What do Geographers do?

Most Geography graduates, indeed most graduates whatever their field, do not enter careers directly related to the skills acquired from their degree study. Many careers require further in-service training as part of the job. Research into the career destinations of 400 Geographers in Britain graduating in the mid to late 1990s shows that the most common destinations for geography graduates include accountancy, banking, and management consultancy. However, the researchers note that while Geography is the fourth largest supplier to the financial services sector, Geographers use their skills, knowledge and understanding in a wide variety of other careers spanning employment sectors from tourism and environmental to social and industrial research and marketing.

It must also be remembered that the character, nature and demands of peoples’ working lives has changed enormously and continues to change. The skills of human and physical geographers are coming more and more to the fore and this development will continue into the 2000s.

When deciding on Geography as a career base, bear in mind that it is unlikely that you will spend all your working life in one company or organisation (the so-called “job for life”), or even in the same sector. If your career path is to be varied, you will need to develop transferable skills and you will need to be flexible. Geographical study can foster these qualities, providing a firm base for lifelong learning.

Look over some of the career suggestions below which might direct your thinking as you choose a direction into your school or university life.

Specialist Careers built on Geography

DEVELOPMENT
ECOSYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT
LAND AND WATER RESOURCES
CARTOGRAPHY AND COMPUTING
POPULATION
SETTLEMENT AND INDUSTRY
TOURISM

What do Geographers do?

What do Geographers do?

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