cartographer.
Job prospects for those in this line of work are expected to increase and earnings are typically in the range of $60,000 to $70,000.
This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accredited online universities. Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adriennecarlson83@yahoo.com.
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