Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

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Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the earth's internal composition, atmospheres, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Develop applied software for the analysis and interpretation of geological data.

  • Identify deposits of construction materials, and assess the materials' characteristics and suitability for use as concrete aggregates, road fill, or in other applications.

  • Test industrial diamonds and abrasives, soil, or rocks to determine their geological characteristics, using optical, x-ray, heat, acid, and precision instruments.

  • Measure characteristics of the Earth, such as gravity and magnetic fields, using equipment such as seismographs, gravimeters, torsion balances, and magnetometers.

  • Communicate geological findings by writing research papers, participating in conferences, or teaching geological science at universities.

  • Advise construction firms and government agencies on dam and road construction, foundation design, or land use and resource management.

  • Locate and estimate probable natural gas, oil, and mineral ore deposits and underground water resources, using aerial photographs, charts, or research and survey results.

  • Inspect construction projects to analyze engineering problems, applying geological knowledge and using test equipment and drilling machinery.

  • Conduct geological and geophysical studies to provide information for use in regional development, site selection, and development of public works projects.

  • Identify risks for natural disasters such as mud slides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, providing advice on mitigation of potential damage.

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Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

  • Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

  • Education: A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

  • Job training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

  • Examples: These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, physicists, school psychologists, and surgeons.

  • Svp range: (8.0 and above)

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Knowledge

Browse Knowledge

  • Geography
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Chemistry
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Physics
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

  • Biology
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

  • Law and Government
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

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Skills

Browse Skills

  • Science
    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

  • Active Learning
    Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

  • Coordination
    Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Time Management
    Managing one's own time and the time of others.

  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

  • Writing
    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • Judgment and Decision Making
    Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

  • Mathematics
    Using mathematics to solve problems.

  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

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Abilities

Browse Abilities

  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Inductive Reasoning
    The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Category Flexibility
    The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

  • Problem Sensitivity
    The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

  • Flexibility of Closure
    The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

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Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Telephone
    How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

  • Electronic Mail
    How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
    How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?

  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
    How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

  • Freedom to Make Decisions
    How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

  • Structured versus Unstructured Work
    To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

  • Letters and Memos
    How often does the job require written letters and memos?

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Interests

Browse Interests

  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

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Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Achievement/Effort
    Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

  • Leadership
    Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

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Work Values

Browse Work Values

  • Ability Utilization
    Workers on this job make use of their individual abilities.

  • Moral Values
    Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • Responsibility
    Workers on this job make decisions on their own.

  • Autonomy
    Workers on this job plan their work with little supervision.

  • Achievement-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

  • Independence-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

  • Achievement
    Workers on this job get a feeling of accomplishment.

  • Independence
    Workers on this job do their work alone.

  • Creativity
    Workers on this job try out their own ideas.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

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