Exploration geologist to geochemist
An exploration geologist already meets 29% of what the geochemist role asks for. The move turns on 11 required skills not yet in the profile.
65.6/ 100
1 How much of what a geochemist 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 geochemist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geochemist role treats 5 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 minerals issues
- conduct environmental site assessments
- examine geochemical samples
- geology
What stands in the way is 11 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 6 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 exploration 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 geology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held chemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held address problems critically communication, collaboration and creativity
All 6 carried skills, including the 5 the geochemist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 17 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 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
- still to learn types of metal 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 6 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 geology knowledge
- already held chemistry knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn geographic information systems 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
18 held skills the geochemist 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 archaeology knowledge
- not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
- not needed by the target role communicate on the environmental impact of mining 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 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 access skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate land acquisition skill
- not needed by the target role use earth sciences tools skill
2 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 types of metal required
Common questions about this move
Can an exploration geologist become a geochemist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An exploration geologist already covers 29% of what a geochemist is expected to do: 6 skills carry over, 5 of which the geochemist role treats as required.
What skills does an exploration geologist need to become a geochemist?
11 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 exploration geologist to geochemist?
Its learning distance is 65.6 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.