Table 1Transition record

physics techniciantogeology technician

A physics technician already meets 30% of what the geology technician role asks for. The move turns on 14 required skills not yet in the profile.

From physics technician

30%

Overlap1

To geology technician

14 Skills carried over

14 Required, not held

74 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 74

This move: 74 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the geology technician role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the physics technician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geology technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a physics technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held geophysics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held interpret geophysical data information skills
already held apply safety procedures in laboratory assisting and caring
already held assist scientific research communication, collaboration and creativity
already held geology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held apply statistical analysis techniques information skills

All 14 carried skills, including the 9 the geology technician role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 44 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 information skills 5 required, 11 supplementary

required, not held collect geological data required
required, not held test raw minerals required
required, not held conduct field work required
required, not held perform sample testing required
required, not held record test data required

optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
optional, not held conduct soil sample tests optional
optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
optional, not held plan geotechnical investigations in the field optional
optional, not held archive scientific documentation optional
optional, not held collect data using GPS optional
optional, not held create GIS reports 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

02 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required, 8 supplementary

required, not held prepare scientific reports required
required, not held write production reports required

optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
optional, not held liaise with geology professionals optional
optional, not held negotiate land access optional
optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
optional, not held train employees optional
optional, not held troubleshoot optional

03 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held percolation required

optional, not held geographic information systems optional
optional, not held geochemistry optional
optional, not held geodesy optional

04 handling and moving 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held collect samples required
required, not held prepare samples for testing required

optional, not held maintain cores optional

05 assisting and caring 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held work ergonomically required

optional, not held assess environmental impact optional

06 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required

required, not held cartography required

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a geology technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply safety procedures in laboratory skill
already held apply scientific methods skill
already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
already held assist scientific research skill
already held collect samples for analysis skill
already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
already held mathematics knowledge
already held scientific research methodology knowledge
already held statistics knowledge
already held geology knowledge
already held geophysics knowledge
already held interpret geophysical data skill
already held perform laboratory tests skill
already held physics knowledge

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required

required, not held operate scientific measuring equipment required

08 working with computers 5 supplementary

optional, not held develop geological databases optional
optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
optional, not held create thematic maps optional
optional, not held use spreadsheets software optional

09 business, administration and law 1 supplementary

optional, not held environmental legislation optional

30 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
optional, not held conduct soil sample tests optional
optional, not held develop geological databases optional
optional, not held geographic information systems optional
optional, not held liaise with geology professionals optional
optional, not held maintain cores optional
optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
optional, not held negotiate land access optional
optional, not held plan geotechnical investigations in the field optional
optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
optional, not held archive scientific documentation optional
optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
optional, not held collect data using GPS optional
optional, not held create GIS reports optional
optional, not held create thematic maps optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held geochemistry optional
optional, not held geodesy 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 study aerial photos optional
optional, not held train employees optional
optional, not held troubleshoot optional
optional, not held use spreadsheets software optional

19 held skills the geology technician role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role acoustics knowledge
not needed by the target role analyse experimental laboratory data skill
not needed by the target role analyse scientific data skill
not needed by the target role astronomy knowledge
not needed by the target role calibrate laboratory equipment skill
not needed by the target role communicate with external laboratories skill
not needed by the target role densiometry knowledge
not needed by the target role gather experimental data skill
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain laboratory equipment skill
not needed by the target role observe matter skill
not needed by the target role operate remote sensing equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate telescopes skill
not needed by the target role quantum computing knowledge
not needed by the target role quantum mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role report analysis results skill
not needed by the target role thermodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role use measurement instruments skill
not needed by the target role write scientific publications skill

7 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held cartography required
required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held percolation required
optional, not held geographic information systems optional
optional, not held environmental legislation optional
optional, not held geochemistry optional
optional, not held geodesy optional

Index

Other moves recorded from physics technician

Full index of moves from physics technician

Note

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.