Geographer, one of the highest-paying social science jobs, focuses on the study of places. If you choose to pursue this career path, though, your job duties could encompass so much more than academic studies. Through fieldwork and the examination of records, you will collect the data that is crucial to understanding and recording the locations and characteristics of a region. In types of media that range from tables and charts to maps and models, you will present your findings. For some geographers, the practical application of geographical research, concepts and techniques to real-life problems and situations is an important component of the job.
Gathering Data for Geographical Use
As one of the social sciences, geography makes use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The types of data that a geographer compiles include photographs, reports, records, historical and original maps, survey notes, legal records and more, according to O*NET. Geographers often conduct in-person fieldwork that permits them to make firsthand observations of the site of their research, including photographs and notes that detail the physical and natural features of the region, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Other information, like existing reports by past researchers and government and legal records, can be reviewed and analyzed offsite.
In their research, geographers use complex technologies. Geographic information system (GIS) software is one of the most important technologies for the field of geography. In fact, you need to have proven proficiency in this technology for many jobs in the field, the BLS reported. Geographers also use remote sensing techniques, aerial photography methods and other types of technologies.
Acquiring GIS certification form a professional organization or completing a GIS certificate program at a college or university can demonstrate to potential employers your skill using the technology required of geographers.
Making Maps and More
After gathering and analyzing data, what do geographers do with their findings? They communicate them in a variety of ways, including – but not limited to – maps.
Once a geographer has their information, they assess it to facilitating further understanding of the research site. This means organizing both the quantitative and qualitative data they have gleaned from their fieldwork. Quantitative data often gets organized into tables and charts, but it is also used with mathematical formulas to create detailed three-dimensional models and accurate maps.
Today, geographers don’t only create new maps of unexplored places. They may also update and fix the inaccuracies of existing maps made by past researchers and mapmakers. These updates may reflect changes in the landscape over time, as well as details that weren’t available previously due to limitations of the technologies that existed at the time.
A geographer is different from a cartographer, even though both professionals create maps. Geographers are social scientists and researchers who express their findings about the regions of the Earth in maps, while cartographers are mapmakers, not researchers.
Putting Your Geographical Knowledge Into Practice
The applications of geography are a lot more varied than most people realize. Geographers who work for government entities and for architectural and engineering firms – the top-employing industries in the field, according to the BLS – usually use what they learn for the practical purposes of advising public-sector and private-sector entities on a course of action.
For example, a geographer might research the likely outcomes of a plan for economic development on the natural environment as well as the economy and real estate market of an area. A geographer working for the government is more likely to be called upon to weigh in on matters of public policy, while a geographer working for an architectural and engineering firm may work with businesses to determine where to build a new location and how to craft a marketing plan that will be effective in a geographical area. Fields in which a geographer’s work is valuable can range from urban planning to real estate and even environmental conservation and sustainability. This breadth of opportunities makes geography a great career choice for research-minded students who want to make a difference in the world in any number of possible ways.
In the course of a typical workday, geographers may spend time working with computers and with individual collaborators within and outside their employing organization. They do a great deal of processing, recording and evaluating information, O*NET reported.
Additional Resources
What Are Some Examples of the Career of a Geographer?
Are There Any Licenses or Registrations Needed in Order to Become a Geographer?
What Skills Are Best to Have in Order to Become a Geographer?