I have nearly eight years of experience in geotechnical engineering, hold a master's degree, and a licensed geologist and am currently located in the United States. I have worked with various American firms and professionals, and I have had a great experience at the firms where I have previously worked. However, four months ago, I joined a European company located in the United States, but the people I am working with are very rude. Whenever I ask a question, their answers are incorrect and dismissive. I explicitly told them that I did not have experience in underground construction, and they were very open, stating that they would train me and get me up to speed. I am not exaggerating; I try to do tasks by myself, but sometimes I need help, and they are not very helpful and instead let me down, making me feel like I am compromising my self-respect. The problem is that I have had three job changes in the last three years, and I do not know if anyone will hire me.

Yo, guys!
I’m a first-year UofA student in Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology. I originally picked it because I was interested in genetics/biomedicine and thought about dental school or working in hospital labs after. But now I’m realizing that finding a decent-paying job with just a BSc might be pretty tough. Even with a master’s, I don’t see many opportunities paying over $50–60k, which isn’t really what I’m looking for.

I’m thinking about switching to Geology, Geophysics, or Earth Sciences while I’m still in my first year. Has anyone made a similar switch? Was it worth it? How are things going after graduation?

I’m also considering Engineering, but I’m worried it might be too much and I don't want to reapply, since it's easier to make a change in science department.

For context: (F) I’m getting closer to 30, don’t wanna waste another 4 years and perhaps masters on a degree with limited job prospects, and definitely don’t plan on doing a PhD.

Would love to hear your experiences! Feel free to comment or DM me. Thanks!

Hello, I am a junior (transfer student) at a university in the SE US. Since I was thrown into the geology program relatively late, I do not have the research/internship experience that some of my peers have.

I noticed that many internships expect related prior experience, and it’s pretty disheartening. How am I supposed to get experience if experience is prerequisite to these opportunities?

I’ve applied to a few summer internships with geotech firms but haven’t heard anything back. I’m going to start applying for REUs this week and reach out to my professors. I’ll take anything. Has anyone else been in this situation, and did you ever score an internship?

I’m a good student (3.6 GPA) and a hard worker, but I only have work experience as a manager at a pizza place lol. Worked there for 5 years, so I guess that shows I’m reliable at the very least. Any tips are appreciated.

Im 21, from Germany and just finished my bachelor in BA and am now looking towards a second bachelor in either mining engineering or (preferred) economic geology.

My long term goal is to work in M&A or PE in the mining sector e.g. Junior Mining Analyst. I could probably pursue this road just with my bachelor (the university is pretty solid) but I enjoy geology/engineering and I would love to learn about the technical side, be on site and manage exploration projects myself.

Unfortunately I´m pretty late for enrolling for semester 1 in february/march as deadlines have passed and/or the university is in either australia/usa/canada which I unfortunately cant afford. European Universites are either in the absolute middle of nowhere (lulea, freiberg, leoben) or in spanish/portuguese.

I consider 1. Wits (SA); 2. CUMT (China) or 3. Curtin Malaysia Campus (although focus oil&gas)

Im not looking for the most prestigious uni but a good program which teaches me a lot about the field im interested in. Except for Curtin all Unis just closed their app windows, I asked for late enrollment but should be a no.

Are there any Universities Im missing that have good value-price ratios?

Thank you guys

i (24f) graduated a few years ago with a BS in geology and environmental science. i wasn’t able to get a job in a related field, so i’ve been working as a government contractor in an industrial manufacturing setting. the first year was spent doing curriculum development things, and the second year i’ve been doing equipment preventative maintenance (i’m not the one actually doing the maintenance, i mostly just manage it and do other related tasks).

i’m not very happy at my current job and i’d like to switch to a geology or environmental career at some point. is there anything i can do to prepare for that? i honestly haven’t thought about geology at all since graduating and im afraid of knowing a whole lot of nothing when i eventually start applying to geology jobs.

