Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are powerful tools for analyzing and visualizing spatial data. But how can you showcase your GIS skills and projects to potential employers, clients, or collaborators? In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to display your GIS work professionally and effectively.
A portfolio website is a great way to present your GIS projects in an organized and attractive way. You can use a portfolio website to highlight your skills, experience, and education, as well as showcase your GIS products, such as maps, charts, reports, or interactive web applications. You can also include links to your social media profiles, blog, or online resume. A portfolio website can help you demonstrate your creativity, technical abilities, and communication skills, as well as increase your online visibility and credibility.
One of the most important ways to show your GIS skills, in my opinion, is a portfolio. Think of your CV/resume as "telling" and your portfolio as "showing". Telling a potential employer that you have GIS skills from XYZ job/internship/course is useful, but showing them how you are capable of using those skills is what's most valuable. Even better, especially if you are new(er) to the field, make sure to show *and* tell in your portfolio by pairing your maps with a bit of information (e.g. what software/tools you used, what analysis you conducted, why you made certain design decisions).
A portfolio website for GIS projects is more than a digital display; it's a dynamic narrative of growth and passion. It showcases not only technical skills but the journey within spatial analysis. It's an immersive experience, merging proficiency with creativity, turning data into insights. Beyond personal branding, it's a platform for knowledge sharing and a virtual handshake with potential collaborators, reflecting enthusiasm, commitment, and adaptability.
Another way to display your GIS skills and projects professionally is to use online platforms that are designed for GIS users. These platforms allow you to upload, share, and explore GIS data, maps, and applications, as well as interact with other GIS professionals and enthusiasts. Some examples of online platforms for GIS are ArcGIS Online, QGIS Cloud, Carto, Mapbox, and GitHub. Online platforms can help you showcase your GIS work to a wider and more relevant audience, as well as learn from other GIS experts and get feedback on your projects.
In my experience, I have found a data visualisation alternative - the github of data visualisations - where you can post work relevant to maps and there are many GIS engineers and experts sharing tutorials called Observable. On that same platform, one can fork other GIS experts' examples or get feedback via comments once they have developed an Observable notebook.
A third way to display your GIS skills and projects professionally is to join and participate in professional networks and associations that are related to GIS or your field of interest. These networks and associations can provide you with opportunities to network, collaborate, and learn from other GIS professionals, as well as access to resources, events, and publications. Some examples of professional networks and associations for GIS are the Association of American Geographers (AAG), the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).
Top tip I give to students (on this topic) before they graduate is to sign up for a few of the professional organizations they're most interested in (with the student discount!) so they have a chance to try them out and decide which may be the most valuable before they invest full-price post-graduating. My favorite is the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS), I highly recommend it for all cartographers! If you're in the conservation space, the Society for Conservation Geographers (SCGIS) is another great choice.
A fourth way to display your GIS skills and projects professionally is to present and publish your GIS work in academic or professional settings. Presentations and publications can help you demonstrate your research and analytical skills, as well as share your findings and insights with other scholars and practitioners. You can present and publish your GIS work in conferences, workshops, seminars, webinars, journals, books, or magazines that are relevant to your field or topic. Presentations and publications can also help you build your reputation and authority as a GIS expert.
The best tip I can give here from my experience is keep it simple, focus your presentation on just the key points you want to make and make sure those are really clear on your presentation material. When presenting there is nothing worse than slides full of clutter and tiny detail. Keep the word count down and the image size up.
A fifth way to display your GIS skills and projects professionally is to obtain certifications and awards that recognize your GIS knowledge and achievements. Certifications and awards can help you validate your GIS skills and competencies, as well as distinguish yourself from other candidates or competitors. You can obtain certifications and awards from various organizations, such as Esri, the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), or the Geoawesomeness Awards. Certifications and awards can also help you advance your career and increase your earning potential.
A sixth way to display your GIS skills and projects professionally is to use social media and blogs to share your GIS work and opinions. Social media and blogs can help you reach and engage with a large and diverse audience, as well as showcase your personality and passion for GIS. You can use social media and blogs to post your GIS maps, charts, reports, or applications, as well as comment on current trends, issues, or news related to GIS. Some examples of social media and blogs for GIS are Twitter, LinkedIn, Medium, Reddit, or Geoawesomeness.
The word that is key here is ‘diverse’. Keep in mind that your audience may not have both feet in the geospatial camp but they will benefit from your geo-perspective. Use GIS to present your viewpoint on something newsworthy, seasonal, school or music related – basically things that may appeal to wide audience. Everything happens somewhere and insights from location can provide new talking points win you new followers.
When submitting for jobs make sure you include links of your work within your covering letter as it's a fantastic way to stand out from the competition. Whether it be a website, a blog or a webinar you spoke at, make sure you include it within your submission. It's an easy way to show the reader what you're capable of and gives an extra dynamic outside of the formal CL and CV remit, which especially within GIS, doesn't always do a candidate justice.