Name:
David Hon
Family:
N/A
Major & Minor: Geography,
Environmental Emphasis
Year Graduated: May 2012
Current Employer: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Job
Title: Hydrogeologist
and Storm Water Specialist
Length of Employment: Since May 2012
Interests and Hobbies: On an average week, you’ll find me doing
something active every day, whether it’s going for a long, hard run outside,
going for a leisurely bike ride around town, or swimming at Gold’s Gym. I cook
all the time and love it. Spending time with my friends and meeting new people
are very important things on my to-do list as well! I also enjoy reading,
travelling, and playing piano.
What helped you decide what route to
take after graduation (i.e. graduate school or type of job)?
I wasn’t sure exactly what direction my career was going to take, although I had a
general idea. Working with people was on the forefront of what was important to
me in the job search, but I also enjoyed working with GIS, research, and water
resources. I thought gaining some experience was important before doing
anything else so graduate school was not part of my short-term plan. I wanted a
job that was challenging, had lots of variety, and outside my comfort zone.
So,
I decided that my best course of action was to explore what jobs were out there
and send out as many resumes as possible. I learned a lot about what careers
were available to me based on my experience and education just from the job
hunt.
Describe your typical day at work: As a
hydrogeologist, I have two basic duties: reduce the liability for the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation during roadwork by scouting potential hazards
(petroleum contamination, hazardous waste, etc) in southwestern Wisconsin, and
coordinate cleanups of petroleum and heavy metal contaminated soil and
groundwater in Jackson County. The typical day involves gathering buried
information, meeting with City Boards, negotiating, interviewing local
officials, calling bluffs, composing and sending technical notices, and occasionally
I’ll sample a private well or use GIS to visualize a large site.
As
a storm water specialist, I review construction, industrial and municipal
properties to convey permit coverage to them. Any time a property over an acre
is under construction, the owner needs a storm water permit. I review their
plans to reduce suspended solids and pollutants into surface waters and
wetlands and make sure their best management practices (BMPs), like detention
basins or bioswales, are adequate. I also inspect the sites once we convey
coverage to make sure the BMPs are functioning properly. Many of these
properties are frac sand mines in Western Wisconsin. Knowledge of geomorphic
features, watershed properties, and physical geography is certainly key to
success in this position.
Needless
to say I have the variety, challenge, and intellectual stimulation that I was
looking for.
What do you think gave you to edge to
get your current position?
I took 15 credits of coursework in
hydrogeology, as well as some coursework in physics and chemistry, which gave
me the background knowledge to be a hydrogeologist. I also had an interest in
working with people and had a fairly large amount of experience doing just
that. I was a Peer Educator for the Center for Alcohol Studies and Education
for 3 years; a caregiver for a young man with Down’s Syndrome for 3 years; a
crew leader for a team of volunteers surveying invasive plants in the Eau
Claire County Forest; and I was actively involved in the Eau Claire County Parks
and Forestry Citizen Advisory Committee. By the time I graduated I was
well-versed in negotiation, persuasion, and patience.
I also was a research assistant for
three different projects, where I worked closely with several professors in
different departments (Biology, Geology and Geography). I enthusiastically was
involved with each project, which gave me several more good references. I had a
master resume prepared with my entire work history and spent close to 10 hours
perfecting the resume I sent into the WDNR. I had a lot of practice
interviewing during my college career, so I was relaxed and confident in
conveying my experiences when I walked in to interview for my current position.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Gosh, I’ll
be 28? Old! There are a number of ideas floating through my head, but hopefully
starting a family and either go into the consulting industry (aka the private
sector) or attend to a graduate program for environmental law.
What advice can you give to those who
are still in school?
GIS might be one of the hottest
careers out there right now, and it’s a good option for our major. But it’s not
even close to the only option for geographers. Find any way you can to do what
you’re passionate about. That way, you’ll gain skills and knowledge quickly in
things you’re interested in. Also, when you’re enthusiastic about something,
you make lasting connections with people, so your network will grow naturally.
Take your curiosity by the horns. If
you are creative and self-directed, independent studies, research
assistantships, and internships are all great options to explore your interests
further.
Get a job even if you don’t need one.
There is nothing like real world experience. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in
school, but work keeps you grounded.
Keep a master resume with all of your
experiences on it (not just jobs!), as well as a template industry-specific
resume and cover letter. That way you can just copy and paste what you need out
of the master resume onto the individual resume. Be meticulous when you are
designing your final resume.
Start a quality LinkedIn account. If
you get a business card from someone or talk to someone who may have an opening
later down the line, it’s a great way of following up with them if you’re interested.
If they show interest, they can look at your profile, which is essentially an
expanded online resume.
Ignore any pressure from anybody to
become something you’re not. While their observations may be helpful, if you
don’t do what you want to do, you’ll regret it later.
Work hard but also play hard. Be
active. Meet new people. Explore new hobbies. Keep a journal or diary if you
want to find inspiration. Leave some room in your day to think – block off at
least an hour with absolutely nothing planned. Creativity often comes in a
flash when you’re least expecting it.
