The Future Looks Bright for Spatial Thinkers

by LeslieR on October 4, 2011

Esri president Jack Dangermond shares his thoughts on careers in geospatial technology in the future.


” …the career opportunities here are not just for the people who sit in front of keyboards and ‘do GIS’. It’s much bigger than that. I think that the real growth opportunity is in the area of spatial thinking. As people in all types of positions become more familiar with the value of geography, they begin to ask more intelligent questions about the world, and they begin to make more informed decisions. The coming opportunities for spatial thinkers will be even greater than those we are seeing for geospatial technology professionals.”


Read the blog post.

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Opening Career Opportunities through Social Networking

by LeslieR on September 23, 2011

By Guest Blogger Timothy, Esri Support Services, Charlotte

Social networking is all over the news. Unfortunately there is more negative press than positive, as the headlines usually relate to the demise of some celebrity or political leader because of their improper use of social networks. Beneath the haze of this garbage there are some great uses for social networks, and one of them is the development of career opportunities.

I am like a lot of people who stumbled into the GIS industry after heading down a different path. I came from a background in finance where I was working in the business office of a small college. It was not until I started working for a local school system in the planning department that I learned about GIS. I was hooked so much that I chose to go back to school and get a degree in geospatial technology.

During those college days, I started blogging about ArcGIS tips and tricks along with other GIS education resources. I created a Twitter account to tweet out my new blog posts and engage in discussions with others in the GIS industry. Twitter really helped expand my network across the globe.

Through Twitter I met some guys who I joined up with to build a GIS forum website, all without meeting in person. Discussions on the forum led to more contacts within my network. I found those individuals on Twitter and LinkedIn so that I could stay further connected. I also began discussions with Esri employees in California, URISA leaders in Missouri, and geography instructors in West Virginia to name a few. These cross-country connections would have never happened through local in-person networking. It was the power of social media that provided these opportunities.

Although in-person networking can only expand to those you actually meet, there is a great opportunity to benefit from those contacts. For these individuals, I took advantage of LinkedIn and Twitter’s capabilities by adding many GIS professionals that I met at local user group meetings, GIS Day events, and regional GIS events to my social networks. This allowed my contact with them to expand beyond the initial meeting and enabled me to have an online presence with each person.

All of these things helped contribute to the position that I now hold with Esri. Although I had submitted resumes and various applications through job boards and career sites, I actually found out about the opening through Twitter. The @EsriCareers Twitter account posted an open position that I had interest in, so I replied back asking a few questions. This developed into further discussion by e-mail with an HR member that led to me sending my resume along with areas of interest. I was able to reach out to a couple of social media contacts with Esri and an Esri business partner for recommendations and references. It was not long after completing the interview process that I was offered a position in Support Services.

I have now been with Esri a little over a year, and I currently work as a raster support analyst. The majority of my job duties include supporting rasters, ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, and ArcGIS 3D Analyst. From time to time I also get the opportunity to write blogs, participate in the community forums, and present to local education communities. I love what I do because I have a passion for sharing geospatial technology with others.

Here are a few ways to jump start your professional networking with Esri:

 

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Visit Esri at TechExpo Hiring Event

by LeslieR on September 15, 2011

Are you a seasoned professional with a security clearance looking for a new career opportunity? Visit Esri at the TechExpo career fair next Tuesday, September 20 at the Tysons Corner Ritz Carlton in McLean, Virginia. Here are some of the positions for which we’ll be seeking candidates:



  • Defense Applications Developers

  • Experienced GIS Analysts

  • GIS Programmers

  • Database Developers

  • Consultants/Project Managers

  • Federal/Defense/Intelligence Account Managers

  • Geospatial Analysts

  • Solution Engineers

Opportunities are available in our federal office in Vienna, Virginia, and our headquarters in Redlands, California. Can’t attend but want to learn more about opportunities at Esri? Visit www.esri.com/careers.