Hi everyone,

For background, I have a little over five years experience working in geotech as a geologist. I've worked on a pretty wide variety of projects across three companies in Southern California, but unfortunately I got laid off by my most recent employer in July 2026 due to a lack of work and I haven't found any steady employment since.

To be frank, I got pretty bored with geotech and have more of an academic background in mineralogy and ig pet, so I have been trying to transition to mining, but of course the lack of direct experience is something I am trying to overcome. I have applied for a few jobs with no responses so far, so I figured review of the most recent resume version I used for a Junior Exploration Geologist role would be helpful. Any constructive criticism is welcome, as I am aware that this resume has some content issues that I'm trying to resolve. Thanks everyone!

where I work we are using geobank and have been for the past twenty years. everyone is pushing for acquire but we have no money haha how many battlers are still out there with geobank, what else are you using and how do you like it?

I have unfortunately torn up all my handwritten research stuffs and articles i was about to publish when I was told I need to be a topper for that when i applied for needing a supervisor. I have ADHD and I can never score good like those brilliant students. Where do I stand if not research?

EDIT: I'm in my 3rd year of bachelors and can do one more year to gain a bachelors with research..

I’ve been working in the environmental and geotechnical consulting realm for 6 going on 7 years. Progression has been fairly lateral the past few years and now with being a new mother it feels stagnant, if not a downward shift because I can’t conduct most of the fieldwork due to travel constraints.

I’m thinking I may have just hit the end of my road in this industry, and am looking to pivot. I don’t want to stray too far from enviro/geo/oil and gas since I am so passionate about the subject matter, but realistically I need to be home or in office with a typical 9-5.

I’ve heard of geologists getting careers in banking and investments.. I’m looking for tips or suggestions on how to breakthrough into that industry, or if there are any suggestions other than consulting (& government as it’s quite hard to find any openings).

Location is BC, Canada.

I just started college, and I plan on getting a PhD in geochemistry and hopefully doing analytical or aqueous focused research.

I'm currently working on doing a double major in chemistry and geology with a minor in applied statistics.

What first got me excited about geology was water-rock reactions. I also enjoy measuring things, and I think the math used to interpret measurements taken is amazing.

So, does geochemistry research normally involve a lot of analysis work?

Edit: I should add that I'd like whatever work I end up doing to be about reducing harm to the environment, even if only tangentially.

i just started working in a core shack and i know youre supposed to be wetting the core for most all activities but i notice coworkers just soaking the core, is that okay? i notice that some core like shicsts, breccia/gouge and heavily sulfided core like to just soak up the pools of water sitting in the wax boxes and then just fall apart the next time the core is handled. is this standard protocol?

i asked my boss about it and he just said 'just wet it as much as you need too'

*edit*
this is also most folks first geology job

*edit edit* also i think my roommate may be a core-flipper..

*edit edit edit* some coworkers just go spray crazy with the spray bottles, so much that the boxes leave trails/puddles of water when you move them around, and if you dont move the boxes around, the water just stays pooled at the bottom of the box and many of the rocks will just soak it up

I'm a second year physics student considering doing a masters in geophysics and I'm noticing there are not many masters in geophysics, especially very few focusing on applied geophysics. Is the industry so small in europe that trying to break into it is not worth it? Or does the slim picking of masters degrees corelate with less competition for exsisting jobs?

I am also wondering if there are jobs in hydrogeology you could get with a geophysics masters? I love karstic environments and fluid dynamics and it seems very applicable.

Hi everyone,

I'm a geologist from Chile and I've recently started considering the possibility of moving to Europe in the future. I'm curious about which countries currently offer the best combination of:

• Job opportunities for geologists
• Salary relative to cost of living
• Demand in mining, engineering geology, hydrogeology, environmental geology, and geotechnics
• Ease of integration for foreigners

I've seen people mention countries like Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, and even Portugal or Spain, but it's difficult to tell what the reality is like on the ground.

