/r/geologycareers

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Advice, advertisements and other topics relating to any and all jobs in geology; from paleontology to igneous petrology and the energy industry.

Advice, advertisements and other topics relating to any and all jobs in geology; from paleontology to igneous petrology and the energy industry.

For those seeking geology-related career and educational advice or information specifically about geology-related fields.

Wondering what a career in geology is really like? Curious what to actually do with your degree? Please check out our list of Career AMAs!

*If you're interested in hosting a Career AMA please send a message to the moderators

WE DID IT GUYSTM Week of 12/19/2021: 1

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2021: 30

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2020: 37

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2019: 63

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2018: 48

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2017: 71

WE DID IT GUYSTM 2016: 35

WE DID IT GUYSTM All-Time: 285

100 WDIG - 12/08/17 #neverforget

*counting services provided by /u/loolwatTM

Are you a geology professional? Click 'edit' next to your username in the sidebar to add a small tag with your profession or specialization

RESUME RULE - If you would like to post your resume for review please be sure to remove all identifying information. Posts that fail to adhere to this rule will be removed. Please post a PDF without permissions hosted on dropbox or googledrive.

Copyrighted Material Rule - Please do not request or provide links to any copyrighted material, including the RegReview ASBOG study guides. Posts breaking this rule will be removed.

Search here for your profession to see how the job market has been performing (thanks to /u/pursetosh)

2022 GeologyCareers Sub Salary Survey Results

2018 AGI Median Geoscience Salary Survey (thanks to /u/lemonsforbrunch)

2016 /r/GeologyCareers Salary Survey Results

2015 Salary Surveys:

PESGB

AAPG

APEGA

Other Articles:

/u/Javelin901's USAJobs webinar Youtube channel

Humble thoughts and advice from a retired Environmental Science guy. (thanks to /u/flightgamer)

Looking for info on a Field Camp? Try here! (thanks to /u/tashibum)

Job Hunting Resources and Tips (Thanks to /u/cone_of_optimismt)

PDAC - A Guide to Getting a Job (thanks to /u/mining_geo_canada44)

The ASBOG exams for US licensing

Free online study aids for the FG/PG exams (thanks to /u/lorefolk)

Lists of recommended study material for all subdisciplines (thanks to /u/spodumeme)

APGO (Ontario, Canada PG Board) AMA

How to use this sub / How to find a career (thanks to /u/margaret_thacher)

Do's and Don'ts for O&G (thanks to /u/DrCam)

Do's and Dont's for Resumes (thanks to /u/rocknocker)

Cover Letter Advice (thanks to /u/BadassQuetzalcoatlus)

AAPG Career Guide (thanks to /u/Geolojazz)

How to Network

More Networking Tips

How to get into Mining (thanks to /u/NV_Geo)

How to get into US State Govt Jobs (esp CA) (thanks to /u/redelemental)

Federal Job Tips US

Graduate School? Start here!

How to reach out to potential graduate advisors and programs

Practice Aptitude Tests for Interviews

List of Geo-Career Websites

See Also:

/r/mining

/r/geology

/r/scienceforhire

/r/geophysics

/r/geoscience

/r/mininggeophysics

/r/environmental_science

/r/oilandgasworkers

/r/inspirationscience

/r/geologycareers

47,422 Subscribers

1

Australian geologist salary 2025

Hi, Looking to review my salary and would like info on what other Australian geologists in mining industry are being payed (Job title, Experience, commodity, salary + benefits etc...). Please share

0 Comments
2024/12/18
07:31 UTC

1

Pump Depth Marking Advice

Hello,

Im trying to find the best way to get a bladder pump at the correct depths in wells. I have made a catch cord to not lose the pump in a well and I now want to mark depths on the cord for easy placement. Essentially it’s just a wire with a clip that can attach to the top of the bladder pump. I don’t want to use a sharpie or tape because I am worried of potentially contaminating the well.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

6 Comments
2024/12/18
00:53 UTC

3

Hydrogeology advice

I’m a fresh college student enrolled in geology for a BA. My college offers a concentration in hydrogeology which looks like a lucrative field to get into. I’m just wondering if hydrogeology as a whole is worth getting into (and how much a masters degree would be worth). I’m also wondering how good of a field geology is in general because it isn’t too late for me to change my mind (I understand there’s dozens of fields).

