OCCUPATION THESAURUS

PALEONTOLOGIST



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CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

There’s probably a good reason why your character chose their career. Think about how certain talents and skills, a dominant positive or negative trait, or even an emotional wound might have influenced this decision. And once they're on the job, don't forget about the many work-related conflict scenarios you can throw at them to create tension and add complications.
OVERVIEW:
A paleontologist is someone who looks for fossils that may be (dinosaur bones, eggs, egg fragments, fossilized wood, excrement, leaves, footprints, and various other vertebrate and invertebrates). The work is slow and taxing, involving countless hours of sifting through layers of dirt and rock to uncover fossils to determine their age, and whether they originated from land or sea.

Paleontologists travel to interesting locations (living simply while doing so) and may also work onsite with archeologists (who study ancient civilizations) by analyzing animal remains found in these areas. This will help archeologists understand the diet of that time period. Others may teach, write and publish papers, run educational programs, organize collections and maintain exhibits, work in museums, or do research for private companies. The hours can be long, and the pay is not always a lot, but the work is rewarding for those who love uncovering the mysteries of the past, getting the chance to prove one's theories, and possibly making a new discovery.

NECESSARY TRAINING:
A person can practice paleontology without a degree, but to gain employment, a degree in geology with courses in paleontology, a master's degree, or a doctorate in paleontology is likely needed. Not many universities offer degree programs in paleontology, so if education is a component of your story, make sure to research schools in the real world.

USEFUL SKILLS, TALENTS, OR ABILITIES:
A KNACK FOR LANGUAGES, A KNACK FOR MAKING MONEY, BASIC FIRST AID, CARPENTRY, EXCEPTIONAL MEMORY, FISHING, FORAGING, GAINING THE TRUST OF OTHERS, PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, PREDICTING THE WEATHER, PROMOTION, SCULPTING, STRATEGIC THINKING, WILDERNESS NAVIGATION, WRITING

HELPFUL POSITIVE TRAITS:
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HELPFUL NEGATIVE TRAITS:
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EMOTIONAL WOUNDS THAT MAY HAVE FACTORED INTO THIS OCCUPATION CHOICE:
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SOURCES OF FRICTION:
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PEOPLE THEY MIGHT INTERACT WITH:
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HOW THIS OCCUPATION MIGHT IMPACT ONE'S BASIC NEEDS:
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REASONS THE CHARACTER MAY HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO THIS PROFESSION:
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