Exploration geologist to environmental geologist
An exploration geologist already meets 37% of what the environmental geologist role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
56.9/ 100
1 How much of what an environmental geologist is expected to do is already part of an exploration 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 environmental geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An environmental geologist role treats 4 of its required skills as things an exploration geologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- address problems critically
- communicate on the environmental impact of mining
- conduct environmental site assessments
- examine geochemical samples
What stands in the way is 8 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 environmental geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an exploration 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 4 the environmental geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 11 missing skills fall into 7 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 conduct erosion control required
- still to learn manage environmental impact required
- still to learn conduct sediment control required
- still to learn develop site remediation strategies required
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- still to learn advise on mining environmental issues required
- still to learn study groundwater required
- still to learn use technical drawing software required
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an environmental geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 advise on mining environmental issues practise this
- 02 conduct erosion control practise this
- 03 conduct sediment control 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 the environmental impact of mining skill
- already held conduct environmental site assessments skill
- already held examine geochemical samples skill
- already held archaeology knowledge
- already held chemistry knowledge
- already held communicate on minerals issues skill
- already held negotiate land access skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
3 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
16 held skills the environmental geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on geology for mineral extraction skill
- not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
- not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
- not needed by the target role complete initial resource statements skill
- not needed by the target role determine characteristics of mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role economics knowledge
- not needed by the target role evaluate mineral resources skill
- not needed by the target role geology knowledge
- not needed by the target role interface with anti-mining lobbyists skill
- not needed by the target role interpret geophysical data skill
- not needed by the target role logging knowledge
- not needed by the target role minerals laws knowledge
- not needed by the target role minerals prices knowledge
- not needed by the target role model mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate land acquisition skill
- not needed by the target role use earth sciences tools skill
4 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 environmental legislation required
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
Common questions about this move
Can an exploration geologist become an environmental geologist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An exploration geologist already covers 37% of what an environmental geologist is expected to do: 8 skills carry over, 4 of which the environmental geologist role treats as required.
What skills does an exploration geologist need to become an environmental geologist?
8 required skills are missing, plus 3 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by assisting and caring. The single most important is advise on mining environmental issues.
How hard is the move from exploration geologist to environmental geologist?
Its learning distance is 56.9 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.