Looking for a Geology job in SLC or really anywhere close to cool mountains

[paj]

I'm graduating in May from the University of Georgia with a bs in geology and I'm aiming to move ideally to SLC or colorado. I will be 25 when I graduate and have some GIS experience and research experience in Hawaii studying basaltic sand dunes as an analog for Mars past climate conditions and geomorphology. If anyone knows someone in the field looking for a spot to be filled or is with a firm that will be hiring soon I would greatly appreciate a contact. I have recommendations and I can send a resume or CV. I'm open to any opportunity, but would prefer something in the hydrology and environmental remediation field.

[EaglesPDX]

Don't know that skiers would that tuned into the geology job market

[evasive_MT]

Don't know that skiers would that tuned into the geology job market

Why not? Geologists ski, too.

I don't have any (work) connections in SLC, but there are plenty of hydro/environmental jobs in Montana. Helena has quite a few consulting firms in addition to state government. Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings have a fair amount of consultants, but not as many as Helena. Montana DEQ hires junior scientists pretty regularly. State jobs don't pay as well as consulting, so there's a fair amount of turnover. It's a good way to get started and get your foot in the door.

[alev]

Check out Rio Tinto at Kennecott mine in SLC valley. Big copper mine, lots of work, perhaps something you may find interesting. There is a magnesium refinery (I cannot recall the name, but an old roommate worked there) in Toella, west of SLC. She worked three 15s, and had the rest of the week off. She liked the job, and often came home with some magnesium flakes or other random byproducts.

Also worth checking out the water treatment facilities for the various areas of the valley.

[evasive_MT]

Also worth checking out the water treatment facilities for the various areas of the valley.

My $0.02: avoid the drinking water industry. Being a geologist rather than an engineer will put you at a disadvantage and limit your options. You can find that issue to a lesser degree in the environmental consulting field, but it's not as problematic.

Utah is one of the few states with professional licenses for geologists, so if you end up there that will help you out when you're ready to get licensed.

[paj]

Thanks for the input guys. I've still got a few months before any kind of move would take place so I will get on it more aggressively throughout the semester.

[F#*k you cat]

Check out Rio Tinto Kennecott Exploration. I worked there and the Geologists work all over the world. Alaska - Arizona - Australia - Alberta and BC - Nickel in the upper midwest. you name it - if it is in the ground there are exploring. Location is in SLC and I have a contact name for you.

I did the GIS there.

PM me for more information

CAT

[Schemeboat]

Many major mining/exploration companies are HQ'd in the Denver area. Although, mining is a total shitstorm right now, exploration even more, so you can expect them all to merge in the next year or so...

[paj]

yea mining is down big time right now. Oil isn't doing too well either with the huge drop in gas prices. Gas won't stay down like this forever though. The geologic side of mining and exploration is really appealing to me, it encompasses all disciplines of geology to search out ore deposits. But what it entails I cannot get excited about. Living in a trailer for months at a time in bumblefuck, nevada; plus the volatility of the job is extremely high, and layoffs are likely. Consulting work seems much more stable as far as job security and the ability to be based in a town or city with stints of work in the field. Basically, I want to put my degree to work and make some money, and have the ability to live in a town or city and go skiing. I don't see that being too likely in mining or exploration. Maybe winter work is more limited in exploration.

On a side note, recently I've been interested in physical therapy. My geology degree and previous switch from a biology major have set me up that I would meet the requirements for PT school with 1 extra semester of schooling. PT is stable, has job opportunities everywhere, and seems that areas where people are more active outdoors would have an increased demand for physical therapists, which is perfect for me.

In short, I' pushing hard to get out west. I will make it happen. Just trying to get a feel for the job market for geologists because after a rough search for openings listed on line with different firms no one seems to be hiring. Regardless if wether or not I do pursue physical therapy I will work for at least a couple years as a geologist before making such a drastic career shift.

Schemeboat-- The headquarters are pretty much the corporate end only, a recent grad with geology BS would absolutely not be working at the denver offices. I haven't really looked at Denver for consulting jobs though. I really only have looked at SLC.

[Aus George]

Maybe a different career (same industry), but im a heavy diesel fitter in a combined Newmont/Barrick mine.

Do what im doing, live in the middle of fuck knows. Work your fucking ass off for a few years, save like a nun. When you hit 30 quit, buy a business/house in a ski town. Profit.

Or work for a bit longer and just go on ski trips. Not the same, but think... Ak...

[skifishbum]

Don't know that skiers would that tuned into the geology job market

shut the fuck up jong the cat done hooked him up w/ a contact #
congrats on your aproaching peice of paper from an institutteof higheer learning
ya really got to be a people person to want to work in health care or explore the pt option
ifin you need a place to crash while slc job searchin or want pt info from my better 1/2
you know where were at

[paj]

Maybe a different career (same industry), but im a heavy diesel fitter in a combined Newmont/Barrick mine.

Do what im doing, live in the middle of fuck knows. Work your fucking ass off for a few years, save like a nun. When you hit 30 quit, buy a business/house in a ski town. Profit.

Or work for a bit longer and just go on ski trips. Not the same, but think... Ak...

