Gaining Experience
Gaining fieldwork experience is an essential part of your geology studies, since it provides necessary practical experience to complement your learning, as well as the opportunity to establish a good network of employer’s contacts. Undertaking a period of work experience can also help you make decisions about future career plans.
Types of opportunities
Placements
Placements usually last between 6-12 months and can be taken as part of your degree programme. If you are interested in completing a placement year, speak to the Science & Health Placements Hub.
You can also find placement opportunities through:
Internships
Internships are short term work experience opportunities that may last anywhere between 2 weeks - 6 months. They are often completed during vacation periods.
Internships relevant to geology students are offered by a number of large organisations, including:
Volunteering
Enhance your prospects with hands-on experience through volunteering. Whether you're uncertain about your career path or aiming for professional success, volunteering offers a chance to explore diverse roles and build up key transferable skills. You could think about roles such as:
- STEM Ambassador - promoting your subject to young people to inspire and motivate them
- Faculty Ambassador - representing your faculty at university open days
- Museum Volunteer - helping out at a local museum
Speculative applications
Another way to potentially secure experience within this field is with a speculative applications. This involves sending a CV and cover letter to an employer to ask if they can offer any work experience, even if the company is not currently advertising placements or internships.
Submitting a speculative application shows your interest in a specific company and your willingness to go above and beyond to develop your skills and understanding of the industry. A good place to start is with industry directories, to see a list of companies that you might wish to target, such as:
Building work experience
Learn more about how we can support you in securing experience and translating the skills you gain to future applications.
