Ambassadors - Geography Teaching Today

- The Business World

Are you interested in the way the economy works?

Geography graduates are equipped with an excellent range of transferable skills which explains why this sector of business, law and finance is attracted to geography graduates. Team workers, self starters, highly IT literate, good data interpretation and research skills- these are all attributes where geographers ‘tick the box’. Detail and accuracy and a professional attitude are all nurtured during an undergraduate geography degree.

Invariably the broad subject knowledge helps too. Working as a financial risk analyst in a bank for example, a geographer would benefit from their understanding of borders, peace and security issues, distribution of resources and factors affecting economic growth in various parts of the world. Research skills developed at university would then enable them to access and synthese further information as required.

Although posts exist at all levels in local councils and national government departments the majority of posts in this field are in the private sector. The majority of these posts will be concentrated in larger urban centres. In 2007 for example 45% of UK vacancies in graduate finance positions were in London.

To succeed in this sector you need to be able to work under pressure and enjoy the drive and focus of meeting targets. As with many sectors you will probably undertake further training and even take additional qualifications relating to the specific area where you work. In some roles such as sales and consultancy, skills of persuasion and negotiation will be especially valuable.