|
|
| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
| |
| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | Re: GISList: ArcView/ArcInfo competency test |
| Date: |
08/06/2002 01:12:37 PM |
| From: |
Gwen |
|
|
I've recently gone through several interviews (GIS
Tech/Analyst), so I can give my opinion as an
applicant...all of my interviews have been with
government agencies (county and federal), and all but
one were over the phone.
Employers mostly seem interested in whether or not you
know the theory and general concepts or tasks that can
be done with a GIS. If you know these things, and
your latest experience is recent (so you know the
newest software), then they trust you will quickly
learn or re-learn the commands and procedures with
specific software to perform the specific task that
they have in mind. Since a GIS can accomplish a task
in several different ways (especially true with
ArcInfo), this makes sense to me--to hire somebody who
knows theory/general concepts (and has some
experience)and is a quick learner. That way the
employer knows that you can learn to do any project
they throw at you without alot of supervision.
As for specific questions, most employers are still
using a set of 9-10 general questions, without any
tests. They want to know that you know what a GIS is,
and what it can do. The most specific question I was
asked was to tell them (specifically, command by
command) how I would identify areas most sensitive to
erosion given certain coverages.
And for my final opinion about an actual sit-down test
using the software: unless the companies/agencies are
going to start paying for applicants to fly out for
the interviews (as opposed to phone interviews), a
test that requires the applicant to be on location
will either narrow the list of applicants to those who
can afford it (as opposed to those who are skilled) or
make the process unfair to those who use the phone
interview option.
-gwen
--- "Glenn Letham (GeoCommunity)" <editor@geocomm.com>
wrote:
> This is a very interesting subject and something I
> have often thought of.
>
> Has anyone actually had to perform a hands-on test
> of their skills to get a
> job. I'm sure most of us have been aked if we have
> certain skills and then
> have backed up our response by producing a
> certificate from a course etc...
> but what about actually proving that the knowledge
> exists.
>
> For example, years ago I was a user of SPANS, PAMAP,
> and PCIs geoimaging
> products. For me to come in to a job interview and
> boast that I have skills
> with these products would likely be considered
> stretching the truth. sure I
> used them a number of years ago, however, if I was
> to site down at a
> terminal and have to go through a test with them I
> would likely turn red in
> the face!
>
> Has anyone had to go through any tests or have any
> of you managers tested a
> potential employee?
> I'd be interested in hearing from some of you.
>
> Taking this one step further, what questions or
> tests would you want to see
> people perform?
> Obviously it depends on the position at hand (ie.
> GIs tech, analyst,
> programmer, etc...)
>
> Cheers
> Glenn
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Glenn Letham, Managing Editor
> ThinkBurst Media, Inc
> ph: 850-897-6778
> fx: 850-897-1001
>
> The GeoCommunity
> http://www.GeoComm.com
> &
> The WirelessDeveloperNetwork
> http://www.WirelessDevNet.com
>
> The web's largest GIS News Wire!
> email: editor@geocomm.com
> Subject=subscribe daily newsfeed
>
> Send your news enquiries and submissions to
> pr@geocomm.com
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Craig von Hagen"
> <craig.vonhagen@africover.org>
> To: "GIS List (Geocomm)" <gislist@geocomm.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 5:56 AM
> Subject: GISList: ArcView/ArcInfo competency test
>
>
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > Has any body prepared a competency test for
> ArcView and ArcInfo? Mainly
> just
> > to test the basic knowledge of people before
> hiring them. I multiple
> choice
> > test would be ideal. I would like to know if there
> is anything existing or
> > if I'll have to set up my own.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Craig
> >
> > Craig von Hagen
> > FAO Africover - East Africa
> > PO Box 30470
> > 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
> >
> > Tel: +254-(0)2-4440985 or 4443331
> > or 4443715 or 4441106
> > Fax: +254-(0)2-4441993
> >
> > web site: www.africover.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe, write to
> gislist-unsubscribe@geocomm.com
> >
>
________________________________________________________________________
> > Setup a GeoCommunity Account and have access to
> FAST DataDownloads
|
|
Sponsored by:
For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!
|
