Career Overlap Transition record Edition 1 · ESCO v1.2.1
Table 1Transition record

cartographertogeographic information systems specialist

A cartographer already meets 63% of what the geographic information systems specialist role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.

From cartographer
63%
Overlap1
To geographic information systems specialist
23 Skills carried over
5 Required, not held
42.4 Difficulty2
Career overlap Strong match

63%

Learning distance Real move, short list to learn

42.4/ 100

1 Share of the geographic information systems specialist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the cartographer 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.

Why

Why this move works

A geographic information systems specialist role treats 15 of its required skills as things a cartographer already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

  • apply digital mapping
  • cartography
  • collect mapping data
  • compile GIS-data
  • create GIS reports
  • create thematic maps

What stands in the way is 5 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 23 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geographic information systems specialist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a cartographer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held compile GIS-data information skills
  • already held geomatics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • already held photogrammetry engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held collect mapping data information skills
  • already held perform surveying calculations information skills
  • already held process collected survey data information skills

All 23 carried skills, including the 15 the geographic information systems specialist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 20 missing skills fall into 7 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 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 required
  • required, not held geological mapping required
  • required, not held statistics required
02 working with computers 1 required, 7 supplementary
  • required, not held use databases required
  • optional, not held develop geological databases optional
  • optional, not held use an application-specific interface optional
  • optional, not held develop computer vision system optional
  • optional, not held perform image editing optional
  • optional, not held prepare visual data optional
  • optional, not held store digital data and systems optional
  • optional, not held use presentation software optional
03 information skills 1 required, 4 supplementary
  • required, not held apply statistical analysis techniques required
  • optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
  • optional, not held collect geological data optional
  • optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
  • optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
04 engineering, manufacturing and construction 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • required, not held environmental design required
  • optional, not held spatial planning optional
05 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held write work-related reports optional
06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held CAD software optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a geographic information systems specialist 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 23 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held apply digital mapping skill
  • already held cartography knowledge
  • already held collect mapping data skill
  • already held compile GIS-data skill
  • already held create GIS reports skill
  • already held create thematic maps skill
  • already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
  • already held geographic information systems knowledge
  • already held geography knowledge
  • already held geomatics knowledge
  • already held mathematics knowledge
  • already held perform surveying calculations skill
  • already held process collected survey data skill
  • already held surveying knowledge
  • already held use geographic information systems skill
  • already held collect data using GPS skill
  • already held geodesy knowledge
  • already held photogrammetry knowledge
  • already held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools skill
  • already held surveying methods knowledge
  • already held topography knowledge
  • already held use CAD software skill
  • already held use spreadsheets software skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
Skill to acquire Tier
07 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held operate surveying instruments optional
15 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to acquire Tier
  • optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
  • optional, not held collect geological data optional
  • optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
  • optional, not held develop geological databases optional
  • optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
  • optional, not held operate surveying instruments optional
  • optional, not held spatial planning optional
  • optional, not held use an application-specific interface optional
  • optional, not held CAD software optional
  • optional, not held develop computer vision system optional
  • optional, not held perform image editing optional
  • optional, not held prepare visual data optional
  • optional, not held store digital data and systems optional
  • optional, not held use presentation software optional
  • optional, not held write work-related reports optional
26 held skills the geographic information systems specialist role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role ICT system programming knowledge
  • not needed by the target role apply desktop publishing techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role archive scientific documentation skill
  • not needed by the target role assist scientific research skill
  • not needed by the target role conduct field work skill
  • not needed by the target role conduct quantitative research skill
  • not needed by the target role conduct scholarly research skill
  • not needed by the target role design customised maps skill
  • not needed by the target role design graphics skill
  • not needed by the target role desktop publishing knowledge
  • not needed by the target role draft legends skill
  • not needed by the target role empirical analysis knowledge
  • not needed by the target role geology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role handle geospatial technologies skill
  • not needed by the target role identify customer's needs skill
  • not needed by the target role improve user-friendliness skill
  • not needed by the target role legal research knowledge
  • not needed by the target role operate scientific measuring equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
  • not needed by the target role remote sensing techniques knowledge
  • not needed by the target role report analysis results skill
  • not needed by the target role scientific research methodology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role study aerial photos skill
  • not needed by the target role use digital illustration techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role use software for data preservation skill
  • not needed by the target role use traditional illustration techniques skill
5 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 environmental design required
  • required, not held geological mapping required
  • required, not held statistics required
  • optional, not held spatial planning optional
  • optional, not held CAD software optional
Index

Other moves recorded from cartographer

Full index of moves from cartographer

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.