3 Comments
2024/12/17
19:07 UTC

5

PhD question

I'm trying to get a general geology degree so I don't get pigeonholed into planetary science just in case I can't get into NASA, but I'm worried if the thesis doesn't have much to do with space then I won't be able to get a job there?

Like if I wanted to study Mars, but I did a thesis in climate change?

I've looked into mountain-building, seismology, and geochem on university websites but I'm not very good at those, as in I can read the papers but can't do the math very well. I suppose I would also need to learn programming.

It's also difficult to find planetary research areas when everyone who does them already works at NASA or is in a difficult school to get into.

12 Comments
2024/12/17
17:54 UTC

5

Resources to develop data processing/management skills for hydrogeology?

Hi all, I'm trying to make a career shift into hydrogeology, eventually doing groundwater modeling. While I've found resources to help learn modeling specifically - although I'd always appreciate more - something that came up in my most recent interview that seems like a really good skill to have is data processing. My interviewers mentioned using python to process and manage model inputs and outputs, and to get groundwater models to talk to ArcGIS and viceversa. Does anyone know any good resources/examples/practice for that kind of work specifically?

4 Comments
2024/12/17
17:28 UTC

5

terracon chattanooga?

anyone work here or know anything about it? i'm out of state and looking to transfer. just wanted to see the general vibe of this office.

4 Comments
2024/12/17
03:46 UTC

10

Those who took and failed the Engineering Geology Exam in Washington, Oregon and California.

Hi I took the EG exam in Oregon twice and so far no success. The regreview is the only study guide and it’s not very helpful. Would anyone be interested in creating a study group?

6 Comments
2024/12/17
00:16 UTC

1

Wisconsin application “Total experience”

Working on applying for PG license in Wisconsin and the peer review form has date fields, from and to, for “total experience” below employment dates for a given employer. Anyone have an explanation of how to complete that? Is it assuming say start a job working in the mail room then 6 months in became a field geologist so the dates of experience would start 6 months after the start of employment?

Edit: There is a separated to/from employment date fields just above the “total experience “ date fields.

2 Comments
2024/12/16
18:45 UTC

3

Help with future exploration job?

Hey all! I've posted a few times about my future plans to move from chemistry to exploration or mining geology (I do have a geology bachelor's and had an internship at a huge underground mine). My plan is to go to field camp in 2026, and then apply to jobs out afterwards with hopes to find a fifo job or something where I can have my home base on the East coast. We will see what happens but that's the rough plan. In the meantime I'm wondering if there are any classes, certs, skills, books etc I could be reading to prepare for a career in exploration/mining?

Also: I have been in the chemistry field since I graduated (2019) and so my geology field skills are rusty as well but I know I could get back on the bike quickly. I know field camp is going to be extremely hard for me if I don't prepare and brush up my field skills now. For people who went to field camp what skills/concepts do you recommend I brush up on? Are there any books or materials you think might be helpful? I do plan on going out to outcrops from undergrad I have saved in my field notebooks and doing the same exercises I did in class, sketching outcrops/strike and dip. I even considered asking my old strat professor if I could come along on field trips in the area but that seemed like a weird thing to do, anyway any advice is welcomed :)

8 Comments
2024/12/16
15:58 UTC

3

Geology PhD advice

How important is the location/university when choosing a PhD. For example, will I be at a much greater advantage studying within a research group that is well known around the world, with lots of different researchers and projects going on, vs a smaller university with no specific research group, just my supervisor? Particularly in terms of looking for employment/postdoc opportunities after the PhD

9 Comments
2024/12/16
15:32 UTC

4

Geology career paths?

Currently applying to study undergraduate geology in the Uk, and wondering whether a degree in geology can lead me to any jobs involving fieldwork in rocky/mountainous terrain?.