To schedule an interview in advance, e-mail giscareers@esri.com with your availability.


 

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Walk This Way… In Comfort!

by LeslieR on September 1, 2011

By Guest Blogger Terri, Charlotte Regional Office


This year I was involved in a new role at the Esri User Conference: helping with the UC Student Assistantship program. There were 60 terrific students selected to come to the User Conference to make sure it is a wonderful experience for all our customers. The students assist with tasks from registration, monitoring technical workshops, working special events, to banner stand set up in all locations across the huge conference.


The miles at UC certainly add up in this role. By noon each day my iPhone application was telling me I was hitting the 8 to 9 mile mark already.


Hints for happy feet are:



  • be prepared (10 pairs of shoes)

  • pack appropriately (one carry-on for shoes)

  • change shoes mid-day (if you forget, it’s not good)

  • comfort is crucial (the Crocs won)

  • band-aids are located at the first-aid station outside of Hall E

 


Editor’s note: The UC Student Assistantship program is a great way for students to be fully engrossed in everything geospatial for a full week. In exchange for helping Esri staff with conference logistics, students have the opportunity to attend technical sessions and special events as well as network with GIS professionals from around the world. UC student assistants come from schools across the US, so it’s also a great opportunity to meet others who share their passion for GIS and geography.

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An Intern’s Perspective: A Total Learning Experience

by LeslieR on August 31, 2011

By guest blogger Jenifer, Support Services

Interning at Esri has been gratifying, challenging, and a total learning experience. The first two weeks were intensive and a lot of coffee was required (good thing coffee is free!). For someone like me with no GIS background and a limited idea regarding Esri products, my crash course was like a foreign language. After receiving high doses of GIS and Esri product wisdom, I was soon practicing everything I learned in the classes. Doing the exercises helped me grasp the basic concepts of Esri technology.

During my internship in the Technical Support Business Unit, employees were very nice and willing to share their knowledge. They would stop what they were doing to answer any questions or concerns. I was involved in several projects, but assisting in creating a training outline for new hires and interns for the Business Unit was significant. My fellow intern and I came up with a training proposal that is being developed and will continue evolving. Not only did we start the training outline, but we also met with all program managers and technical account leads to make the outline more robust with information. After a series of reviews by the program managers, we had the green light to put it into a PowerPoint presentation.


I was also involved in other projects that required me to utilize my language skills. I had to translate documents to Spanish, which was very complicated since not all technical words can be translated into a foreign language.

Attending the Esri User Conference in San Diego was one of the highlights of my internship. We spent the whole day meeting new people and learning about new technologies. Most importantly, we were provided the opportunity to listen to Jack (Dangermond) speak at the plenary. Jack’s speech was inspirational and full of passion, encapsulating what he has done over the past four decades.

Being part of Esri as an intern has helped me grow professionally and personally. As a professional I have improved my networking skills and learned about GIS and Esri products, customer service, and account management. As an individual, I have built friendships with people from different cultures and backgrounds I would have never met if I wasn’t part of Esri.

I came to this internship with an open mind and a willingness to learn. What I walk away with is not only awareness of a totally new industry (GIS), but most importantly how Esri technology is making a difference in our everyday lives.

Editor’s note: Jenifer submitted a photo of the pond behind one of our buildings to accompany her blog post, rather than one of herself. “It was my favorite spot on the whole campus,” she said.

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An Intern’s Perspective: I Knew It’s Where I Belonged

by LeslieR on August 17, 2011

By Guest Blogger Chris, Imagery Product Marketing Intern

Some of my friends don’t understand why spending the summer in Redlands, California is as exciting as I make it out to be. For people unfamiliar with the GIS field, Redlands is somewhere between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, but for me and the rest of the folks at Esri, it represents the center of the universe.

