How to become a Geologist

How to become a Geologist Looking for a career that rocks (and other terrible jokes)? You should become a Geologist…Geologists look at the materials that make-up the earth, such as rocks and minerals, and how they’ve changed over time.Their job could involve anything from investigating earth processes, such as landslides, earthquakes, floods and other vaguely-terrifying natural phenomenon, through to helping identify and extract a range of different mineral sources.Geologists may also specialise in many different areas, meaning their role could differ greatly depending on their organisation and area of expertise.Typical tasks for a Geologist could include anything from:Studying fossils and rock formationsCollecting samplesFinding, identifying and digging for important natural materials (e.g. oil and coal)Assessing ground for construction, and making recommendationsStudying natural phenomenons, such as flooding and volcanic eruptionsAnalysing data and compiling research papers and reportsIs it right for me ?First thing’s first, to become a Geologist you’re going to have to get your hands dirty.OK, so you might not always be working in the field. But even if you’re based in the office, you’ll still be working with a wide range of samples, or making recommendations based on survey results. If you’re not a particularly practical person, this might not be your true calling.You’ll also need a keen interest in science and biology in order to get started in the industry. And/or rocks.Other key skills for a Geologist include:Observational skillsAttention to detailThe ability to work with complex statistical dataExcellent problem solving skillsAnalytical thinkingA good knowledge of different rock formations (sniggering at the name moolooite doesn’t count)Career Progression GeologistUp to £35,000 GeoscientistUp to £50,000 Geoscience ConsultantUp to £80,000What's it really like? I’ve always been a bit of a science geek, and studied biology at uni for three years before I wor ked out what I really wanted to do. With a bit of extra training, I moved into geology, starting out with a number of work placements before finding my first permanent position. For the last two years I’ve been working all over the world, specifically researching the areas around volcanic formations, and working on modelling plans to help predict when an eruption might take place. It’s a lot of travelling, but I’ve learnt so much already, and I’m really starting to build a specialism. I’m even getting a little bit of a tan, which you definitely don’t get in the office â€" not to rub basalt into the wounds. Sorry, Geologist humour… Get qualifiedTo become a Geologist, you’ll generally need a science-based degree, as well as some form of postgraduate qualification for certain roles. However, there a range of geological courses out there which will help build your knowledge, and may act as the first step to starting your career in the field.