I interviewed with a Newmont recruiter in September. Interview went well, the recruiter was very helpful, but he told me how the current state of mining is. Gold and Silver are WAY down and he said the company is "bloodletting" right now. Normally they bring in 40 interns each summer, next summer they are bringing in 4. They just aren't hiring geologists right now, and the geologists they and other mining operations aim for have masters. I did not get one of the internship spots because I will be graduated before the internship begins and I am not currently accepted into a graduate program. I'm glad he took the time to talk to me though, knowing beforehand that I was dq'ed for those reasons. I applied for a barrack position too, same deal. To really make good use of a geology degree you need a masters, which is additional 2-2.5 years of schooling. And with that masters I would be a candidate in an already overcrowded petroleum job pool (plus 99% of the time it involves living in Houston, which I absolutely refuse to do. Houston is like Atlanta, but hotter. Sure making 100k+ right off the bat is good, but the solution to leaving ATL is not houston), or a candidate for mining--a field that is very volatile where job security depends on the stock price of the commodity being mined, and involves living in the barrens. I would be fine with that for a couple years, once I started entertaining the idea of getting me a wife it would be tough.

Thats where PT started to sound appealing. Yes it's another 3 years of schooling, a little more than geology grad school, but upon graduating I could find a secure job immediately and move anywhere I want, and make pretty good money (~60k starting). It does involve good people skills, and sometimes people piss me off But specializing in sports related injuries would be good I think. Just ask the bro's how they broke themselves backslapping cliffs a little too big for them.

At least I now fit the template of the 21st century college grad--not sure what I'm going to do and no offers currently! Main thing is I really want to move to salt lake shitty, there just aren't enough east coast transplants haha... If anything, I can keep working for my dad's cabinet shop over the summer, work at Alta Lodge (again) for the ski season, while I'm up there go to offices and meet employers and I'm sure I would find something in the span of a winter. That would help quench my ski obsession too. After working 2 winters at Alta then spending 3 winters in Athens and getting 6 ski days in that time I'm freaking out a little bit

SFB-- I may end up taking ya up on the offer, just have to see what plays out. I can bring those sweet resurrected lhasa back too they would be good bench material and they got a few days of NC slop touring on them making them bc vets.

FuckuCat I will be in touch soon. I'm working on an abstract to present at the Lunar and Planetary science convention. Interesting stuff and excellent resume juicer.

[HansJob]

Sounds like you're pretty dialed in. I feel whatever you decide you're going to land on your feet. Best of luck.

[evasive_MT]

Yeah, I agree that it sounds like you've done some good thinking about it already.

I hear you on Houston. I was in a wedding with a grad school friend of mine in 2007 and at that point the oil patch couldn't get enough geologists. He was a manager at Exxon/Mobil and told me if I wanted a job he could get me one the next day. It would have tripled my salary, but screw Houston. I grew up in NoVA and I'm not leaving Montana for a flatter, hotter, more humid, more Texas version of the same crappy suburbs.

[criscam]

Paj,
I'll inquire whithin when I get back to work next week. We do mining for roadbase and asphalt aggs. We have a geologist that recently relocated here (ut) so not quite sure of the need but will let you know what I find out.

[skifishbum]

i forgot my bro packey shackin up w/ a geologist in Ely
I could get ya her contact # if ya want more info
i never entertained the idea of scoring a wife
just one of them things that happen

[GeoMatt]

My advice..... commit to a move, then worry about the job. Work the summer for your dad if you need to save up the money to make that happen. The western schools are pumping out enough geologists for the openings out there - so why the need to look to the east and complicate the hiring process?

You'll have a hard time getting a mining job as a new grad, market being what it is right now. Entry level environmental consulting is probably the best bet - and you've already identified that. Find a consulting firm that does some interesting work - I'd stay away from formulaic work like yank-a-tanks. Find a firm that will allow you to do some geotech, do some groundwater, do some rememdiation, do some GIS and figure out if geology was the right choice, what you like best, and move forward from there.

I would think that the Colorado Front Range would be better for finding an entry level consulting gig, but I'm not all that dialed into the SLC area except for mining.

[paj]

Update- Still on the search. Well I worked with my dad for a couple months after graduation then I interviewed with Stantec Consulting and was offered a job as a Geologic Specialist in the Atlanta, GA office. It's 100% environmental consulting. We work for the state EPD and BP at my office. A lot of UST's and former service sations. We also do work at BP fueling terminals. As of today I am almost 4 months into the job an picking things up quickly. I do 70% field work, rest is data processing and filling out reports. Stantec does have 2 offices in Salt Lake area. One in the City in a great location and one in Sandy. I have emailed both offices hoping they will take me on as a transfer. Both offices are part of the environmental services, which is what we are here in Atlanta. I have my OSHA 40 hour hazwoper, OSHA 8 hour site supervisor, and API worksafe training.

Has anything changed in the last year, asking a couple of the guys that posted here with possible leads? My resume is up to date and I would be happy to email it to you or someone with hiring authority.
I've got good recommendations, decent GPA (3.3 from UGA), some GIS experience, I'm fine with field work (thats where you really learn about geology!), and common sense. One requirement is that I need to work under a registered professional geologist so I can become a PG in a few years myself.

[paj]

Any leads? I'm stuck in ATL! I can't even tell you how bad it is

[GeoMatt]

The mining industry is worse off today, than it was when you first inquired a year ago. Still set on the SLC area? I've seen quite a few junior geo positions open with front range consulting firms as of late.