There are numerous paths to becoming a taxonomist, and much depends on your career goals and the field you wish to work in. Most people begin by earning a bachelor’s degree in taxonomy or a related field, but this isn’t always required; these jobs can also be obtained through experience and self-taught knowledge. The first step is to figure out what kind of job you want to do. A biological taxonomist who works on naming and identifying extinct species or studying plant variations typically has a very different portfolio and skill set than a language taxonomist who isolates root words and common origins; both of these, in turn, have little in common with the work of an information systems taxonomy specialist who works with computer code. No matter what your discipline, formal education is almost always a good place to start, and talking to people who are already working in the field is also a good way to learn about specific job requirements and how to break in.
Examine Your Alternatives
Taxonomy is a formalized method of classifying and sorting items that are closely and intricately related to one another. It was originally limited to scientists and biological researchers and only referred to the classification of organisms. Linnaean taxonomy, a classification system in which substances are sorted into three main categories: animals, plants, and minerals, is the most common form of taxonomy. Species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom are the basic ranks of Linnaean taxonomy’s animal section.
With time, the definition grew in scope and was applied to other fields, such as sociology, where Emile Durkheim used it to classify various types of human relationships. Economists use variations of the field to sort risk and identify different types of financial transactions and securities exchanges, among other things. Computer science is another popular field, where experts use taxonomy to sort code and organize data sets. Simply stating that you want to be a taxonomist is a bit vague in this context. To truly achieve your objectives, you must first define what it is about taxonomy that interests you, and then decide which field or discipline area best suits you.
Continue your education by enrolling in a degree program.
Almost always, a university degree is a good place to start. Some academic institutions, but not all, offer degrees in taxonomy in general or in taxonomy as it relates to a specific field, such as biology. However, getting broad training in the field you want to work in is usually a good idea, and in most cases, a degree is all that is strictly required to be hired. Majoring in biology, economics, or computer science is a good place to start, and taking as many different courses as possible can also help you demonstrate that your education was broad and well-rounded. Both of these skills can be beneficial in a job in classification science.
It’s also beneficial to have some knowledge of other languages. For biological and medical taxonomists, Latin, or Romance languages based on Latin structures, is particularly useful. Many of these fields’ organizational schemes are based on Latin terms. For similar reasons, having a good command of ancient Greek can be beneficial.
Online Training Considerations
Many online schools and institutions offer online taxonomy degrees, which can be very appealing to people who have full-time jobs and limited time, as well as those who live in more remote areas far away from traditional universities. However, because the quality of these online degrees varies, it’s always a good idea to double-check the type of accreditation you’ll receive after completing a program. A degree from a non-accredited institution may not be recognized or accepted by employers, making it difficult to find work.
In the Field, Make Connections
Networking is also an important part of almost any job search, and getting to know local taxonomists can be a good way to make connections that could lead to future opportunities. On a more immediate level, meeting people and seeing their daily work can give you an idea of whether you’d be a good fit in the long run, and can help you make sound career decisions before you even start.
Many professionals will conduct an informational interview with you or allow you to shadow them for a day. If you’re still in school, your career planning office may have information on internships or apprenticeships that you could do part-time or during school vacations to get a better sense of the job and develop marketable skills.