GeologyRocks

I don't want to pour cold water on enthusiasm, but geology related jobs in UK are few and far between, and generally comparatively poorly paid.

There are any number of geology clubs in the NE, and if you tell me where exavctly you are I will try to find one near you.

Go along and make enquiries - I don't know of any club that doesn't have a 'real' geologist (as opposed to us amatuers), - usually retired and suffering from Static Hammer Syndrome and talk to him/her. 

It might also pay you to go to the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, Liecestershire (long trek I know) and speak to people there.

There used to be a guy on this site (Javi-Geo) - Spanish.  Vey nice guy. We met up several times when I took A level student to N. Spain.  He realised when he got to Madrid university, and there were 200 people on his course, that he had to have an edge.  So he learnt English. He did 5 years for his degree another 7 for his PhD and then couldn't get a job.  Of all things I believe he has now gone to work in Spanish speaking South America! 

 Do keep your enthusiasm for geology, but make sure it will pay as a career before you commit.

Having said that I have a friend in the RAF. Pilots have to have a degree - his is in geology, and he is flying a Hurcules as a Sqn. Ldr.!  

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Hi

Thanks for replying

As for job shortage, I am used to that; I mistakenly chose the most oversaturated sector of employment, so in relative terms it can only get better (Though I apprieciate the advice and will folllow this uo, especially on any further direction I may receive). 

As for jobs not being in the UK (aside form the NE) I intent to commit full to this degree. Following an unsuccessful 3 yars as a graduate, I am aware now of the price of failure, and will work to achieve a 2:1 or first, followed be an an MSc to improve career prospects, ideally in a country with an economy based upon geological resource (For example, Norway, or the Arab Emerites). Moving within the UK would not be an issue, if required. 

As for travelling to areas of help or information within the UK, I forgot to mention that my father is rail staff, so I get free travel. Anywhere that can offer help, I am open to travel to tbh.

 I would love to go back to my interest of physical geography, and intend to weigh up all the risks, though I fear that my current path may  prove forever fruitless.

 Also working in the RAF would be cool. I'd happily shave my hair to fly a helicopter or plane for a living. Alas I have looked in to it, and am too short-sighted to make the grade

Much appriciated
Joey 

Well Joe,

Clearly short-sightedness is a distinct disadvantage to flying a plane, but I was using that as an illustration.  There are many people with a degree who are not working within the sector that degree covers.

Again, if you look around you will find that about 75% of jobs do not require a degree.  This was Blairs idea that everyone should have a degree.  Its rather like giving everyone £1,000,000.  Sounds good, but no one is any better off in actual fact.

There was an article in the paper recently that those who take up an apprenticeship (I'll come back to those!) are better off both financially and in the hunt for jobs.  A well embossed bit of paper does not give life experience.  Apprenticeships do.

Having worked in the training sector with these so called 'modern apprenticeships' I really do not feel that they fullfil every criteia required.

When I left school the parting words from my headmaster 'Bengy' Brittain were- 'Good job you are joining the army because you'll never be any good as long as you live.'   - You see, they told the truth in those days instead of dressing it up to make kids believe that the world was waiting just for them.  I had absolutely no qualifications, having failed every GCE - which in those days was the equivalent and beyond of todays A Levels (if you don't believe me just Google some past GCE paper from the late 50s.  I gave some apprentices an 11+ maths paper from 1955.  They would have run out of time by question 4 - which they couldn't do because they couldn't understand it!)

 I joined the Army at 16 as a boy soldier and did a 3 year vehicle engineering apprenticeship. We covered every aspect of vehicles both practically and on classroom work.  In addition I did bench-fitting, welding - arc and gas (there was no MIG etc. then), turning, tin-smithing, black-smithing and so on, plus driving (straight on to trucks because there was no HGV licence then). But before that we all had to do 'school-work' and within the first 6 months I had Army Certificate of Education class 1(equivalent to the GCEs that I failed) in maths, English, engineering drawing, science, geography & current affairs (the Armys' place in the world really). I wasn't alone in having no qualifications.  It was the norm then.  And we also learned soldiering.

I never looked back. I passed every exam they put in front of me, and after setting up my own business when I left the Army, and selling it, I went into teaching/training.  I bet Bengy Brittain is turning in his grave!  I also teach geology when I get the chance, and that came (for the forst 10 years as a self taught subject) much later in life.

Sadly they no longer do these army apprenticeships.  It's all 'learning on the job' now, and certainly in the Army, when you have break-downs in the middle of nowhere, or under the active service conditions of Afghanistan today there isn't time to tell a young lad how to do it and then stand over him to see its done properly. 

My school mates who did apprenticeships elsewhere also got a really good grounding  as well.  But that's the way it was.

I have a very good friend (from the NE) who went to Middlesborough Grammar  School, joined the Army as an apprentices telecommunications technician. Came out as Lt. Col. - just shows what can be done! (no, not me.  I couldn't keep my mouth shut at the right time!) 

Having said  that I don't think much of todays apprenticeships, I still think they are better that 3 years at uni, which seems to be little more that a long party in some cases.  Personal opinion.

I was teaching maths and English to apprentice carpenters and stone masons at Bath College a few years ago.  They were all fully employed for the forseeable future.  Indeed I need a chippy to put some new internal doors in my house now and the ealiest I can get someone is mid Feb! 

 Having said all that, if you really want to do geology, and be a geologist then go for it.  You can use this site for help, but you will find (certainly Gus and I) will NOT do your work for you.  We will point you in the right direction if we can. If we can't we won't give you BS.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

I used to train graduate geologists for the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry and potentially the fracking side of that business is still a major employer of geologists world wide and not just in the UK. 

 This is some distance for you, but you said something about free travel I believe. 

If you can't attend perhaps you you could make enquires to see if they are coming nearer to you. 

 WRG - AGM followed by The Geotechnical Academy
The academy is a collaboration between Geotechnical Engineering Ltd and Equipe Group, providing fundamental technical and commercial training to aspiring geo-professionals, helping them to apply their theoretical and technical understanding in the practical and commercial world.
The event is open to non-fellows, so please feel free to invite your colleagues or friends.
6.30 p.m. Room 8, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Ooooh, I am keen to check this out. Do you need to apply, or can you just pop down?

Also what date is it on?

And yes, I could easily travel to Bristol for this

Sorry only just seen this.  I'll try to copy and paste the flyer.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

 FOUND IT!!!

WRG - AGM followed by The Geotechnical Academy
We are inviting volunteers / nominations for committee members for the upcoming year. If you are interested, please contact us.
The academy is a collaboration between Geotechnical Engineering Ltd and Equipe Group, providing fundamental technical and commercial training to aspiring geo-professionals, helping them to apply their theoretical and technical understanding in the practical and commercial world.
The event is open to non-fellows, so please feel free to invite your colleagues or friends.
6.30 p.m. Room 8, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building

the link of 'contact us' brings up an email to -

 [email protected]

 hope that helps. I will be going to the WEGA AGM.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant