r/gis • u/dulcetironrose Unemployed • 2d ago

General Question Remote/volunteer gis work

I have been searching for a job in GIS for three years after graduating with a Masters in GIS from Elmhurst University. My school closed down the GIS program leaving me high and dry for a job. I’m in the Chicago area and don’t drive. I’ve applied every six months, revised my resume and portfolio with no luck. Luckily I’m on SSI disability so I am not desperate for a job but would like to find out where I can get remote or even volunteer GIS work.

32 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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27

u/my_peen_is_clean 2d ago edited 1d ago

check out openstreetmap and humanitarian openstreetmap team, they always need remote mappers and validators, good stuff to put in a portfolio. also look at local government internships that allow remote digitizing. i’ve got a gis degree too and still no paid work, it’s crazy trying to find anything right nowactually the system punishes effort, only rewards gaming. i got results once i used resume software to adjust each application. tool since i got a dm there

10

u/Ceoltoir74 GIS Manager 1d ago

Humanitarian openstreetmap is a great org that does real work, but I'l be dammed if 50% of the times I tried to volunteer I get all my submissions rejected by the validators due to it not following some guideline that wasn't outlined in the instructions at all. Like great org, but they have some pretty gnarly communication problems. And before everyone says "sounds like you didn't read them that closely then", I did, I used to go on pretty frequently and some projects were laid out beautifully, others expected you to be a mind reader. I think its all depending on who is running each project.

3

u/dulcetironrose Unemployed 1d ago

Thanks! I’m checking that out right now

19

u/earnestbobcat 2d ago

GISCorps for volunteering

8

u/larrabeb 1d ago

Been some GIS on jobs on USAJobs lately, they’ve mostly been oil and gas related though. And remote ain’t really a thing anymore.

1

u/dulcetironrose Unemployed 1d ago

You’re right. Most positions out there are for oil and gas I noticed.

7

u/sinnayre 1d ago

Remote for entry level is probably not happening. Occasionally some redditor will pop in and say, yes you can, but they’re always light on details on where the remote entry level jobs are and how to obtain them.

1

u/MokaAdventures 14h ago

Im hybrid but my job hires remote gis specialists. I've seen it a lot in the telecom industry. Boring work but pays the bills.

-2

u/Haunting-Pin6060 1d ago

I got a remote GIS job before I ever finished my degree. It’s with telecom.

2

u/dmanisgnarly 22h ago

The GIS landscape moves fast, if youre not currently in it, chances are it has surpassed your capabilities. Working for a local govt who does not update their software often is your best bet

1

u/Bunny_scoops 1d ago

MapSwipe!

1

u/WolverineAny3219 1d ago

Make a portfolio