At this stage, the Geo-Sector is hoping that you will use your degree to launch your career. Assuming you have indeed decided to commence your Geo-Career, what do you do next? What specific stream of Geo will you follow?
There are many specialities within the Geo-Sector, some of which are described below, but unless you have a distinct passion for one field versus another, then the most likely field you will enter will be the Ground Investigation Sector. We say that because c80% of roles are within this field.
Although it should be considered a guide, this figure is based on an extensive review of LinkedIn profiles. We have assumed that most people in the Geo-Sector have Linkedin Profiles. And indeed 97.2% of our survey respondents do have an active LinkedIn profile.
- Ground Investigation
GeoEnvironmental Engineer/Geotechnical Engineer (Ground Investigations) Engineering Geologist
We expand on this area of work in a dedicated separate article, hosted here: The Ground Investigation Sector
- Hydrogeologist
Your role as a hydrogeologist, will be to study the distribution, flow and quality of water underground – as opposed to hydrologists who are primarily concerned with surface water.
- Mud Logger
A Mud Logger monitors and records drilling activity. The data collected and monitored, the ‘mudlog’, influences decisions about the efficiency and placement of well sites.
- Exploration Geologist
Exploration geologists identify where minerals could be located and assess their quality and quantity so that decisions can be made about whether and how to extract them.
- Geotechnical Design Engineer
Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering that looks at the behaviour of earth materials and the application of soil and rock mechanics. As a geotechnical engineer, you will assess the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soil and rock in order to design foundations, retaining structures and earthworks.
- Quarry Manager
You would supervise, oversee or direct some part of mining operations. The quarry manager would normally provide general supervision, but at times may exercise direct supervision, such as to verify critical controls are working or high-risk activities are being managed.
- Geophysicist
As a geophysicist, you will study the physical aspects of the earth using a range of methods, including gravity, magnetic, electrical and seismic. You will acquire, process, and interpret data in solid earth, fluid earth and the upper atmosphere.
- Geochemist
As a geochemist, you will use physical and inorganic chemistry to investigate chemical elements in rocks, minerals or fuel deposits. You will also study the movement of those elements into soil and water systems.
- Volcanologist
This role involves studying the processes and deposits of volcanic eruptions.
- Palaeontologist
This role involves studying fossils.
- Seismologist
This role involves studying earthquakes.
- Petrologist
In this role you would study rocks to determine their exact composition and how to best extract valuable minerals and natural resources from them.
- Oceanologist
This is studying the physical and biological properties and phenomena of the sea.
- Remote Sensing
This role covers the acquisition of information from a distance.
- Stratigraphy
This role involves analysis of the order and position of layers of archaeological remains.
There are many more specialisms too, but these are the roles we most often see our employer clients recruiting for. As mentioned before though, the vast majority of grads begin their career in Ground Investigation.
