But while government, education, oil, and mining were cutting back there was a growing awareness of the need for geologic information in engineering and environmental protection. Government agencies, such as state geological surveys, water resource divisions, and departments of transportation have begun hiring. In private industry engineering firms, including the geotechnical engineering firms, and firms that deal with the mitigation of environmental problems are also hiring geologists. Hiring in the traditional areas is at a minimum, hiring in the new areas of engineering geology, environmental geology, and hydrogeology is way up. There is one thing you should keep in mind no matter what degree you get, especially on those nights when you have an exam to study for but your friends want to go out and party.
Academic achievement is very important in getting a good job.
In this competitive age the graduate with an A or B average will get a better job than the C student. Academic achievement also means academic involvement. Firms and agencies like to hire people who have a record of doing more than the minimum required. Very few undergraduates have done research or published research. That depends on what you want to do.