Table 1Transition record

astronomertophysicist

A astronomer already meets 72% of what the physicist role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From astronomer

72%

Overlap1

To physicist

55 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

45.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 45.3

This move: 45.3 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the physicist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the astronomer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 55 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A physicist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a astronomer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held analyse telescope images information skills
already held computational physics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held operate telescopes working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held mathematical physics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held astronomy natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held quantum technology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

All 55 carried skills, including the 43 the physicist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 39 missing skills fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held perform laboratory tests required
required, not held use measurement instruments required

optional, not held calibrate laboratory equipment optional
optional, not held operate remote sensing equipment optional

02 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 10 supplementary

required, not held laboratory techniques required

optional, not held forensic physics optional
optional, not held computational mechanics optional
optional, not held nuclear physics optional
optional, not held quantum mechanics optional
optional, not held Monte Carlo simulation optional
optional, not held acoustics optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held geology optional
optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
optional, not held thermodynamics optional

03 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required, 5 supplementary

required, not held spectroscopy required

optional, not held continuum mechanics optional
optional, not held petroleum optional
optional, not held solid mechanics optional
optional, not held aerodynamics optional
optional, not held materials engineering optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held communicate mathematical information required

optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
optional, not held communicate with external laboratories optional
optional, not held teach physics optional

05 information skills 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held analyse experimental laboratory data required

optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held observe matter optional

06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held supercomputing required

optional, not held computer simulation optional

5 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a physicist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 55 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply for research funding skill
already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
already held apply scientific methods skill
already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
already held computational physics knowledge
already held conduct research across disciplines skill
already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
already held evaluate research activities skill
already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
already held gather experimental data skill
already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
already held manage intellectual property rights skill
already held manage open publications skill
already held manage personal professional development skill
already held manage research data skill
already held mathematical modelling knowledge
already held mathematics knowledge
already held mentor individuals skill
already held operate open source software skill
already held operate scientific measuring equipment skill
already held perform project management skill
already held perform scientific research skill
already held physics knowledge
already held promote open innovation in research skill
already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
already held publish academic research skill
already held quantum computing knowledge
already held quantum technology knowledge
already held scientific literature knowledge
already held scientific research methodology knowledge
already held speak different languages skill
already held statistics knowledge
already held synthesise information skill
already held think abstractly skill
already held write scientific publications skill
already held analyse telescope images skill
already held apply blended learning skill
already held apply teaching strategies skill
already held astronomy knowledge
already held design scientific equipment skill
already held develop scientific theories skill
already held geophysics knowledge
already held mathematical physics knowledge
already held operate telescopes skill
already held perform lectures skill
already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
already held write research proposals skill

The 5 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 health and welfare 4 supplementary

optional, not held densiometry optional
optional, not held general medicine optional
optional, not held medical laboratory technology optional
optional, not held pharmaceutical technology optional

08 business, administration and law 1 supplementary

optional, not held intellectual property law optional

09 generic programmes and qualifications 1 supplementary

optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional

10 handling and moving 1 supplementary

optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional

11 social sciences, journalism and information 1 supplementary

optional, not held economics optional

32 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held densiometry optional
optional, not held forensic physics optional
optional, not held assist with geophysical surveys optional
optional, not held computational mechanics optional
optional, not held continuum mechanics optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held nuclear physics optional
optional, not held petroleum optional
optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
optional, not held quantum mechanics optional
optional, not held solid mechanics optional
optional, not held Monte Carlo simulation optional
optional, not held acoustics optional
optional, not held aerodynamics optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held calibrate laboratory equipment optional
optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
optional, not held communicate with external laboratories optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held economics optional
optional, not held general medicine optional
optional, not held geology optional
optional, not held intellectual property law optional
optional, not held materials engineering optional
optional, not held medical laboratory technology optional
optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional
optional, not held observe matter optional
optional, not held operate remote sensing equipment optional
optional, not held pharmaceutical technology optional
optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
optional, not held teach physics optional
optional, not held thermodynamics optional

10 held skills the physicist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role aeronomy knowledge
not needed by the target role archive scientific documentation skill
not needed by the target role carry out scientific research in observatory skill
not needed by the target role define celestial bodies skill
not needed by the target role optics knowledge
not needed by the target role optoelectronics knowledge
not needed by the target role optomechanical engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role scientific modelling knowledge
not needed by the target role teach astronomy skill
not needed by the target role types of optical instruments knowledge

26 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held spectroscopy required
required, not held supercomputing required
required, not held laboratory techniques required
optional, not held densiometry optional
optional, not held forensic physics optional
optional, not held computational mechanics optional
optional, not held continuum mechanics optional
optional, not held nuclear physics optional
optional, not held petroleum optional
optional, not held quantum mechanics optional
optional, not held solid mechanics optional
optional, not held Monte Carlo simulation optional
optional, not held acoustics optional
optional, not held aerodynamics optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held computer simulation optional
optional, not held economics optional
optional, not held general medicine optional
optional, not held geology optional
optional, not held intellectual property law optional
optional, not held materials engineering optional
optional, not held medical laboratory technology optional
optional, not held multidisciplinary research optional
optional, not held pharmaceutical technology optional
optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
optional, not held thermodynamics optional

Index

Other moves recorded from astronomer

Full index of moves from astronomer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.