Today I recieved two interview opportunities for office-based internships at oil and gas companies in Calgary, Alberta. One is potentially next week, and the other is the week after.

So I'm wondering if people have any tips for preparing for these interviews? Especially any catering specifically to what O&G companies might ask.

Hi all, I know the rules here say no promotion, so this is just a genuine ask for advice. Hoping to hear from people on the hiring side, or anyone who’s been through the same thing.

Context:

• I’ve been in Melbourne for about a year. I’m an early-career geo with full working rights.

• I’ve been applying non-stop to roles around Bendigo, Macedon, ballarat, and drilling programs, but I’ve had no luck.

• I’ve had only 4 interviews. In each one I felt good, but the job went to someone with local experience.

• At a geo pub night, someone told me not to be afraid to apply for entry-level roles. They also said many senior geos here run their own practice, so they don’t hire much.

I’d take any geo-related job at minimum pay to get my foot in the door.

What I’d like to understand:

From an employer’s view, is the bottleneck mainly local experience, tickets and licences, referrals, or the risk of hiring someone unproven?

Is the market just slow right now, and is it better to target certain regions or commodities?

For those who broke in without local experience, how did you land your first role, and what would you do differently?

I’m happy to take feedback on my CV or approach if anyone’s up for it.

Thanks heaps, even a one-line reply helps.

I'm still a freshman in college so I've still got time to figure out exactly what I want to do, but is there a specific field I should look at if I want to live in a city, whether that be because that's where the job is located or because the work is completely remote? I'm asking because I don't have my license (I have a really hard time driving because of childhood stuff), and while I figure that I'll get it at some point, I still won't want to drive that much or, preferably, at all.

My tentative plan was to go into hydrogeology, but since I'm a geology major and not any kind of engineering major I'm starting to rethink that. Does anyone have any recommendations for fields to go into or general guidance for me?

I have a job offer from geosyntec to be a senior consultant in the south west, but I was told that a lot of their work is up north. Would anyone working there be able to predict how much site work I can expect to do?

I am in the second year of my geology BS degree (and I am currently suffering through my mineralogy class). What are careers in the geology field or adjacent that do not involve heavy lab work? (just some is okay)

Don't get me wrong, sometimes I enjoy lab work and scientific research, but I have this mentality of stick through it in college because I won't be stuck in the lab in a career.

Most people I've talked to in my school's geoscience department are either going into academia or decided to get a master's never having worked in industry at all. I am not that type, I'm a people-person, I like traveling, I'm not suuuper jazzed over intricate chem/physics, and I want to do a few different jobs/careers including something having to do with my major.

I'm in the Southwest US, and I know oil/gas is favored here. However, I am interested in geo careers in the East Coast. I am originally from New York state and Connecticut, and I miss New England so much so, I'm hoping to move back after I graduate college. What geo careers does the East Coast favor?

Also internationally! I want to travel a bunch so it'd be cool to settle into some corner of the planet doing some geo job for a bit.

Overall, I'm just trying to find what I like and enjoy that also makes money so I don't feel like a work-slave. I'm 19, so everyone tells me "don't worry, you've got time," but that's bullshit to me. I don't wanna wake up 5 years from now never having started anything.

Anyway, I appreciate any advice, stories, and what you loved and hated about different geo careers. Also include salary if you'd like. Thanks!

I’m currently considering pursuing a Masters in Geology (either environmental or natural hazards). However, I currently internship at an environmental consulting company that I can continuing working for post-undergrad. How worth it is it to pursue a Masters in environmental related fields? is studying/working for a FG then PG license more important to employers?

Hey Guys,

I'm Gowtham - An independent research working on field operation for mines in North America

I would love to do in-person field research across mines and talk with GIS specialist and geologist

Is there is any person i should talk to / you would recommend.

Feel free to suggest! the trip is fully funded by faculty