I enjoy mountaineering so working in that kind of environment would be very fulfilling for me. Thanks in advance

9 Comments
2024/12/16
10:42 UTC

6

Can I pursue a master's degree in geology with a bachelor's degree in computer science?

I recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science, but I have always been passionate about rocks, oceans, and mining. Is it possible for me to pursue a master's degree in geology?

25 Comments
2024/12/16
04:16 UTC

6

Pivoting to GIS

I'm a young geo finishing my master's in hydrogeology/engineering geology (Europe based). I've been taking GIS focused classes and dabbling in spatial analysis. This is something I'm really loving and will also be doing my master's thesis on the subject. However I'm kind of at the end of my academic journey, so I'm wondering how I can improve/add on to this skillset further once I'm done with school.

My mentor advised me to take up some basic statistics to get the gist of it (skipped statistics). What else would you advise?

I also have some wishes to move abroad (maye USA) in a couple of years and I'm wondering if GIS-based work is something I could do there.

Thanks in advance!

10 Comments
2024/12/15
17:44 UTC

0

Path to Geology After Engineering?

HELP Hi everyone! I'm a 19-year-old female from India. I completed my 11th and 12th in science and am currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science Engineering.

Since childhood, I've been passionate about geology and always wanted to explore it as a career. I’m now determined to pursue geology after completing my engineering degree.

Could you please guide me on how I can transition into the field of geology after engineering? What are some potential paths, courses, or opportunities I should explore?

3 Comments
2024/12/15
17:33 UTC

7

Most brutal roast requested on this resume for new grad/entry level roles in geochemistry/mining/R&D

Good morning everyone,

I've had several boosts of confidence recently while applying to grad school. It's the perfect time to brace for some brutally honest blows, given that I'm also applying for jobs. The goal is to ideally work for a few years before going to grad school.

I know you'll say that people tend to not go back to school, but for context, I'm currently an intl. student in the US, so at one point it is imperative that I attend grad school in order to prolong my stay here. Also I won't need sponsorship and such, hence no worries about that.

Mostly looking for roles in R&D or anything lab-based or analytical. Open to all industries but experiences are mostly in mining. Kinda worried that my experience is more computational than lab/field work.

Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/sed8z0j0t07e1.jpg?width=2547&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eaa974888c4b1c10101c8e9d3ef97eb707c89243

8 Comments
2024/12/15
14:15 UTC

6

Job

Hello,

Looking for some work in the MENA area, experienced (6 years) in minerals and metals exploration and mining geology.

Happy to travel for work.

Thanks in advance

0 Comments
2024/12/15
08:47 UTC

7

Geotech drilling/investigation for residential developments

I’ve been tossing around the idea of starting my own smaller drilling/site investigation operation eventually (27 so this would be a ways down the road).

I’m wondering how reliable of a market inspection of properties and developments would be. The pitfall I see with properties is that you wouldn’t have returning clients just one shot projects but maybe word of mouth to communities could work. Alternatively developments present the possibility of returning clients if it’s for some kind of another business. Anyone do this sort of work? I’d love to know more.

I also have a fair bit of experience in geophysics and magnetics in particular. How easy is it find clients who need utility location done?

14 Comments
2024/12/14
16:31 UTC

11

Is there any recourse for a GIT if the responsible charge PG will not sign off on his time?

California, if it matters.

This is for a coworker, not for myself. At my company we recently had one of our two PGs leave, it seems he left with some bad blood between him and both our employer and the GIT that's been working under him for three years. After a lot of back-and-forth he's refusing to sign off on the GITs application for a PG.

As far as I've heard, this GIT was doing good work, and my understanding is that the PG decided not to sign off partly because of an argument with their boss.

It's all pretty unprofessional, in my opinion, and I feel terrible for this guy and all the years he's put in here.

The remaining PG at our company has rarely worked with this GIT, he's not comfortable claiming him, they've always worked out of different offices.

3 Comments
2024/12/13
18:43 UTC

4

Tips on asking for a raise

Hi there! I am approaching a year working for my current company, and am wondering the best way to go about asking for a raise.

