Table 1Transition record

biologisttopalaeontologist

A biologist already meets 58% of what the palaeontologist role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.

From biologist

58%

Overlap1

To palaeontologist

33 Skills carried over

13 Required, not held

55.4 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 55.4

This move: 55.4 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the palaeontologist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the biologist profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 33 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A palaeontologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a biologist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held habitat restoration natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held botany natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held gather experimental data information skills
already held scientific literature generic programmes and qualifications
already held write research proposals communication, collaboration and creativity
already held biology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

All 33 carried skills, including the 25 the palaeontologist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 33 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 4 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held manage intellectual property rights required
required, not held mentor individuals required
required, not held speak different languages required
required, not held think abstractly required

optional, not held apply blended learning optional
optional, not held teach in academic or vocational contexts optional

02 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 4 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held geographic information systems required
required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held geology required
required, not held paleontology required

optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional

03 information skills 2 required, 10 supplementary

required, not held integrate gender dimension in research required
required, not held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data required

optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held analyse experimental laboratory data optional
optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held record test data optional

04 working with computers 2 required

required, not held operate open source software required
required, not held use geographic information systems required

05 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required

required, not held scientific modelling required

06 handling and moving 2 supplementary

optional, not held assemble fossils optional
optional, not held excavate fossils optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a palaeontologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 33 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply for research funding skill
already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
already held apply scientific methods skill
already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
already held conduct research across disciplines skill
already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
already held evaluate research activities skill
already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
already held manage open publications skill
already held manage personal professional development skill
already held manage research data skill
already held perform project management skill
already held perform scientific research skill
already held promote open innovation in research skill
already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
already held publish academic research skill
already held scientific literature knowledge
already held scientific research methodology knowledge
already held synthesise information skill
already held write scientific publications skill
already held biology knowledge
already held botany knowledge
already held chemistry knowledge
already held collect samples for analysis skill
already held gather experimental data skill
already held habitat restoration knowledge
already held perform laboratory tests skill
already held write research proposals skill

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 supplementary

optional, not held locate fossils optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional

08 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held paleography optional

09 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held work ergonomically optional

20 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held assemble fossils optional
optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held excavate fossils optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held locate fossils optional
optional, not held analyse experimental laboratory data optional
optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held apply blended learning optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held record test data optional
optional, not held teach in academic or vocational contexts optional
optional, not held work ergonomically optional

65 held skills the palaeontologist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role analyse blood samples skill
not needed by the target role analyse cell cultures skill
not needed by the target role animal welfare legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role applied zoology knowledge
not needed by the target role aquatic species knowledge
not needed by the target role archive scientific documentation skill
not needed by the target role assess environmental impact in aquaculture operations skill
not needed by the target role biological chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role biosecurity knowledge
not needed by the target role biotechnology in aquaculture knowledge
not needed by the target role collect biological data skill
not needed by the target role collect fish samples for diagnosis skill
not needed by the target role communicate by telephone skill
not needed by the target role computational biology knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct ecological research skill
not needed by the target role conduct fish mortality studies skill
not needed by the target role conduct fish populations studies skill
not needed by the target role conduct genome research skill
not needed by the target role conduct research on fauna skill
not needed by the target role conduct research on flora skill
not needed by the target role conserve natural resources skill
not needed by the target role create natural science taxonomies skill
not needed by the target role cryopreservation knowledge
not needed by the target role develop aquaculture breeding strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop scientific research protocols skill
not needed by the target role ecology knowledge
not needed by the target role ecosystem management knowledge
not needed by the target role entomology knowledge
not needed by the target role fish anatomy knowledge
not needed by the target role fish biology knowledge
not needed by the target role fish identification and classification knowledge
not needed by the target role genomics knowledge
not needed by the target role herpetology knowledge
not needed by the target role identify poisons skill
not needed by the target role inspect fish stock skill
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role lepidoptery knowledge
not needed by the target role life sciences knowledge
not needed by the target role mammalogy knowledge
not needed by the target role marine biology knowledge

25 further entries not listed here

8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held geographic information systems required
required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held geology required
required, not held paleontology required
required, not held scientific modelling required
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional

Index

Other moves recorded from biologist

Full index of moves from biologist

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.