Dear aspirant
Welcome to CareerGuide.com

I am very happy to interact with you because I like interact with people with a difference. You are one among the "people with a difference" because you want to be a paleontologist. Nice aspiration.

Paleontology is the study of ancient life and development of different species. The scientific study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organism's evolution and interactions with each other and their environments.

Paleontologist are very well in demand in petrochemical sector. Such an assignment should be very much lucrative. In any case, there are lot of opportunities available in different research projects all over the world and the career is decently lucrative.

For you to pursue the career of paleontologist, you should take science as the preferred subjects in the eleventh and twelfth. You can take physics, chemistry and biology or physics chemistry and maths. Study good and collect knowledge for your bright future.

Meanwhile you cake any psychometric tests designed to assess your career and aptitude. These tests are designed to measure your specific skills. Once you take these tests, you will be sure of your skill sets. You can polish your skills further as required for your desired career. Also you can improve on your skill sets on which you are a bit slow.

Your career is your future. Passion and hard work pays high dividend. Salary comes second.
Hope you understand.
Good luck.

Dear friend, many thanks for your question, I really appreciate your career choice and your vision regarding your future. Let me tell you first something about paleontology. The paleontology is the scientific study of the pre historic time. It includes the study of fossils to determine the organism evolution and interactions with each other and their environments. The paleontology subject lies between biology and geology but differs from archeology in that it excludes the study of morphologically modern humans. Now a days it uses new techniques of various subjects such as biochemistry, mathematics and engineering during the process of exploration.

To become a paleontologist you should opt physics, chemistry and biology in 11 and 12 standard. In graduation, you should opt geology as one of your subjects. The study of botany along with geology will be an added advantage. The masters degree in geology will make you eligible to become a paleontologist. After post graduation degree you should also pursue doctoral (PhD) program to become technically eligible as a paleontologist.



The geologist and botanist are eligible for the paleontology field. The Birbal Shani Institute of Paleobotany, Lucknow, which is involved in exploration of plant fossils. As I have mentioned the study of Botany will be advantageous for you to join this institute.

As a paleontologist, you will have job opportunities in governmental sector such as colleges, universities and research institutions. Here you can make entry level as lecturer, assistant professor and assistant scientist. The nature of job will be teaching and research. Practically speaking the paleontologist has very scanty job opportunities in private sector. Though there are some non governmental organizations which are involved in some sort of explorations. Some private companies and multinational companies, which are involved in explorations of petro-chemical and gas products may explore some fossils during their routine explorations. But the geologist involved in such explorations are not the paleontologist. During this situation, they usually inform the concerned government department (paleontology) about the fossil information. Later work is taken care of by the paleontology department.

The salary structure is very decent and attractive in government sector. Just listen to your heart and opt the relevant subjects to peruse your desired career. In fact this is a very fascinating and exciting career mainly involving field and laboratory work.

With all my best wishes,

Good Luck...