I would like to see an article about how Geographers and others outside of the GIS field can successfully find employment in the field with little training. Other than simply stating that course work or certification needs to be required, which is obvious, what companies and/or government organizations in the field are even willing to discuss even entry level job opportunities with individuals that are not currently in the field, but are geographically oriented, tech savvy, and have a base understanding of what GIS is, how it benefits society, etc. What skills is the field looking for in it's work force other than software programmers and engineers?

• How do I find employment in GIS when I have little training, even though I'm a geographer by training and have an understanding of the technology?
• MY ADVICE: Get into sales. If you are "tech savvy" as you say, then you can pick up the nomenclature of products and build on that. Obviously, you need to have the mindset for sales, but without technical training in GIS, other positions are not open to you. Sales allows you to use your understanding of the potential use of the technology for applications in which you were trained as a geographer.
• What skills is the field looking for in it's work force other than software programmers and engineers?
• MY ADVICE: Many software companies are looking for project managers. As they transition from pure product sales to consultative project implementation, companies are looking for professionals with excellent management skills who can multitask and interface with clients. Again, it will require the employee to get a very good understanding of the products as well as the skill set of the project staff, budgets, and client expectations.
• Other than simply stating that course work or certification needs to be required, what are companies and/or government organizations willing to discuss even for an entry level job opportunity with individuals that are not currently in the field?
• MY ADVICE: Entry level GIS analyst positions will require a fundamental knowledge of some desktop mapping/GIS system. You can do it on your own or take courses. You can attend conferences as well as take college courses to work toward certification, but eventually you will need hands-on experience with a GIS software system. Today, geography graduates with a B.A. degree are going to be required to take courses where GIS fundamentals are taught. If you've graduated some years ago and were not exposed to the technology, you're at a major disadvantage for an entry level position. And if that's the case, you need to evaluate your strengths. Ask yourself: "In what areas of geography am I experienced?"
• Demography - Look for a job with a demographic data company that is compiling estimate and projections of census data.
• Land Use Planning - Look for a job with a company that is selling a solution for spatial visualization, urban development or site selection.
• Cultural/Ethnic/Political - Look for a job with a government agency or non-governmental organization (NGO, such as the United Nations) that is training GIS professionals in what to types of analysis should be conducted in a broader, land development project.
• Cartography - Map making is an art in many ways; but now, GIS is the painter's palette. Get to know map publishing software capabilities and learn the new tools of this trade.
• Environmental & Natural Resources - You need to know how to think spatially in order to transfer your skills about environmental planning and the impact of development on the biosphere to GIS technology. This should be a skill that only grows as you become more familiar with GIS.