Friday, 17 July 2015

Career Advice


The geospatial industry operates in a wide market and it can be daunting to decide in exactly what industry sector you would like to pursue a geospatial career.  This decision can even be more overwhelming if you are just qualified or have changed careers and are starting your search for employment within the GIS industry.
 
In order to provide sound career advice, we have listed here below quick links from our earlier blogs which broadly cover the more commonly-asked questions.
 
Free online GIS Courses - Ideal for those wanting to up-skill themselves or just exploring their options.  Although we certainly do recommend that those serious about their profession try to obtain a formal qualification, it is possible to teach yourself GIS for free to kickstart your training.

Once you've got that qualification behind you and you are now ready to enter the job market, there are some really important points to consider before you apply for that desired position.  Remember that you want to sell yourself to a potential employer, and a well-written cv can do that for you, so take the time to draft up a good cv.  We just cannot stress how important it is to spend time on your cv and here we've written numerous blogs on this.  Free-cv-templates is a good starting point.  Don't forget the importance of a cover letter - please pay special attention to spelling and grammar.  Ask a family member for honest feedback - this is not the time to be offended.

Our blog Tips and Advice contains a wealth of valuable links - a must read for all newcomers into the job market.

And then when you've spent hours drafting your cv, you only have 8.8 seconds to impress a prospective employer.  It's not fair we know, but preparation is the key here, so go back and relook that cv! 

Before you think you're all set to go have a look at these blogs :
The next big step, of course is the interview, and this is where you will finally be given the opportunity to sell yourself face-to-face.  Randeep Hooda once said "knowledge is power.  You can't begin a career, or for that matter even a relationship, unless you know everything there is to know about it" - therefore be prepared and do your homework.  If you are new to the job market enlist the help of your family - let them ask you potential GIS interview questions.

It's unrealistic to expect to land your dream job at your first interview - use it as a learning curve to see how to improve your interview skills see how you can improve your geospatial employment prospects

During your job search you may come across that ideal job in another town, but please think very carefully before submitting your application.  Talk about it with your loved ones, we've had numerous situations where candidates have been given a firm offer of employment for them to suddenly back-track, all because they didn't think it through.

And lastly, even looking for an internship can be daunting if you don't know where and how to find internships

If we haven't covered your query here, please do make contact with us - we'd love to be of assistance.

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

What to consider when relocating for a job

 

 Whilst your skills and experience certainly lend themselves to certain types of jobs, they aren’t the only things you should consider when applying for a new position, particularly when looking to relocate.  Whilst you may be thrilled to get that job in a new city, don't underestimate the difficulties involved.  From financial strain to fitting in with your new co-workers, you may experience a lot more stress than you anticipated.

So, before responding “Yes” to our question “Are you willing to relocate?” please seriously consider the following:
 
  • Do your research with regards to salary expectations of the new area you want to relocate to, especially if you are moving from a small town/area to one of the larger cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria.  Determine the job you want to have in the new town. This may or may not be the same as your current job - when determining your job, assess your current skills and qualifications to determine what type of jobs you are good at.  Decide which city you want to work in - do research on the city, including the cost of living and salary statistics. Salary statistics reveal how much you can expect to be paid for specific job position, based on geographic location.  

  • Note that you cannot expect that your new employer can cover your increase in living expenses if the salary is not market related in the area or for your skills - think this through before you apply/go for an interview since you do not want to waste the employers time if your salary increase is not viable, remember, most agents and organisations will ask for your current salary and make a offer on this.

  • Other things to consider before deciding on a city include the climate, culture, public transport and school systems, if you have children.  Before deciding to move to a city you are unfamiliar with, plan a scouting trip.  This gives you a firsthand look at what the city is like.


  • Perhaps the most obvious facet of relocating is the expense involved.  Even if your new company provides you with a relocation allowance, the costs can really add up. Don't underestimate the expenses of the removal truck, deposits or down payments on a new home, fuel, temporary accommodation, food, etc. If you don't plan for these setbacks, the stress may interfere with your ability to begin your new job successfully.


  • Keep in mind that rent and travel expenses will be more in larger cities than smaller cities and towns  - Ask yourself, will your new salary expectations cover living expenses in new area? Can you cover your own travel and relocation cost if the company does not cover this?


 
A move can be highly stressful. You won't know how to get around your first few days and may get lost on your first trip to the store. You may feel lonely because you left friends and family behind.... or your church. Similarly, your wife and kids may have also left friends behind, and your kids must now acclimate themselves to their new school. Chaos is likely to ensue for several weeks or months as you unpack, wait for your house to sell, decide on decorations for your new living quarters and learn your way around the city.




Once however, you have carefully considered all the parameters, accepting a new job in a new city/town can be wonderfully exciting and full of opportunities! 
Read 10 Reasons Why You Should Move to Another City in Your 20’s

Monday, 6 July 2015

Bursary Opportunity at the South African National Space Agency

SANSA leads the Space Science Programme and is a key player in the South African National Antarctic Programme with several on-going space science and space weather related projects in Antarctica, as well as Marion and Gough Island.  The Space Science Directorate of SANSA is host to the only Space Weather Centre in Africa providing early warnings and forecasts on space weather activity, playing an important role in protecting satellite technology, communication and navigation systems.
 
 

Requirements
  • Student should have obtained an aggregate of 65% from previous degree
  • Be a South African citizen (preference will be given to previously disadvantaged individuals)
  • Meet the minimum entry level requirement for acceptance to a South African University at the level for which the bursary is required.
  • Intends to register between March and September 2016
  • Have a proposal and supervisor already identified
  • Please download Testimonial template from Bursaries menu  
  • Request education official to complete testimonial document.
  • Have a valid e-mail address so that SANSA can communicate with you during the application process.
  • Submit all the necessary supporting documents as part of the online application process. If you are unable to do so, you will not be able to submit your online application.
Closing Date for Applicants: 31 August 2015

Please visit SANASA Bursaries for all the details

Thursday, 2 July 2015

GISSA Western Cape Members Event








  • Date: Friday 3 July 2015 PLATO CPD Accredited Event - No: GISSA278
  • Venue: Edgemead Hall, Edgemead Drive, Edgemead, Cape Town (Map - https://goo.gl/maps/VId6y)
  • RSVP: Please RSVP by close of business Tuesday 30 June 2015 (Thabisile Rambau - westerncape@gissa.org.za)
  • Door Fee: R200 per person *ONLY Applicable if you are not a GISSA paid up member for 2015

Time
Name
Topic
Organisation
Slot
09h00
Registration & Coffee
09h30
Chlodwik Rossouw
Welcome
GISSA Western Cape
10 mins
09h40
Alex Fortescue
New Remote Sensing Technologies and Applications
Digital Globe
30 mins
10h10
FC Basson
Elsenburg.com Online Tools
Elsenburg
30 mins
10h40
Roger Daniels
A spatial multiple site approach for poverty eradication planning
Western Cape Government
30 mins
11h10
Coffee Break
11h40
Philip Frost
Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS)
CSIR
30 mins
12h10
Salih Ali Mohamed
GIS Time Series Mapping of the Ciskei Homeland
CPUT
20 mins
12h30
Chlodwik Rossouw
Committee Feedback (Students, Committee, Council, etc)
GISSA Western Cape
30 mins
13h00
Lunch & Networking