This is my first geology job out of undergrad, currently making 86k as a 1099 contractor for a junior mining company doing uranium exploration (paid as a flat monthly fee, and I get reimbursed for my expenses in the field on top of my flat rate). I spend ~60% of my time doing field work, and the other ~40% creating maps and doing historic research remotely (WFH).

My work life balance is great, they treat me like a 1099 contractor so I have a lot of flexibility and not a lot of oversight, which works for me really well as I am able to self motivate. I really love this job, and know that I got super lucky to land it right after graduation. But I also know that if you’re not getting yearly raises you’re falling behind, and inflation is probably going to increase once Trump is sworn in.

So how much of a raise do I ask for? The property portfolio of the company has grown from 3 when I started in March, to over 25 properties as of today. On average each of these properties contains 60-80 claims, so it’s quite an increase in land holdings. I have explored 12 of these properties so far, and am responsible for understanding access, property boundaries, topography, geology, historic resources and future potential on each site (lots of report writing). I also am responsible for finding and aggregating GIS/remote sensing data and using collected field data to create maps of each property. Additionally, I am the lead person working with various subcontractors, fed, and state regulatory agencies to get permits for drilling completed, and once our drill program starts up in this spring, I will be responsible for managing the drilling and logging team we hire.

I feel like I have been able to rise to the occasion of all of the responsibilities asked of me so far, and have only gotten really positive feedback from my superiors. Plus the outlook for our company and the uranium market in general is bullish. Would a 15% increase be too much to ask? Should I ask for a lower increase (10%? 5%?) and some stock options instead? One of my professors highly encouraged me to ask for stock as soon as I could, but I wanted to see what other folks more experienced in the mineral exploration industry had to say.

Thanks for your help!

11 Comments
2024/12/13
17:35 UTC

118

I'm Cooked Y'all

2025 will be my 10th year as a consultant. I got my PG License 2 years ago and have been moving more into project management / leading people and just getting increasingly disillusioned. The further up I go the less I really care. My imposter syndrome is at an all time high. I feel like I am surrounded by people who are younger, faster, sharper, smarter, better, more efficient, more energetic, more enthusiastic, than I am.

I just can't genuinely get excited about much of anything anymore. I'm tired of everything I do getting ripped to shreds, or taking too long, or turned in too late. I've changed teams about 3 times at my current company and none of it seems like a fit. I keep getting raises and promotions so I must be doing okay, but internally I feel like a failure. Considering getting screened for ADHD because I can't stay focused I just can't decide on a path I'm all that excited about.

It's always taken me a longer time than others to finish things, and I am constantly having to push myself to stay motivated and I am just, done. Burned out. I don't know where to go from here. I'm not sure I even really want to be a geologist, or a consultant. I just want to like grow plants and go fishing or something.

Blech.

36 Comments
2024/12/13
16:44 UTC

15

Rio/BHP

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/12/business/australia-sexual-harassment-bhp-rio-tinto-intl-hnk/index.html

Anyone else see this? I mean I knew that at Barrick/NGM, harassment/bullying was happening (and probably some other things) especially with the mass exodus of a bunch of women and allies but I assumed Rio was good cause they kept posting about care, courage and curiosity; being up front about their Everyday Respect Report What do you think?

6 Comments
2024/12/13
16:36 UTC

2

Need help

Hey im a recent geology graduate and currently working in a construction company. I wanted to ask what is the career progression working in a construction company?

My job primarily handling the lab tests for earthworks. At times i feel like a lab technician and i just wanted some insights from anyone that have the details on what i should do. I saw several lab tech became inspector of works (IOW) just by gaining experience, but i don’t know if that will be just a waste of my degree. Any opinion helps thanks!

3 Comments
2024/12/13
14:45 UTC

2

Acid Mine Drainage Prediction Review

Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone with some expertise is interested in reviewing some lab results from an Acid Mine Drainage Potential Project? I feel pretty confident in my interpretation but would like someone to take a second look. Thanks.

