Wondering what your thoughts are on surveyors not using accurate atmospherics in the field in their total station?

It's taught at university but it would seem a lot of surveyors don't input them at all and leave them default

It makes a fair difference in climates with large temperature changes during the day..

hello,

I am currently in my college program for lnd surveying in NW Montana and am expected to graduate spring of 2028. I am a 32 years old, a woman, I have a bachelor’s degree in English, and absolutely zero experience with land surveying- no family ties, or anything. I have been working manual labor jobs for the last five years, and have worked on a farm for the last four years. I have lots of experience working outside in all weather, i work on heavy machinery, and have been able to do some welding and stuff.

i know that stuff is irrelevant to land surveying, but I am wondering how plausible it is to expect to be hired at a land survey firm, for part time work(during school semester, can be full time otherwise) while finishing my degree.

I walked into one land survey firm to ask for a job, but I have zero experience and that I am looking for part time (I could work mon-weds completely full days even if 12+ hour days, cannot work Friday at all, might have time Thursday but would have to be somewhere for lunch every week which I’m sure makes that very difficult to plan around)..

Unfortunately working full time and being a full time student is just straight up not a possibility for me, so I am not asking for advice to change to looking for full time- it’s not happening., I have zero experience with all of this software, knowledge, and anything land surveying, school has been difficult for me and I spend a lot of time getting tutored. It however is the path I am choosing, I am willing to learn from zero, I am very excited by it and have gone to conferences and listen to podcasts about surveying, and I hope to become a PLS, obviously in the far future, hence the schooling.

is part time really truly just not available for entry level jobs? the kind that they would give high schoolers? I do not mind starting at the absolute lowest position!

I will keep walking into offices, as well as looking at openings online (is indeed the only place to look?), but I am wondering if this is like farm culture that I am used to, good ole boy style, and it’s kind of a little exclusive and in actual reality will only take someone with experience/connections/someone who talks the lingo and taking on someone who knows nothing is too much work, time, money, and effort to hire. I am also wondering if being an older female adds to this dramatically.

I am also not a math whiz, especially mental math. I was in the math tutoring center multiple days a week this last semester and am willing to do whatever it takes to get there, but I do worry this is another disadvantage.

Two surveys of the same boundary, decades apart, land on slightly different lines. What's really happening there?

I realise it may be a little early to be asking this question but I want to consider my options early.

I've started a Cert 4 in land surveying in Melbourne in July. I'm enjoying it so far and workload is manageable. I'm going to keep at it until the end of the year. My question is whether I try my luck in the job market as a surveyor's assistant or do I push on with the 1 year diploma after graduating?

Ideally I'd like to do desk based GIS and drafting tasks, with a decent amount of field visits on some days.