Environmental geologist to exploration geologist
An environmental geologist already meets 32% of what the exploration geologist role asks for. The move turns on 13 required skills not yet in the profile.
67.6/ 100
1 How much of what an exploration geologist is expected to do is already part of an environmental geologist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the exploration geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An exploration geologist role treats 6 of its required skills as things an environmental geologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- address problems critically
- communicate on minerals issues
- communicate on the environmental impact of mining
- conduct environmental site assessments
- examine geochemical samples
- negotiate land access
What stands in the way is 13 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 8 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An exploration geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an environmental geologist background worth leading with.
- already held communicate on the environmental impact of mining communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held conduct environmental site assessments information skills
- already held examine geochemical samples information skills
- already held communicate on minerals issues communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held negotiate land access communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held archaeology arts and humanities
All 8 carried skills, including the 6 the exploration geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 16 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn complete initial resource statements required
- still to learn determine characteristics of mineral deposits required
- still to learn evaluate mineral resources required
- still to learn interpret geophysical data required
- still to learn use earth sciences tools required
- still to learn advise on geology for mineral extraction required
- still to learn interface with anti-mining lobbyists required
- still to learn negotiate land acquisition required
- still to learn build business relationships required
- still to learn minerals laws required
- still to learn model mineral deposits required
- still to learn apply strategic thinking required
- still to learn geology required
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an exploration geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 complete initial resource statements practise this
- 02 advise on geology for mineral extraction practise this
- 03 determine characteristics of mineral deposits practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 8 skills that carry over
- already held address problems critically skill
- already held communicate on minerals issues skill
- already held communicate on the environmental impact of mining skill
- already held conduct environmental site assessments skill
- already held examine geochemical samples skill
- already held negotiate land access skill
- already held archaeology knowledge
- already held chemistry knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held minerals prices optional
- optional, not held economics optional
3 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held minerals prices optional
- optional, not held economics optional
11 held skills the exploration geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on mining environmental issues skill
- not needed by the target role biology knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct erosion control skill
- not needed by the target role conduct sediment control skill
- not needed by the target role develop site remediation strategies skill
- not needed by the target role environmental legislation knowledge
- not needed by the target role geography knowledge
- not needed by the target role hydrology knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage environmental impact skill
- not needed by the target role study groundwater skill
- not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill
5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn minerals laws required
- still to learn geology required
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held minerals prices optional
- optional, not held economics optional
Common questions about this move
Can an environmental geologist become an exploration geologist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An environmental geologist already covers 32% of what an exploration geologist is expected to do: 8 skills carry over, 6 of which the exploration geologist role treats as required.
What skills does an environmental geologist need to become an exploration geologist?
13 required skills are missing, plus 3 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is complete initial resource statements.
How hard is the move from environmental geologist to exploration geologist?
Its learning distance is 67.6 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
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.