Explore Geoscience Career Information
Provided here are resources that students and faculty can use to learn about geoscience careers, as well as the wide variety of careers that incorporate aspects of geoscience (e.g., environmental lobbyist, science journalist, graphic designer, seismic engineer, etc.). Information about key skills required for a career in the geosciences is also provided. Students can easily use these resources to find information for classroom activities such as career projects (see pages 7-8) or for their own personal investigations.
Share online career resources with students
A wide array of resources exist to explore the connection of geoscience with other science and non-science disciplines, job market prospects, salary information, degree requirements and more. It may be useful to share these types of resources through your department webpage or in a module within your course learning management system. Showcasing profiles of working scientists can also highlight interesting careers as well as the multiple pathways available to attain them.
SAGE 2YC: Provide
Career Information »
- The American Geosciences Institute: Career Wheel and Career Compass
- American Geophysical Union: Paths Through Science
- Geological Society of America: RockStars Career Profiles
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Geoscientists Occupational Outlook
Integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes beyond content
Not all skills that employers are looking for are related to geoscience content. Faculty can use geoscience content to teach other necessary skills and habits of mind in their courses. Writing, working as part of a group, quantitative skills, or the requirements for professional licensing are just a few examples of important skills that can be built as part of geoscience courses and programs.
The Virginia team encouraged students to take part in their workshops that were part of the Virginia Geological Field Conference in 2017 and 2018. Those workshops included sessions on building "soft" skills and resume writing.
Career guidance examples from Mt. San Antonio College include a summer workshop series for students with CV writing/reviewing and internships opportunities, as well as having nearby graduate students visit undergraduate classrooms to talk about careers and pathways.
Connect students with campus career services
Most two-year college campuses have career-related resources that can offer additional sources of information and guidance. Work actively with the advising and career counseling centers on your campus to ensure that those professionals have information to give to students with interest in geoscience careers as well as to gain access to information they may have to share with your students. Most career centers also host career fairs where faculty and professionals can raise the visibility of the many geoscience careers available to students.
To address a deficiency in student awareness of career opportunities, Sean Tvelia developed new marketing materials that educated students about potential geoscience careers and their relationship to local communities, educational pathways available through the college, and the extracurricular activities and educational resources provided by the department.