Table 1Transition record

physicisttopalaeontologist

A physicist already meets 79% of what the palaeontologist role asks for. The move turns on 5 required skills not yet in the profile.

From physicist

79%

Overlap1

To palaeontologist

46 Skills carried over

5 Required, not held

34.6 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 34.6

This move: 34.6 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the palaeontologist role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the physicist 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 46 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 physicist background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held geophysics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held interpret geophysical data information skills
already held analyse experimental laboratory data information skills
already held gather experimental data information skills
already held develop scientific theories information skills
already held operate scientific measuring equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment

All 46 carried skills, including the 33 the palaeontologist role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 20 missing skills fall into 8 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, 4 supplementary

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

optional, not held botany optional
optional, not held habitat restoration optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held geography 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 6 supplementary

optional, not held conduct geochemical research optional
optional, not held identify fossils optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held record test data optional

05 handling and moving 2 supplementary

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

06 arts and humanities 1 supplementary

optional, not held paleography optional

2 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 46 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 geology 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 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 analyse experimental laboratory data skill
already held apply blended learning skill
already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
already held biology knowledge
already held collect samples for analysis skill
already held develop scientific theories skill
already held gather experimental data skill
already held geophysics knowledge
already held interpret geophysical data skill
already held operate scientific measuring equipment skill
already held perform laboratory tests skill
already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
already held write research proposals skill

The 2 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held work ergonomically optional

08 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 supplementary

optional, not held locate fossils optional

15 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 botany optional
optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
optional, not held habitat restoration optional
optional, not held paleography optional
optional, not held chemistry optional
optional, not held conduct field work optional
optional, not held geography optional
optional, not held oversee excavation optional
optional, not held record test data optional
optional, not held work ergonomically optional

48 held skills the palaeontologist role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role Monte Carlo simulation knowledge
not needed by the target role acoustics knowledge
not needed by the target role aerodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role analyse telescope images skill
not needed by the target role apply teaching strategies skill
not needed by the target role assist with geophysical surveys skill
not needed by the target role astronomy knowledge
not needed by the target role calibrate laboratory equipment skill
not needed by the target role communicate mathematical information skill
not needed by the target role communicate with external laboratories skill
not needed by the target role computational mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role computational physics knowledge
not needed by the target role computer simulation knowledge
not needed by the target role continuum mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role densiometry knowledge
not needed by the target role design scientific equipment skill
not needed by the target role economics knowledge
not needed by the target role execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
not needed by the target role forensic physics knowledge
not needed by the target role general medicine knowledge
not needed by the target role intellectual property law knowledge
not needed by the target role laboratory techniques knowledge
not needed by the target role materials engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role mathematical modelling knowledge
not needed by the target role mathematical physics knowledge
not needed by the target role mathematics knowledge
not needed by the target role medical laboratory technology knowledge
not needed by the target role multidisciplinary research knowledge
not needed by the target role nuclear physics knowledge
not needed by the target role observe matter skill
not needed by the target role operate remote sensing equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate telescopes skill
not needed by the target role perform lectures skill
not needed by the target role petroleum knowledge
not needed by the target role pharmaceutical technology knowledge
not needed by the target role physics knowledge
not needed by the target role provide information on geological characteristics skill
not needed by the target role quantum computing knowledge
not needed by the target role quantum mechanics knowledge
not needed by the target role quantum technology knowledge

8 further entries not listed here

9 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 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 chemistry optional
optional, not held geography optional

Index

Other moves recorded from physicist

Full index of moves from physicist

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.