22 | GEOLOGY
Careers in Geology
What Do Keele Geology
Graduates Do?
Our graduates go on to a wide range of different careers.
About one third of our students go straight into geology related
jobs in the hydrocarbon, mining, aggregates, geotechnical and
water industries, and another third continue into postgraduate
study, either vocational or research master’s courses, PhDs or
postgraduate teacher training. As many of our students study
two subjects for their degree, they also use their wide portfolio
of graduate skills to obtain jobs in their other subject area.
It has been said that if something has not been grown, then a
geologist has discovered the resource. From energy resources
such as gas, oil, coal, uranium and renewables such as
geothermal power, mineral resources such as diamonds, gold,
silver, platinum and other metals such as aluminium, lead, zinc,
copper and rare earth elements, to iron ore for steel, clay for
bricks, sand for glass, aggregates and limestone for concrete,
and even water, geologists are all necessary for their discovery.
The growing need for energy and mineral resources means
that job opportunities for geologists should continue to be very
high. Geological skills and knowledge are also vital in other
industries such as construction, for foundations, tunnelling,
road and rail cuttings, etc., and the insurance industry for the
evaluation of risk of geological hazards such as landslides,
subsidence, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.
Many of the skills that you will acquire through your degree,
such as problem solving, report writing, giving presentations,
researching and critically evaluating knowledge, working
individually and as part of a team, are also important for a very
wide range of other potential careers outside of geology.
keele.ac.uk/gge
Geology Careers Support
Careers training is embedded within the degree programmes,
and you will be able to identify how the things you are studying
at Keele relate to possible future careers with each module
having a defined set of employability skills. One of our second
year modules provides guidance on careers pathways,
feedback on your CV and producing an effective job application
covering letter, as well as providing help with interview skills
and psychometric testing. One member of staff is designated
the role of “Careers Tutor” and will be able to help you with
specific queries regarding both potential careers as well as
module selection to help you achieve your career goal, but
all staff are able to offer advice and support. There is also a
central University careers service with whom we work very
closely to provide both specific and general careers advice
as well as help in looking for work experience or internships.
For some students, a specific career target is at the top of the
agenda from day one, and they structure their entire degree
around a career goal. Other students discover their calling
during the course of their studies. Whatever approach is most
appropriate to you we will be on hand with help and advice
when you need it.