Options with your subject: Geology

As a geology graduate, your expertise in undertaking field and laboratory investigations combined with your teamworking, communication and analytical skills make you an attractive prospect for many employers...

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Engineering geologist
• Geochemist
• Geophysicist/field seismologist
• Geoscientist
• Hydrogeologist
• Seismic interpreter
• Mudlogger
• Wellsite geologist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Drilling engineer
• Environmental consultant
• Geophysical data processor
• Minerals surveyor

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. To find out what jobs would suit you, log in to My Prospects.

Work experience

Fieldwork in both the UK and overseas is a key part of geology courses and provides practical experience. Some courses also offer a year out, either abroad or in industry, providing further opportunities to broaden your skill set and establish a network of contacts.

Some graduates choose to enhance their qualifications and skills by undertaking paid or voluntary work on short-term environmental projects in the UK or abroad. Whether or not you decide to continue in the geology field, a period spent gaining work experience or shadowing can help you make decisions about your future career and you will also find it motivating when you apply your expertise to solve problems in a different context.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Many geology graduates enter professions directly related to their degree. Popular roles include exploration and production, water supply, environmental engineering and geological surveying. Other areas of work include environmental planning, hydrogeology and pollution control.

Typical employers of geology graduates include:

• the oil, gas and petroleum sector;
• the groundwater industry;
• environmental consultancies;
• civil engineering and construction companies.

Other employers include the:

• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Environment Agency (EA)
• local authorities;
• museums;
• government organisations.

Overseas work in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada can be a common feature of careers using geology. Some experienced professionals may also become self-employed consultants.

Find information on employers in energy and utilities, engineering and manufacturing, environment and agriculture, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Your geology degree will provide you with specific knowledge related to your programme of study and module choices. The practical field work you carry out as part of your degree equips you with expertise in undertaking field and laboratory investigations.

Transferable skills gained on your course include:

• skills in observation, data collection, analysis and interpretation;
• the ability to prepare, process and present data;
• the ability to handle information in a range of different mediums, e.g. textual, numerical, oral, graphical;
• written and verbal communication skills;
• report writing skills;
• problem-solving skills and lateral thinking;
• self-motivation and resilience;
• teamworking skills and the ability to work on your own initiative.

Further study

Further study is a popular option for geology graduates. Those wishing to get into a particular field of geology, such as mining engineering, engineering geology or the minerals industry, can undertake a relevant MSc course offered by a number of universities. Taking an MSc in petroleum geoscience is an option for those wanting to get into the petroleum industry.

Other examples of postgraduate courses include petroleum engineering, petroleum geogphysics, earth sciences, hydrogeology, waste management and nuclear decommissioning.

A small number of students also continue onto PhDs. By studying at postgraduate level, you will further develop your specialist knowledge, research skills and communication skills.

Further study is also needed for a move into professions such as law, teaching, librarianship or journalism.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research. 

What do geology graduates do?

Half of geology graduates are in work six months after graduating, with a fifth of these choosing roles in scientific research, analysis and development. A quarter of geology graduates go on to full-time further study.

Find out what other graduates are doing six months after finishing their degrees in What Do Graduates Do?  

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

AGCAS

Written by AGCAS editors

Date: 

October 2012

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