Why should I care about GEOGRAPHY anyway?

“I am here because I was told I have to study geography to graduate. But why?” This is a question many students ask.

Believe it or not, the skills you learn and sharpen in this course are incredibly important because of their transferable nature. Transferable skills, quite simply, are versatile skills you can apply in a number of different roles. And since most people make several career and job changes over their working lives, these transferable geography skills will give you a competitive edge when seeking employment, a raise, or a promotion.

A short list of transferable skills include the following:

• Soft skills – delegating, listening, presenting, cooperating;
• Critical thinking skills – asking questions, gathering data, analyzing data, evaluating sources of information, communicating information;
• Technical skills – word processing, GIS, graphing, mapping;
• Organizational skills – prioritizing, time management, task management;
• Personal skills – integrity, adaptability, punctuality, reliability.

Mastering these skills will set you apart from your competition and ensure your relevance in a fast-paced world.

Career Inventories and Surveys

Complete the following inventories and surveys, which may give you a better sense of your career-related aptitudes and preferences.

Geo-Careers LM 1-1: What Matters Most to Me?

Geo-Careers LM 1-2: Transferable Skills Personal Inventory

Geo-Careers LM 1-3: Personality Types

Geo-Careers LM 1-4: What’s Your Employability Skills Profile?

Geo-Careers LM 1-5: Dealing With Transition and Change Checklist