Geographers
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics > Science and MathematicsProjected Growth: Slower than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth’s surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.
Common job titles of Geographers include:
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Experience and Education
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.
43.48% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
34.78% said they needed a Master's Degree.
Tasks
Teach geography.
Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
Gather and compile geographic data from sources including censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography, such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.
Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.
Write and present reports of research findings.
Collect data on physical characteristics of specified areas, such as geological formations, climates, and vegetation, using surveying or meteorological equipment.
Conduct field work at outdoor sites.
Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
Provide consulting services in fields such as resource development and management, business location and market area analysis, environmental hazards, regional cultural history, and urban social planning.
Tools
X ray diffractometers
X ray diffraction equipment
Wind direction sensors
Water samplers
Water current meters
Video microscopes
Video cameras
All ToolsUltrasonic sieving systems
Turbidity probes
Truck-mounted drilling rigs
Tree increment borers
Total stations
Total dissolved solids TDS meters
Theodolites
Temperature sensors
Tablet computers
Survey altimeters
Submersible pressure sensors
Stereographic microscopes
Stereo zoom microscopes
Stereo light microscopes
Spinner magnetometers
Sonic sifters
Sonic anemometers
Soil samplers
Soil moisture meters
Soil mixers
Sieve shakers
Seismic stations
Sediment traps
Sediment samplers
Sediment coring equipment
Scanning electron microscopes SEM
Sample storage refrigerators
Salinity meters
Russian corers
Rock saws
Research motorboats
Pressure plate apparatus
Powered vibracorers
Powered rock-coring drills
Portable weather stations
Portable fume hoods
Portable data collectors
Polarizing microscopes
Plotters
Photosynthetically active radiation PAR meters
Phase contrast microscopes
pH analyzers
Petrographic microscopes
Personal digital assistants PDA
Personal computers
Optical comparators
Muffle furnaces
Mechanical current meters
Lysimeters
Livingstone corers
Laser particle sizers
Laser levels
Large format printers
Laptop computers
Laboratory sample splitters
Laboratory dropping pipettes
Laboratory analytical balances
Ion chromatographs
Infrared IR thermometers
Hydrometers
Humidity sensors
Hiller corers
High-speed centrifuges
High temperature laboratory box furnaces
Handheld data loggers
Ground penetrating radar GPR
Gravity convection ovens
Grab samplers
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Gas-mixing furnaces
Fume hoods
Four wheel drive 4WD vehicles
Flow meters
Flatbed scanners
Electronic precision balances
Electromagnetic current meters
Dutch augers
Drying ovens
Dissolved oxygen meters
Digitizers
Digital video cameras
Digital imaging microscopes
Digital cameras
Desktop computers
Demagnetizing equipment
Deionizers
Crosscut saws
Conductivity meters
Compaction meters
Chain saws
Cathodoluminescence microscopes
Automatic levels
Atomic emission spectroscopes
Anemometers
All terrain vehicles ATV
Abney levels
Technologies
ESRI ArcGIS software
Geographic information system GIS software
IBM SPSS Statistics
ACD Systems Canvas
Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
Caliper Maptitude
Clark Labs IDRISI Andes
All TechnologiesCorel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
ESRI ArcIMS
ESRI ArcView
Geographic resources analysis support system GRASS
Golden Software Grapher
Golden Software Surfer
Groundwater Vistas
HydroSOLVE AQTESOLV
ITT Visual Information Solutions ENVI
Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
Lemkesoft GraphicConverter
MapInfo MapMarker
Martin D Adamiker’s TruFlite
MODPATH
Pattern searching software
RockWare MODFLOW
Scientific Software Group RIVERMorph
Systat Software SigmaPlot
Trimble Pathfinder Office
Wolfram Research Mathematica
Skills
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Abilities
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Auditory and Speech Abilities › Sensory Abilities › Speech Clarity
Generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Category Flexibility