Since there is so much involved with these GIS clearinghouse jobs, you will need a very strong educational background before you are even considered for a position. Most people who are involved in this career begin by receiving their bachelor's degree in a related field like computer science. It is also possible to do this through a degree in geography, as long as the school offers some technical components that can be used in GIS. Having some engineering courses in your educational background could also be an asset, although it might be best to speak directly with someone who is already in this industry to find out the exact requirements.
Before you can begin speaking to GIS clearinghouse employers, you must first apply for your official certification. Although this is not essential for entry level employment, it will definitely help you to find work and is needed for high paying jobs. You must have your degree in order to apply for this certification and you should have some experience with collecting data as well. Most of the entry level positions that you will apply for will involve data collection, so working part time while in school will help you to get the experience that you need.
Once you have all of your credentials, you can begin applying for GIS clearinghouse jobs in your area. The first thing that you will want to do in this situation is make sure that you have a resume that shows all of the credentials that you have picked up. Since this is a very competitive career choice, taking the time to carefully go over your resume and make sure that everything is included is of the utmost importance. You should also include a cover letter with your resume, as this will allow you to speak directly with your potential employer, as you can explain some things about yourself that are not easily included on a resume.
Before you begin applying in the GIS clearinghouse industry, make sure that you search online for these jobs, as there are many great resources to be found. Since this industry is so advanced technologically, it makes sense that these companies would do their hiring online because that is where they will find likeminded people. There are websites that are specially devoted to this industry and locating these websites will give you a much more accurate selection of positions.
Searching online for GIS clearinghouse jobs will also give you the chance to speak with a potential employer very quickly, which will give you a much better idea of what to expect. When you are first starting out, you might not know what these companies are looking for and it can be somewhat confusing. Over time, you will gain the job searching experience that you will need to be successful by interacting with these people and figuring out exactly what they are looking for in an employee. Speaking with these people online will allow for you to receive feedback rather quickly, which will help you to find a job, even if that company does not hire you.
GIS clearinghouse is not one of the easiest places to find employment, but it is a definite career opportunity that you will likely stick with for some time to come. Those who end up in these positions will have a very challenging career ahead of them, but they will learn many tricks along the way that will make this much easier. Begin interacting with those who do the hiring for these GIS clearinghouse jobs as soon as possible and do not be afraid to ask them to keep you in mind for future positions if you are unsuccessful with the first one. Making contacts in this industry is very important and the best way to initiate these contacts immediately is to apply online.
