Table 1Transition record

chemisttopalaeontologist

A chemist already meets 70% of what the palaeontologist role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.

From chemist

70%

Overlap1

To palaeontologist

36 Skills carried over

6 Required, not held

44 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 44

This move: 44 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the palaeontologist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the chemist 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 36 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A palaeontologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a chemist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held develop scientific theories information skills
already held scientific literature generic programmes and qualifications
already held apply scientific methods information skills
already held collect samples for analysis handling and moving
already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data information skills
already held think abstractly communication, collaboration and creativity

All 36 carried skills, including the 32 the palaeontologist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 30 missing skills fall into 9 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 4 required, 6 supplementary

required, not held geographic information systems required
required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held geology required
required, not held paleontology required

optional, not held botany optional
optional, not held habitat restoration optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional

02 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required

required, not held scientific modelling required

03 working with computers 1 required

required, not held use geographic information systems required

04 information skills 10 supplementary

optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held analyse experimental laboratory data optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held gather experimental data optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held record test data optional

05 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 supplementary

optional, not held locate fossils optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional
optional, not held perform laboratory tests optional

06 handling and moving 2 supplementary

optional, not held assemble fossils optional
optional, not held excavate fossils optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a palaeontologist 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 36 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 communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
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 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 mentor individuals skill
already held operate open source software skill
already held perform project management skill
already held perform scientific research skill
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 scientific literature knowledge
already held scientific research methodology knowledge
already held speak different languages skill
already held synthesise information skill
already held think abstractly skill
already held write scientific publications skill
already held apply blended learning skill
already held collect samples for analysis skill
already held develop scientific theories skill
already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill

The 3 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held paleography optional

08 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held work ergonomically optional

09 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary

optional, not held write research proposals optional

24 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held assemble fossils optional
optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held excavate fossils optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held locate fossils optional
optional, not held analyse experimental laboratory data optional
optional, not held botany optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held habitat restoration optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held gather experimental data optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional
optional, not held operate scientific measuring equipment optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held perform laboratory tests optional
optional, not held record test data optional
optional, not held work ergonomically optional
optional, not held write research proposals optional

60 held skills the palaeontologist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role CAE software knowledge
not needed by the target role advise on chemical use reduction skill
not needed by the target role alternative fuels knowledge
not needed by the target role analyse chemical substances skill
not needed by the target role analytical chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role analytical methods in biomedical sciences knowledge
not needed by the target role apply liquid chromatography skill
not needed by the target role apply safety procedures in laboratory 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 biological chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role calibrate laboratory equipment skill
not needed by the target role communicate with external laboratories skill
not needed by the target role conduct quality control analysis skill
not needed by the target role cosmetics industry knowledge
not needed by the target role customer relationship management knowledge
not needed by the target role develop chemical products skill
not needed by the target role develop components separation processes skill
not needed by the target role develop new food products skill
not needed by the target role develop scientific research protocols skill
not needed by the target role dispose of hazardous waste skill
not needed by the target role document analysis results skill
not needed by the target role execute feasibility study on hydrogen skill
not needed by the target role follow nuclear plant safety precautions skill
not needed by the target role follow procedures to control substances hazardous to health skill
not needed by the target role formulate cosmetic products skill
not needed by the target role good manufacturing practices knowledge
not needed by the target role green chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role inorganic chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role manage chemical testing procedures skill
not needed by the target role materials engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role nuclear energy knowledge
not needed by the target role nuclear medicine knowledge
not needed by the target role nuclear physics knowledge
not needed by the target role organic chemistry knowledge
not needed by the target role oversee quality control skill
not needed by the target role oxidation knowledge
not needed by the target role perform physico-chemical analysis to food materials skill
not needed by the target role pharmaceutical chemistry knowledge

20 further entries not listed here

12 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 geographic information systems required
required, not held geological time scale required
required, not held geology required
required, not held paleontology required
required, not held scientific modelling required
optional, not held botany optional
optional, not held habitat restoration optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held biology optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional

Index

Other moves recorded from chemist

Full index of moves from chemist

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.