Ardea herodias ([info]static_hiss) wrote in [info]geology,
@ 2008-11-12 15:16:00
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Current mood: stressed

Job opportunities for a person with a bachelor's (not yet a master's) degree
Hey all,

So I'm wondering what sort of jobs are out there after I'm done with my undergrad stuff. Come June of 2009, I'll have a BA in Geology with a minor in Anthropology. (I chose the BA specifically because it required two semesters of chemistry; the BS at my school did not require the chem. How baffling.) I'm planning on grad school eventually but I am not going to jump right in next fall. I desperately need time off from school, but just a year or two at most.

The question is: what can I do with my bachelor's degree? Environmental firms, probably? I'm going to be moving to Boston MA, if that makes any difference in the job outlook. Because I'm married, I don't have a lot of wiggle room for the location of jobs (basically, the firm has to be in Boston or within forty minutes' driving distance to the Boston area). I'm not asking for specific advice here about jobs in Boston (though if anyone has any information that's always helpful), just more general advice about what I can do with my bachelor's in geology.

Or am I going to be stuck flipping proverbial burgers until I get my master's? :P


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[info]emiwenis
2008-11-12 08:39 pm UTC (link)
IF you're set on staying in boston, i'll lay $10 on the table saying you're only gonna find jobs in environmental firms.

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[info]fortyozspartan
2008-11-12 08:53 pm UTC (link)
Good luck.

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[info]tequiladawn
2008-11-12 09:05 pm UTC (link)
Check with the city, my city is always looking for help with any sort of geology degree.

Of course, I live in Kansas, where the economy revolves around airplanes.

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[info]kayranord
2008-11-12 10:15 pm UTC (link)
yup... environmental firms. be prepared to do stinky field work.

are you currently in, or familiar with, the boston area? because where you live compared to where you work has more to do with how long the commute will be than distance.

I worked for a firm based in Dedham and lived in Weymouth. Totally wrong way for traffic... during "rush hour(s)" the drive took well over an hour. During off hours it was 15 minutes. (Both apt and office were right off highway.) If you're not familiar with the area, drop me a comment on my personal journal (I'm actually finally getting around to leaving this community as I think I comment maybe once a year.) :P

I'm a number of years out of the environmental/hydro industry, and also number of years out of the Boston-area, but I had MUCH success using www.ejobs.org... especially the section where they list environmental employers by state, with links directly to the employment/job section of the company's website. Most efficient and fruitful site I used.

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[info]static_hiss
2008-11-12 11:05 pm UTC (link)
I am somewhat familiar with the Boston area. Not entirely unfamiliar, but I'm not from there, soooo... Good point about commute times vs. actual distance! I hadn't really thought into it in that way, but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the tips!

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[info]kayranord
2008-11-14 04:57 pm UTC (link)
I'm procrastinating from schoolwork so checked back. Google Maps now shows traffic... that might be a good way to get info on possible commute issues (though you do have to check real time.)

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[info]rolinator
2008-11-12 10:28 pm UTC (link)
Given I have 6 years under my belt as a geologist and the mining industry is absolutely fucked right now, I'll soon be flipping burgers...

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[info]basking_lizard
2008-11-13 02:35 am UTC (link)
Yeah I am similarly fucked, perhaps even moreso since I have much less than 6yrs experience. :( I'm 'on hiatus' until we get more money, which based on today's stock market doesn't look like it's ever going to happen.

Another xmas in retail, here I come... *cries*

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[info]pelogrande
2008-11-12 10:36 pm UTC (link)
I can't really say anything about the Boston area, but I got my Bachelor's a year ago with a similar plan to go back eventually (right now I'm looking at one more year off, probably).

In the meantime I've been working for a firm that does geophysical surveying. Our biggest jobs right now are actually UXO stuff, which is pretty damn neat, especially when they're blowing stuff up all the time. We have to be a bit more mobile than you seem to be, but don't despair. If you don't mind field work there's plenty of room out there for folks without post-grad degrees.

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[info]debin_kun
2008-11-13 02:56 am UTC (link)
I'm in a similar situation- in the process of getting my BS in Geology with a minor in Archaeology.

I know there isn't much in terms of jobs with this, which is why I've always planned on getting my PhD and earning the right to rant at unsuspecting geology undergrads. In the meantime, I'll probably be flipping those proverbial burgers right there with you.

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[info]fiatlouis
2008-11-13 04:39 am UTC (link)
In general environmental firms are going to be where you will have the most luck with a geology degree. Some geotechnical consulting firms will also hire geology grads (my first job out of school was at a geotech firm), especially if you have some facility with math/engineering type stuff.

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[info]heywood417
2008-11-13 03:38 pm UTC (link)
I would check with the Minerals Management Service, if they have an office anywhere near you--they were constantly recruiting at my school--but then again I work on the Gulf Coast where Oil & Gas is king.

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[info]lablemming
2008-11-14 05:54 am UTC (link)
Boston has cabs.
You're good at reading maps, right?

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