Successfully transitioning from school to the workforce is not necessarily taught in a college classroom; it’s often learned from trial and error. Many students and emerging GIS professionals struggle with these questions:
- How do I stand out from the crowd and market my skills and abilities?
- Where is the best place to network and meet other industry professionals?
- How do I get connected with a GIS community?
These are all valid and important questions to address when beginning your GIS career. It’s essential to put in the effort to make yourself marketable among a sea of candidates. Networking is also key so that you have a professional support system when navigating a career in GIS.
Based on my own professional experience and hundreds of conversations I’ve had with students and emerging GIS professionals, here are five effective ways to present yourself as a GIS professional.
Strategy #1: Attend In-Person Events
Go where the people are. Attend in-person events such as seminars, trade shows, conferences, and meetups.
Most industries will have a major event or conference that happens annually, so do your own research and find one that relates to your interests. For example, geography enthusiasts can attend the Esri User Conference or the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting. People studying in a geoscience field may want to attend GSA Connects.
At these in-person events, you can:
- Learn about industry trends and career growth opportunities
- Practice your networking skills and gain confidence
- Grow your network of professional contacts and build a support system
- Improve your technical skills by attending workshops and sessions
- Learn about the partners and vendors advancing technology in that industry
To learn more about in-person events, here are several ideas: Visit the Esri Events web page, join an Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) regional chapter to get notified about local meetups, or check your university’s events forum.
Pro tip: Apply to be a student assistant at an Esri conference to gain work experience while benefiting from attending the full conference. Or attend events that offer discounted rates or no-cost passes for students.
Strategy #2: Be Visible on LinkedIn
Being visible on LinkedIn matters. Why? Because recruiters and potential employers scout candidates on LinkedIn. Also, people you meet at events, conferences, and workplaces may want to connect and stay in contact with you through LinkedIn. It’s a space where you can build your professional profile, highlight your achievements, document milestones, and maintain connections.
Start building your LinkedIn presence by creating a post about any of the following topics:
- Attending a professional event such as a conference, seminar, or meetup
- Completing a training or getting a certificate of completion
- Joining a network or association
- Reaching a milestone in your academic or career journey (i.e., graduation, an internship, a promotion, recognition, or a win in a competition)
Pro tip: Read this blog post for more details on the benefits of LinkedIn for GIS professionals. And if you’ve recently attended an event, post a recap that shows that you valued the experience and evolved as a professional from it.
Strategy #3: Publish Content
Yes, you can publish content, and you don’t need to be a subject matter expert to do it.
Are you a student? Write about your GIS projects, a new technology you’re learning, your academic journey, or the experience of attending your first GIS-related event.
Are you a GIS professional? You can share your own GIS journey and how you became a GIS professional, as well as provide advice to others.
Publish content on topics you are passionate about. It will likely lead to unexpected opportunities while also inspiring others. There are plenty of platforms to publish content on such as LinkedIn, blog forums on Esri Community, and ArcGIS StoryMaps.
Here are some benefits of publishing content:
- You stand out from your peers.
- You become an active participant in the GIS community.
- It shows that you care about sharing knowledge and demonstrates thought leadership.
- You inspire others and build connections.
- It helps strengthen your résumé and cover letter.
Pro tip: Consider becoming a YPN Content Ambassador, which requires publishing a blog post to the YPN blog on Esri Community. Upon completion, you’ll receive a badge and certificate.
Strategy #4: Create a GIS Portfolio
If you are looking to pursue a career in GIS, having a GIS portfolio is nonnegotiable.
While a résumé tells people what you say you can do, a GIS portfolio shows them what you’ve done. Think of it as the difference between listing “ArcGIS proficiency” and showing it with maps, analyses, and projects you’ve done.
Consider adding these items to your GIS portfolio:
- Maps: Polished maps that showcase your cartography and spatial analysis skills
- Project summaries: Brief descriptions of the problem, your approach, and the results or impact
- Spatial analysis examples: Work that demonstrates how you interpret and use geospatial data
- Code and automation (if applicable): Scripts or workflows that highlight technical and analytical depth
A strong portfolio demonstrates the skills you list on your résumé while visually telling the story of your GIS journey and the value you can bring to a team.
Find more information about a GIS portfolio in this article. Also, access the recorded webinar hosted by Esri YPN to get additional tips.
Pro tip: Use ArcGIS StoryMaps to create your GIS portfolio.
Strategy #5: Network Often
It all comes back to networking. This is a skill you build over time, and it is an essential one for GIS professionals.
Network as much as possible, both online and in person. Engage with LinkedIn posts and comment in forums like Esri Community. Attend conferences to network in person, and go to the social events and receptions that are designed to help participants meet. Make it a goal to attend at least one networking event a year.
Networking matters so much because it helps you:
- Build a professional support system to tap into when you need assistance or input
- Develop skills like communication, active listening, leadership, and confidence
- Learn about internships or jobs
- Build community and camaraderie outside your workplace
These interactions are key to learning about new opportunities, from interesting projects and job openings to speaking engagements.
Discover more tips to enhance your networking abilities in this blog post.
Pro tip: Submit a paper to a conference you are interested in attending. If your paper is accepted, you’ll have the chance to both attend and present. This will further justify your attendance, and you’ll grow even more from contributing to the overall success of the conference.
Presenting yourself as a GIS professional is an ever-evolving journey. By making yourself visible and active in the GIS community and developing intentional connections, you will grow into a well-rounded professional.
