Table 1Transition record

conservation scientisttopalaeontologist

A conservation scientist already meets 69% of what the palaeontologist role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From conservation scientist

69%

Overlap1

To palaeontologist

37 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

44.3 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 44.3

This move: 44.3 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the palaeontologist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the conservation scientist 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 37 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 conservation scientist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held habitat restoration natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held geography natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held scientific literature generic programmes and qualifications
already held geographic information systems natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held biology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held chemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics

All 37 carried skills, including the 31 the palaeontologist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 29 missing skills fall into 10 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 3 required, 2 supplementary

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 geophysics optional

02 information skills 1 required, 11 supplementary

required, not held apply scientific methods required

optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held analyse experimental laboratory data optional
optional, not held develop scientific theories 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

03 education 1 required

required, not held scientific research methodology required

04 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required

required, not held scientific modelling required

05 working with computers 1 required

required, not held use geographic information systems required

06 handling and moving 3 supplementary

optional, not held assemble fossils optional
optional, not held excavate fossils optional
optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional

4 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 37 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 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 geographic information systems knowledge
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 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 biology knowledge
already held chemistry knowledge
already held geography knowledge
already held habitat restoration knowledge
already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill

The 4 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 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

08 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held paleography optional

09 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held work ergonomically optional

10 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary

optional, not held write research proposals optional

22 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 develop scientific theories optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held apply statistical analysis techniques optional
optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held gather experimental data 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

37 held skills the palaeontologist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role advise on nature conservation skill
not needed by the target role advise on tree issues skill
not needed by the target role agroforestry knowledge
not needed by the target role animal species knowledge
not needed by the target role business management principles knowledge
not needed by the target role climate smart agriculture knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct educational activities skill
not needed by the target role conduct erosion control skill
not needed by the target role conduct sediment control skill
not needed by the target role conservation agriculture knowledge
not needed by the target role coordinate educational programmes skill
not needed by the target role develop environmental policy skill
not needed by the target role direct an artistic team skill
not needed by the target role ecology knowledge
not needed by the target role ecosystem management knowledge
not needed by the target role educate people about nature skill
not needed by the target role educate the public about wildlife skill
not needed by the target role environmental legislation knowledge
not needed by the target role estimate duration of work skill
not needed by the target role forest ecology knowledge
not needed by the target role forestry regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role identify plants characteristics skill
not needed by the target role inspect trees skill
not needed by the target role liaise with cultural partners skill
not needed by the target role manage contracts skill
not needed by the target role manage forest fires skill
not needed by the target role manage forests skill
not needed by the target role measure trees skill
not needed by the target role negotiate land access skill
not needed by the target role present exhibition skill
not needed by the target role reforestation knowledge
not needed by the target role respond to enquiries skill
not needed by the target role supervise forestry workers skill
not needed by the target role support volunteers skill
not needed by the target role sustainable forest management knowledge
not needed by the target role use ICT resources to solve work related tasks skill
not needed by the target role write work-related reports skill

8 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 geological time scale required
required, not held geology required
required, not held paleontology required
required, not held scientific modelling required
required, not held scientific research methodology required
optional, not held botany optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held geophysics optional

Index

Other moves recorded from conservation scientist

Full index of moves from conservation scientist

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.