Going abroad for school was both a challenging and exciting experience. I worried, however, about convincing American companies unfamiliar with schools in the UK of their merit. Toward the end of my master’s degree at University College London, [Esri president] Jack Dangermond came to speak and present an award. Immediately, I recognized his passion for geography and the global awareness at the foundation of Esri. I knew it’s where I belonged. As the first school in the UK to receive Esri development center status, I also knew UCL was on their radar.

For me, Esri feels like a collaborative and educational university campus. While it’s the largest company I’ve ever worked for, it feels intimate with the support of my department and team. At the same time, I meet new people in meetings, over e-mail, and on phone calls every day. We all carry a passion for advancing this field. This makes reaching out to others easy—they immediately want to help you realize what you came here for. Several weeks into my internship, I’ve found my expectations exceeded.

One thing I especially like in my position is the project development cycle. While the general goal is defined to provide structure, my manager encourages me to work independently and then present results. They really support me to work on my own. I present weekly to product managers, marketing managers, and web operations staff. Cross-departmental interactions provide an iterative framework for project improvement.

Another highlight over this summer was attending the international user conference in San Diego. Meeting users and discussing the projects they work on made my work here even more rewarding. I helped at one of the islands in the Esri Showcase to gain further insight on the tools users found most important and I spread the word on what they can expect to come in future product releases.

Even Redlands itself has impressed me. I’m a big cycler, and I wasn’t sure what to expect in that area. With others at Esri, I ride several days a week up in the hills and again on the weekends. It’s been an easy way to connect with others in the area and learn the roads.

While I still have a few weeks left in my internship, I already feel like I’ve had a lasting experience. I would encourage anyone excited about the work being done in this field to apply for next year’s program.
 

Editor’s note: That’s Chris shaking Jack’s hand in the photo at the recent intern lunch. Has Chris’s story inspired you to apply for the 2012 program? Information will be available soon on the careers website at www.esri.com/students.

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Nine Esri Employees Awarded Scholarships

by LeslieR on August 15, 2011

Esri and the University of Redlands are proud to announce the induction of nine new scholarship recipients to the Esri Fellows Program. Established in 1999, this program provides selected Esri employees with full tuition scholarships to attend evening and weekend courses at the University of Redlands towards completion of either an undergraduate or graduate level degree.


This year’s recipients are from Software Product Development, Technical Support, Professional Services, Customer Service, Marketing, and Human Resources. One is completing a bachelor’s degree and the others will be obtaining master’s degrees.


“While working in Customer Service, I have learned a great deal about Esri’s business operations and as a result I was given a career that I truly enjoy. Completing a bachelor’s degree in business will give me the knowledge and tools I need to advance my career at Esri,” says Beth, one of this year’s recipients. “Being awarded this fellowship allows me to complete my goal faster and puts me on a clear career path that will keep me focused and driven to do my best.”


Some employees who didn’t major in GIS for their undergraduate degree use the scholarship to further their knowledge of GIS. Shreyas, a software developer, is an example. “I feel privileged to be a recipient of the Esri fellowship to pursue a master’s in GIS. Coming from a computer science background, this will fill in some of the gaps in my understanding of GIS and allow me to look at the software we build from an end user’s perspective. This will make me a more effective engineer, aligning user requirements and software development.”


Michael, an employee in Professional Services, sees the scholarship as a win not only for himself, but for Esri and its customers as well. “I am honored to be an Esri Fellow and look forward to further expanding the breadth of my background through an MBA program,” he says. “As technology evolves and becomes more transparent through innovations such as the cloud, the importance of understanding key business needs to create optimal solutions is critical. It’s exciting as I have the opportunity of advancing my career, and at the same time providing even stronger value to our customers and Esri.”


Esri strongly supports employees’ ongoing personal development including formal education. In addition to the scholarships, it offers tuition reimbursement, participation in Esri Training and Education course offerings, and off-site training classes designed to improve technical, sales, interpersonal, and management skills.


Congratulations to this year’s Esri Fellows.


 

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My First Time at the Esri User Conference

by LeslieR on August 15, 2011

By Guest Blogger Kirsten, Support Services


I’ll admit it, I wasn’t very excited to be headed out on a four-day convention adventure whilst seven months pregnant. However, despite my penguin waddle, the User Conference (UC) was a lot of fun. Not only fun, but it also proved to be a great way to learn more about Esri, the products we offer, and what’s ahead. Since I’ve been with the company only a few months, I found extreme value in everything the UC had to offer.


Monday’s plenary events were full of interesting information. I especially enjoyed learning how others are using Esri software and GIS in general to do amazing things. An application that would automatically report potholes from a driver’s smartphone without the driver needing to call or text the information is incredible, as is using GIS to help Rwandan farmers branch out into the competitive coffee market. Although I wish I could have gotten a better seat for the events, I was happy the sound quality was high and I could see and hear what was happening, even in a room with thousands of people.


The rest of the week was a whirlwind, filled with meeting a lot of interesting, creative, and driven individuals. Whether I was staffing the Support Services booth or walking around the exhibit hall, I was surrounded by hundreds of folks with valuable information. Even those with questions were providing our team the feedback we need to help ensure that our websites, applications, and services remain the best they can be in the future. I was able to inform visitors to our booth of some of the exciting things we currently offer, gauge how users have experienced these services in the past, and find out ways to make them even better.


I talked to booth visitors about the ArcGIS Ideas site, which allows users to submit and vote on ideas for our software, websites, applications, training services, and more. I told people who were already a part of this active online community about our other communities: the GIS Wiki, a place for anyone with GIS knowledge to share and learn more; our forums, a place to communicate with others working with the same software and issues; and our Support Services blog, a place for users to learn about Esri Support news, updates, patches and service packs, and technical support on a variety of common issues written by analysts.


Talking with people all day, every day, gave me the opportunity to not only get feedback, but also better my own knowledge and skills talking about our products and services. I was really able to get past any insecurities and shyness I had and just have fun.


Although I was too tired at the end of the day to enjoy any of the parties or special events in the evenings, I am already looking forward to next year when I’ll be able to walk freely with non-swollen feet and really experience all of what the UC has available.


 

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A Day of Learning and Collaboration for Esri Interns

by LeslieR on August 12, 2011

Every summer, Esri hosts an event on campus for all the interns to learn more about the GIS software development life cycle and get a better understanding of the collaboration between departments. Directors from throughout the company provide an overview of their division and talk about the skills needed to work on their team and how they support the overall operations of the company. After the presentations, Esri president Jack Dangermond joins the group for lunch. He goes around to each table to meet the interns individually and learn about their career goals.


The event is one of several opportunities for interns to interact with peers whose paths might not otherwise cross. “Throughout the summer, meeting the other interns and arranging social events have made the office seem more welcoming,” said Logan, an intern in product development who holds a bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Redlands. He added, “Meeting the man who started it all at this lunch made me feel like I really belonged.”


For some interns, the highlight of the day is learning more about Esri. Katie, who is also interning in product development, said, “The intern lunch was an excellent opportunity to learn about the vision and mission of Esri from people who are actively involved in making it a unique and competent organization. The directors’ presentations showcased the extensive nature of Esri’s endeavors and highlighted opportunities and resources outside my immediate department.” Katie obtained her master’s in GIS from the University of Denver.


Lucas is applying his bachelor’s in geography from Cal Poly Pomona to his internship in Support Services. He enjoyed learning about how Esri technology and GIS continue to evolve. “The intern luncheon was a great opportunity to meet some of Esri’s management and to see how each one of their departments contributes in helping Esri, as well as their customers, expand the knowledge and capabilities of GIS.”


Learn more about the Esri Summer Internship Program. Details will be posted this fall about applying for the 2012 program. Follow us on Twitter (@EsriCareers) or join our Facebook page (Esri Student Connection) to get updates on summer programs and other news.


 

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