What is a paleontologist and how to become one

Key steps to become a paleontologist

1. Explore paleontologist education requirements

   Most common paleontologist degrees

   Bachelor's

   66.7 %

   Master's

   22.2 %

   Diploma

   3.7 %

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2. Start to develop specific paleontologist skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Nepa	77.16%
   Natural History	22.84%

3. Complete relevant paleontologist training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New paleontologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a paleontologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real paleontologist resumes.

4. Research paleontologist duties and responsibilities

   • Develop and/or lead short courses and seminars on eolian sedimentology, the characterization of heterogeneous reservoirs and reservoir management.
   • Assist in excavations of dinosaurs, Champsosaurus, early reptiles and prehistoric fish.
   • Record field data using Trimble GPS and iPads to collect survey and monitoring data.
   • Prepare proposals, supervise monitoring and sampling activities and prepare annual and quarterly reports in accordance with Ohio EPA requirements.

5. Prepare your paleontologist resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your paleontologist resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a paleontologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Paleontologist Resume templates

   Build a professional Paleontologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Paleontologist resume.
   

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6. Apply for paleontologist jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a paleontologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams