AN INTRODUCTION TO CONSULTING GEOLOGY

Choosing a career in consulting geology can provide a professional path for a geologist that includes building technical expertise in a wide variety of geoscience disciplines as well as developing a combination of experience and skills in project management, client relations, and business development. Consulting firms that provide architectural, engineering, and related services are one of the largest employers of geologists. Many of us, at some point in our careers, have or will work as a consulting geologist, and yet as students faced with the challenge of deciding on which path to start our careers, many of us know next to nothing about what consulting firms or consulting geologists do. This presentation will provide a brief introduction to consulting geology, working as a consulting geologist, and the importance of professional licensure, based on my personal and professional experiences. My career path in consulting, like the professional paths of so many others consulting geologists, was neither smooth nor straight, but has led to a rewarding and satisfying career!