I've made some progress here in a year. I feel so comfortable in what I do now, and others think so as well. My Lead at work has told me on a few occasions how well I'm doing and how much I really help out and he's glad to have me. It's so nice to hear things like that. Being so fresh out of college, sometimes I doubt my abilities. But it looks like OIT has prepared me well, because I've even been able to teach others a few things around here.
In just the short span of a year, it's still possible to move up in this company. As of last week, my Lead was offered a higher position as Land Agent, which means they are now looking for someone to fill the Lead Land Tech position. Since this is a union job, the way it works is that you put in your bid on a job you want and the person with most seniority gets it. This can be good or bad. My Lead encouraged me to put my bid in for the position. I was sceptical since I'm so new at this, but his confidence in me gave me some of my own. It is not very likely that I will get it, since there are 3 bidders above me. They'd all have to turn it down in order for me to get it. But just the fact that doors are opening and people have such high opinions of me really means a lot to me.
Coming up in October is the exam for Senior Land Technichian. I am scheduled to take it, and if I pass, I am promoted from Land Tech to Sr. Land Tech and it comes with another raise. Since I have my LSIT (Land Surveyor in Training), I was waived from taking the engineering portion of this exam in the Spring. This portion is going to be the management portion. I plan to study, but I feel pretty confident since the test will be about the kind of work that I've been doing all year. I can't believe how often we get pay raises here!!
Here are a few work pictures from last winter:
