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Career Profile Form

Name: Tim Dale
Age: 31
Company Name: INTERA Inc.
Years With Company: 6
Previous Jobs: Geology Department Teaching Assistant at Texas A&M; University
Education: B.S. Mineral Engineering, University of Alabama, 1986 M.S. Hydrogeology, Texas A&M; University, 1990

1. What is your official job title?

Project Hydrogeologist

2. What is the job title you'd give yourself?

Consultant Whore

3. What makes your job unique?

4. How did your college major / graduate school degree help prepare you for your career path?

I learned the principles behind conducting fluid flow tests in underground geological units and how to interpret the results using various computer numerical models. My undergrad education provided me with a good theoretical background and my grad work provided me with the experience on how my career actually works. All together, my educational experience provided me with a good foundation for my career.

5. What necessary career information was missing from your studies? How did you pick up those skills and knowledge?

More practical hands on experience!!! I would have liked more hands on practical and applicable experience before finishing my undergrad degree. However, you still must have all the book knowledge to understand how the real world operates. If I had to do it again, I would put substantially more emphasis on summer job or co-operative opportunities.

6. What difficulties did you encounter entering your chosen field?

I did not encounter that many difficulties given the large number of available jobs and the low number of job applicants. I pretty much got to pick where I wanted to go. However, my field is now very hard to get into and move around in.

7. Why would you recommend your company or job?

We provide very specialized and innovative solutions to ground water contamination problems and to site characterization investigations. We do a lot of cool field work that is better and more efficient than the standard hydrogeological firm. We develop most of our technologies through the Department of Energy's New Technology grants.

8. How does the size of your company impact your sense of job satisfaction?

Prior to last year, we were a relatively small firm of approximately 75 employees in five locations. I enjoyed the small firm with many opportunities to provide assistance to the other offices in various geographical locations. Now we have just been purchased by a large engineering firm and I feel we are about to move into the cubical next to Dilbert. I do not like that. We shall see.

9. What three things are most rewarding about the work you do?

10. What three things are most frustrating?

11. What three things are most fun?

12. How do you handle work stress?

Luckily I do not get to stressed out. I just do what it takes to get through the stressful situation - usually producing a report on time.

13. How big a role does technology play in your career?

I hope when you say technology you are not just assuming that the only technology is 'computer technology.' I use the latest technology in computers, numerical models, and hydrogeological field testing techniques all the time.

14. How do you distinguish yourself from your co-workers?

Meet my deadlines, take on new challenges that are not well defined at the start, and be willing to provide assistance when needed.

15. Which popular song best describes your working life?

"Why Get Up"

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