Environmental geologist to geochemist
An environmental geologist already meets 24% of what the geochemist role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
69.8/ 100
1 How much of what a geochemist 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 geochemist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geochemist role treats 4 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
- conduct environmental site assessments
- examine geochemical samples
What stands in the way is 12 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 5 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geochemist 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 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 chemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held address problems critically communication, collaboration and creativity
All 5 carried skills, including the 4 the geochemist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 18 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 deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances required
- still to learn prepare scientific reports required
- optional, not held liaise with industrial professionals optional
- optional, not held troubleshoot optional
- still to learn manipulate metal required
- still to learn prepare samples for testing required
- optional, not held collect samples optional
- still to learn create GIS reports required
- still to learn perform sample testing required
- optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
- still to learn geographic information systems required
- still to learn geology required
- still to learn conduct laboratory chemical research on metals required
- optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional
- still to learn ensure compliance with environmental legislation required
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a geochemist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 conduct laboratory chemical research on metals practise this
- 02 deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances practise this
- 03 geographic information systems study this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 5 skills that carry over
- already held address problems critically skill
- already held communicate on minerals issues skill
- already held conduct environmental site assessments skill
- already held examine geochemical samples skill
- already held chemistry knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn types of metal required
- still to learn create thematic maps required
- optional, not held supervise staff optional
6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held collect samples optional
- optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
- optional, not held liaise with industrial professionals optional
- optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional
- optional, not held supervise staff optional
- optional, not held troubleshoot optional
14 held skills the geochemist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on mining environmental issues skill
- not needed by the target role archaeology knowledge
- not needed by the target role biology knowledge
- not needed by the target role communicate on the environmental impact of mining skill
- 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 negotiate land access skill
- not needed by the target role study groundwater skill
- not needed by the target role use technical drawing software skill
3 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 geographic information systems required
- still to learn geology required
- still to learn types of metal required
Common questions about this move
Can an environmental geologist become a geochemist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An environmental geologist already covers 24% of what a geochemist is expected to do: 5 skills carry over, 4 of which the geochemist role treats as required.
What skills does an environmental geologist need to become a geochemist?
12 required skills are missing, plus 6 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is conduct laboratory chemical research on metals.
How hard is the move from environmental geologist to geochemist?
Its learning distance is 69.8 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.