1 Comment
2024/12/13
14:25 UTC

8

I’m back.. working in an asbestos lab. Help?

I made a post a month ago about my paranoia from working in an asbestos lab just logging in packaged soil samples into a computer. All data work. 2 months in & experiencing wheezing, persistent cough. When they crush the dry soil samples in the same lab that’s when i go off coughing persistently. I think i have asbestosis. What should i do. I’m really paranoid and worried knowing symptoms are irreversible and that I may potentially die from this. Right as of now i’m experiencing tight chest and irritated air pipe like my breathing isn’t what it was 3 months ago, perfectly fine. No one there experiences this, what should i do?!!

14 Comments
2024/12/13
14:07 UTC

15

Jobs other than consulting?

I graduated in 2023 with a BS in geology and have been working in the northern California area as a consultant since then. In my experience I absolutely despise consulting and the constant rat race of billable hours and 60+ hour weeks with no OT. Are there any jobs relating to geology that aren't consulting? Seems like that's the only career path with a bachelor's degree right now.

37 Comments
2024/12/13
00:28 UTC

3

California CHG/CEG Results

Are others still waiting for their California CHG/CEG results? Yesterday marked 10 weeks since the CHG test and I still haven't heard anything T.T

9 Comments
2024/12/12
21:11 UTC

2

Leapfrog vs Earth Volumetric Studio?

Let's say you're starting from square zero, and want to buy and learn a software package for modeling remediation projects. Does either Leapfrog or EVS have an advantage? Of course looking at the software capabilities, but also cost, learning curve, tech help, etc. Projects largely focus on soil and groundwater contamination and remediation.

7 Comments
2024/12/12
15:59 UTC

0

How important is your GPA

So I'm now third year doing petroleum geoscience, I have been getting straight A all my freshman year and all the geology courses I got A but now I have 2 b+ in University elective courses which will bring my gpa to 3.9 I have been crying for the past 5 hours. Even though all my friends and family are saying it's a very good grade. I'm just scared that I will not get to work with a company I like bc of my grades

17 Comments
2024/12/12
15:07 UTC

1

Hons Bsc geology + biology vs Hons bsc Geology in undergrad?

Hey all! Just looking for some advice generally, seeing really helpful stuff on here and figure you guys might have an answer to what I have to ask

Im in my first year of undergrad, trying to find my way in terms of a module that I can get a degree in for jobs in this field, I've always been interested in the natural systems of the earth, earth sci, biology, geology etc. Super passionate about geology/earth sci as well as biology.

Two are sort of sticking out to me, the university I go to offers a (combined?) Honors Bsc Geology+Biology (Not a double major, So going down this path gives me the opportunity to write a honors thesis type 4th year paper, which I've been seeing is super helpful for grad school) and an Honors Bsc Geology (also with the 4th year thesis). Other options exist, an env sci, geo sci, and obviously all sorts of bio ones, but the Idea is to get a degree in the Earth sciences department, not the biology one (been seeing all sorts of stuff about biology degrees not opening up a lot of pathways for a solid career trajectory). All this being said, it looks like the combination of courses for the combined module doesn't lead to being eligible for professional registration for geology work , whereas the Geology module does (obviously), However, the geology module offers very few biology courses after first year, and as im passionate and interested in both, im a little hesitant to specialize in geology because it cuts off my exposure to biology specific courses. ANYWAY, after beating around the bush, I guess I can narrow the question down to the following:

Is it worth specializing in geology for the professional registration even if it means that i cant fully do what i want to do with my time in undergrad? Is it perfectly okay for long term career planning in earth sciences to be more general and graduate with the hybrid module? How important is Professional registration really, and can grad school (a masters or phd) make up for the lack of professional registration. Do geology/earth sci careers exist outside of professional registration? Can the biology part of the hybrid module help me in this field? or is it just going to bring me down in the future, could it be an asset?

thanks in advance guys

11 Comments
2024/12/12
08:31 UTC

0

Job?

Is being a geologist a good paying job in Canada and should I go to university for it?

3 Comments
2024/12/12
02:50 UTC

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