Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/50311
stand out are the ones that aren't just GIS analysts, but also have programming experience. As a consult- ing firm, understanding GIS concepts is important, but it's equally or more important to be able to customize GIS tools to make them work as a part of a large or complex geospatial application. For experienced candidates, we're looking for depth, not breadth. I believe that the job market is tougher for those professionals that have worked in a lot of vertical industries. Of course, to me, communication and attitude still are the qualities that differentiate candidates. Technical skills can be taught, but attitudes and com- munication methods are hard to change. William S. Holland: Although the geotechnology industry's promi- nence as a mainstream technol- ogy grows, its greatest economic effect may be as an embedded technology within other business applications. Geotechnology may not be the face for, but is integral to and enhances, such things as mobile computing, social media and customer-relationship mar- keting systems. These trends expand the career opportunities for William S. Holland, president, RedGiant Analytics Inc. the full range of geotechnology skills—from those who build data, applications and systems to those who use the systems. Although it's not obvious to many, core analytical geographic literacy is becoming essential to virtually all forms of public and private business activities that require decision making. This includes those who manage operations, business analysts and strategists, and leadership. But, much like the technol- ogy itself, geographic competency is only part of the bundle of skills for many professional careers. Anup Jindal: GIS has moved from being a technology function within a business to an enabler for achieving business objectives. For every new industry that begins to see geospatial technology as an investment, there will be addi- tional employment opportunities for individuals that can operate it. Similarly, career opportunities therefore will grow for individuals who supplement their core GIS skills with domain and business knowledge. Even the converse holds true. For example, people quali- fied in electrical engineering with additional training in GIS will have increased career opportunities within the devel- oping countries where power reforms are expected. Roy Kolstad: Despite the poor job market, I believe the job outlook for individuals interested in geo- spatial technology is quite bright. There are a number of tradi- tional jobs in the geotechnology industry, such as surveying, map- ping, cartography and photogram- metry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2010- 2011, we will see an almost 20 percent increase in the number of jobs across these job categories in the decade from 2008 to 2018. In the geotechnology industry, there are many fields Roy Kolstad, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Americas, NAVTEQ in which training in geospatial technology often means the difference between being a job applicant and an employee. For instance, environmental-science (pro- jected growth from 2008 to 2018: 12 percent) and geosciences majors will be most prepared to enter the job market with a GIS background. The list of related fields where GIS knowledge is utilized runs the gamut from urban planning to business, from social and political science to market research, from emergency planning and response to homeland security. Anup Jindal, chief operating officer, RMSI Ron Lake: Professionals with broad and specialist under- standing of measurement will continue to find employment, provided that they remain aware and abreast of significant tech- nological changes from crowd- sourcing to new measurement technologies. Consultants that are aware of these changes can anticipate employment helping governments and corporations to decide what they should measure and how best to measure it. Traditional GIS applications will continue, but I Ron Lake, CEO, Galdos Systems Inc. within GIS have also evolved from the traditional GIS analyst and technicians to indi- viduals with hybrid competencies. Career opportunities expect these to be impacted by broader information requirements, rather than the specialized needs of "GIS professionals." Map making won't go away, but the need for large armies of specialist map makers will continue to decline across the globe. Those that DECEMBER 2O11 / WWW . GEOPLA CE . C O M 17