INTERVIEW ANALYSIS MEMO

DATE: April 4, 2016

TO: Wayne Hackett
FROM: Rana Williams
SUBJECT: Interview Analysis Memo, COMM 1010-035
I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down and interview Walter Cunningham. Walt has over 50
years of Land Surveying experience and is an assistant professor here at SLCC. He is also very
active in the Surveying department and oversees the inner workings of the department. Walt is
one of the most knowledgeable and experienced surveyors in the State and it was a privilege to
have an excuse to speak with him, one on one.
I am in the Geomatic Engineering program at Salt Lake Community College to gain a degree to
fulfill one of the licensure requirements. I also have the unique benefit of being married to a
Professional Land Surveyor. My husband and I are looking forward to surveying together as part
of our retirement. Although Surveying is not understood by many people, it is something that I
enjoy and I am working hard to do what I need to do for my PLS license.
The purpose of this memo is to summarize the advice I gained from Walt and the knowledge I
learned in the process of conducting an informational interview.
Summary of Lessons Learned
What is a PLS and what on Earth do they do?
Walt was able to explain that PLS stands for a licensed Professional Land Surveyor and that
Surveyors locate points on or near the ground, underwater and even in space for the purpose of
defining boundaries. With all of the emphasis on property rights right now, Surveyors and their
services are under a lot of scrutiny.
Surveyors have a duty to protect the public and they are responsible in answering to them.
Sometimes, that can cause a conflict with a client because the publics needs must come first.
The Utah Council of Land Surveyors (UCLS) is the body that helps to keep track of continuing
education hours for PLSs and helps with legislation and education.
Requirements for Licensure
Walt told me that he, like most Land Surveyors, came upon Surveying by accident. He grew up
in Alaska where Surveyors are treated with the utmost respect. He had a neighbor, Dan
Danielson who needed help the summer of Walts thirteenth year; that summer molded the rest of

his life and Walt became a field surveyor. As a crew-chief he would work 12 14 hour days,
seven days a week.
After working summers helping to build the Trans-Alaskan Oil Pipeline, Walt moved to Utah and
attended BYU, eventually graduating in Geography and Cartography. While he was there, he
had two professors who helped him learn more about the surveying profession and made him
their Teaching Assistant (TA).
Upon graduation, Walt was left wondering what to do with this new degree that he had in his
hand and realized that he loved the freedom of Surveying. The more he thought about it, the
more he realized that he was passionate about it! Since it was something he truly loved, and he
was passionate about, AND it was legal he decided to go for it! (Advice he would still give to
someone today.)
After working in the field for a number of years, and after passing a number of rigorous tests
(both State and National), Walt applied for licensure in 1991. This was under an old rule that no
longer applies to PLSs in the State of Utah. Now, an A.A.S. in Geomatic Engineering is a
minimum requirement along with six additional years of work experience. With further
education, the work experience requirement is reduced. There are still three brutal tests that must
be passed along with a background check. After all of these requirements are met, a candidate
can apply for licensure from the Department of Professional Licenses (DOPL). The application
can either be accepted or rejected for a number of different reasons. If it is accepted, a beautiful
blue license will be received in the mail. Walt said that it was his experience, that when he
signed his first map, the weight of the responsibility hit him and he realized just how great it was.
Walt also told me that after gaining licensure a Professional Land Surveyor also has to have 30
hours of continuing education every two years. The UCLS helps to keep track of these hours.
These hours can be obtained in the classroom, in approved subjects, by attending conferences
(and the classes in the conference), or by going to monthly luncheons that the UCLS sponsors.
Salary and Work Hours
Surveyors make professional wages for the work that they perform. Walt said that surveying has
provided more than an adequate income for him and his family. Sometimes the hours required
can be brutal, but they do improve with licensure unless you own your own company! A crew
chief can work 12 14 hour days, 6 days a week, out in the field but a licensed surveyor can
usually expect to work 45 60 hours a week. (That is working for private companies. A
surveyor working for a government agency usually works 40 hours a week.) When Walt had his
own company, he said that he would work up to 120 hours a week! That is also in line with my
experience with the hours they work. The advantage of working fewer hours with a government
agency also accompanies a comparable drop in salary when compared with a private sector
company. But he also says that the freedom that one can enjoy by getting out of the office,
cannot be beat!

Women Surveyors
One of my concerns is the male dominance in the Surveying Field. I asked Walt specifically
about that and he was very quick to quell any fears. In his experience, he said that women make
great Surveyors. In fact, in Alaska, it is nearly 50/50 male to female. The women crew chiefs he
has worked under have been kind and were not afraid to teach him how to do his job the way that
men sometimes were.
Walt also said that women have a tendency to take their time and be precise and accurate. They
may not get the job done as quickly as a man but it will be done with greater care. He said that
he knows of at least three women who have gone through the program here at SLCC that now
own their own Surveying companies. He shared that change is happening, albeit slowly, but I
will not be a strange anomaly for too long.
Interview Analysis
It was an honor to be able to chat with Walt and learn more about the Surveying profession. He
has had a long and productive career and knows more about the many facets of Surveying than
anyone else that I know. He encouraged me to get involved with the Salt Lake Chapter of the
UCLS and to talk to as many Surveyors as possible. I learned that I am well on my way to
fulfilling at least the minimum educational requirement for licensure. I am wondering if it will
be worth my time and money to continue with a Bachelors Degree or if I should just get an
A.A.S. and work experience. My age does factor into this debate. I will need to analyze this
more closely.
I have been concerned because I am the only female participant in my SVT classes (courses
specifically for the Surveying degree). Walt squelched any fears that I had and was very
reassuring about Surveying as my career choice. He agreed that many Surveyors dont really
know how to interact with women but that maybe I needed to be the one to show them the ropes!
Analysis of Interviewing Process
I enjoy talking to people and loved the opportunity to sit down with Walt. I am naturally shy but
can put on a mask to get a job done. I felt like I was well prepared with my questions and that
I had done enough research beforehand and could speak intelligently about the subjects I was
going to be raising. I recorded the entire interview with the voice recorder on my phone so that I
could replay anything that I had questions on after the fact. Even though our original interview
date fell through, I was very pleased that Walt and I were able to work out another time to meet.
I am still very confident in my career choice as a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor and I am
relieved to know that women are capable in this role. I will be seriously looking at whether it
would be advantageous to transfer to Utah Valley University or if it would be a better fit to finish
my A.A.S. and gain work experience for my license.