I recently got my land surveyor license and my yearly salary increase.
I was a bit disappointed when I found out that it was only a 5% increase, because I was hoping for a bit more. Is this typical or am I just expecting too much?
For those of you that have your license what kind of increase did you see when you got licensed?
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Using your license is how you make income from it. My advice is to find a way to start using it. One of the ways you can do this is try and obtain a license in an adjoining State or a State you may move to.
Yeah, my current position doesn't require much from my license, so that is probably why.
I'm currently working on getting my license for the adjoining state and I'm hoping that will help.
I've worked hard to get to this point and my expectations are probably just too high.
Brad, your expectations can never be too high, however, here are a few things you should expect:
I think I missed a few things, but the point is that you didn't get your license for your employer. You got it for yourself. What you do with it is up to you. As much as some employers want you to think that they are your friend, you are an employee first and foremost. Try not to confuse the two.
When you interviewed for your current position, It may have been a one way conversation. The rules have just changed. You have something that many other companies want, now; a licensed professional. But be careful not to take your new credential into places it does not fit yet, due to lack of experience, yet be confident in your ability to grow, professionally.
I learned more about surveying after I was licensed than I did in college or from my mentors. It takes time. A well-rounded professional does not evolve overnight. A new credential is only the beginning of a rewarding career.
If you have a lot of money or access to funding you could go bravely into the world of business for yourself, now.
If not, you can go bravely into the job market to test your new credential, but I wouldn't recommend that quite yet. Your current employer may have plans for you five years down the line that they truly want for you, but can not promise yet.
Quite the crossroads, isn't it?
No matter which path you take from here, remember that if you are happy with the way things are now, you have nowhere to go, but you will always be following in the footsteps of those before you.
I travel this road that I am on every day. I am licensed and have been surveying for over 20 years now, and not a day goes by during which I don't learn something new.
Welcome to the club, you're in now. And welcome to a lifetime of opportunity!
Scott D. Warner, RLS
Senior Director / Editor
Land Surveyors United
Wow..anybody got some advice for Mr. H?