Oceanographer to geologist
An oceanographer already meets 72% of what the geologist role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
45/ 100
1 How much of what a geologist is expected to do is already part of an oceanographer’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 geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geologist role treats 40 of its required skills as things an oceanographer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply for research funding
- apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities
- apply scientific methods
- apply statistical analysis techniques
- cartography
- communicate with a non-scientific audience
What stands in the way is 7 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 52 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an oceanographer background worth leading with.
- already held geophysics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held scientific modelling information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held design scientific equipment communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held apply digital mapping working with computers
- already held cartography engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held conduct field work information skills
All 52 carried skills, including the 40 the geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 35 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 carry out geological explorations required
- still to learn collect geological data required
- still to learn conduct soil sample tests required
- still to learn record test data required
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
- optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
- optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
- optional, not held investigate soil stability optional
- optional, not held prepare surveying report optional
- optional, not held process data optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- still to learn geological time scale required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held geological mapping optional
- optional, not held petrology optional
- optional, not held sedimentology optional
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- still to learn apply safety procedures in laboratory required
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- still to learn calibrate laboratory equipment required
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
- optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
3 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 apply safety procedures in laboratory practise this
- 02 carry out geological explorations practise this
- 03 collect geological data 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 52 skills that carry over
- 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 apply statistical analysis techniques skill
- already held cartography knowledge
- 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 execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- already held geology knowledge
- already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
- already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
- already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
- already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
- already held manage intellectual property rights skill
- already held manage open publications skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage research data skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held mentor individuals skill
- already held operate open source software skill
- already held operate scientific measuring equipment skill
- already held perform laboratory tests 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 modelling knowledge
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held statistics knowledge
- already held synthesise information skill
- already held think abstractly skill
- already held write scientific publications skill
- already held apply blended learning skill
- already held apply digital mapping skill
- already held collect samples for analysis skill
- already held conduct field work skill
- already held design scientific equipment skill
- already held develop scientific theories skill
- already held environmental legislation knowledge
- already held geographic information systems knowledge
- already held geophysics knowledge
- already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
- already held use geographic information systems skill
- already held write research proposals skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held conduct sediment control optional
28 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held conduct sediment control optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
- optional, not held geological mapping optional
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held petrology optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
- optional, not held sedimentology optional
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held investigate soil stability optional
- optional, not held prepare surveying report optional
- optional, not held process data optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
16 held skills the geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role aquatic ecology knowledge
- not needed by the target role assist scientific research skill
- not needed by the target role biology knowledge
- not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
- not needed by the target role coastal management knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct research on climate processes skill
- not needed by the target role conduct underwater surveys skill
- not needed by the target role environmental engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role gather experimental data skill
- not needed by the target role meteorology knowledge
- not needed by the target role oceanography knowledge
- not needed by the target role operate remote sensing equipment skill
- not needed by the target role perform diving interventions skill
- not needed by the target role physics knowledge
- not needed by the target role remote sensing techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role use measurement instruments skill
10 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 geological time scale required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held geological mapping optional
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held petrology optional
- optional, not held sedimentology optional
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
Common questions about this move
Can an oceanographer become a geologist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. An oceanographer already covers 72% of what a geologist is expected to do: 52 skills carry over, 40 of which the geologist role treats as required.
What skills does an oceanographer need to become a geologist?
7 required skills are missing, plus 28 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is apply safety procedures in laboratory.
How hard is the move from oceanographer to geologist?
Its learning distance is 45 out of 100, which is the moderate 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.