Geographic Information Systems Technologists & Technicians

Assist scientists or related professionals in building, maintaining, modifying, or using geographic information systems (GIS) databases. May also perform some custom application development or provide user support.

On the job, you would:

Produce data layers, maps, tables, or reports, using spatial analysis procedures or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, equipment, or systems.
Design or prepare graphic representations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, using GIS hardware or software applications.
Maintain or modify existing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		92%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		89%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		84%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		83%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		81%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		79%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		79%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		77%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		77%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		75%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		71%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		62%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		60%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		60%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		55%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		89%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
		70%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		61%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		72%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		72%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		63%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		58%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		56%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		74%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		72%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		70%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		69%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		69%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		67%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		66%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		66%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		63%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		63%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		63%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		61%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		60%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		58%	Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
		56%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
		53%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		53%	Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		62%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		56%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		55%	Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
		55%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		54%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		53%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		53%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		53%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.

Prepare analytical reports.

Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.

Create databases to store electronic data.

Update computer database information.

Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.

Design software applications.

Write computer programming code.

Update computer database information.

Evaluate data quality.

Develop scientific or mathematical models.

Create databases to store electronic data.

Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.

Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.

Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.

Prepare data for analysis.

Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.

Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.

Test software performance.

Design computer modeling or simulation programs.

Document technical specifications or requirements.

Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.

Prepare data for analysis.

Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.

Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.

Design software applications.

Develop models of information or communications systems.

Write computer programming code.

Create databases to store electronic data.

Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.

Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.

Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.

Train others in computer interface or software use.

Analyze Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data for use in green applications.

Prepare graphics or other visual representations of information.

Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.

Design integrated computer systems.

Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.

Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		98%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		95%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		92%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		92%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		89%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		85%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		82%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		76%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		75%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		73%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		68%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		67%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		65%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		64%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		62%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		61%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		53%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		53%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		53%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		54%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		98%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		90%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		88%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		87%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		85%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		81%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		79%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		74%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		74%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		70%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		69%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		69%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		69%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		69%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		67%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		61%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		59%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		58%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		58%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		57%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		56%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		55%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Getting Started

Education:

Geographic Information Systems Technologists & Technicians

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

Getting Started