Climatologist to weather forecaster
A climatologist already meets 32% of what the weather forecaster role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
61.9/ 100
1 How much of what a weather forecaster is expected to do is already part of a climatologist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the weather forecaster role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A weather forecaster role treats 4 of its required skills as things a climatologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- analyse weather forecast
- meteorology
- use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions
- use specialised computer models for weather forecasting
What stands in the way is 8 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 7 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A weather forecaster role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a climatologist background worth leading with.
- already held develop models for weather forecast information skills
- already held use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions information skills
- already held carry out meteorological research information skills
- already held use specialised computer models for weather forecasting information skills
- already held conduct research on climate processes information skills
- already held meteorology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
All 7 carried skills, including the 4 the weather forecaster role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 16 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn breathing techniques required
- still to learn pronunciation techniques required
- still to learn vocal techniques required
- optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
- optional, not held lighting techniques optional
- optional, not held photography optional
- still to learn memorise lines required
- still to learn present during live broadcasts required
- still to learn read pre-drafted texts required
- optional, not held adopt a relaxed posture optional
- optional, not held develop instrumentation systems optional
- optional, not held work with a voice coach optional
- still to learn review meteorological forecast data required
- still to learn use data processing techniques required
- optional, not held mathematics optional
- optional, not held physics optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a weather forecaster role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 memorise lines practise this
- 02 present during live broadcasts practise this
- 03 read pre-drafted texts practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 7 skills that carry over
- already held analyse weather forecast skill
- already held meteorology knowledge
- already held use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions skill
- already held use specialised computer models for weather forecasting skill
- already held carry out meteorological research skill
- already held conduct research on climate processes skill
- already held develop models for weather forecast skill
8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held adopt a relaxed posture optional
- optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
- optional, not held develop instrumentation systems optional
- optional, not held lighting techniques optional
- optional, not held mathematics optional
- optional, not held photography optional
- optional, not held physics optional
- optional, not held work with a voice coach optional
24 held skills the weather forecaster role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on weather-related issues skill
- not needed by the target role agronomy knowledge
- not needed by the target role analyse environmental data skill
- not needed by the target role assess environmental impact skill
- not needed by the target role climate change impact knowledge
- not needed by the target role climatology knowledge
- not needed by the target role collect weather-related data skill
- not needed by the target role conduct ecological research skill
- not needed by the target role conduct research across disciplines skill
- not needed by the target role determine historic climate changes skill
- not needed by the target role develop environmental policy skill
- not needed by the target role environmental policy knowledge
- not needed by the target role geographic information systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role geology knowledge
- not needed by the target role green space strategies knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage air quality skill
- not needed by the target role manage meteorological database skill
- not needed by the target role oceanography knowledge
- not needed by the target role operate meteorological instruments skill
- not needed by the target role palaeoclimatology knowledge
- not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
- not needed by the target role statistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role urban pollution implications knowledge
- not needed by the target role use geographic information systems skill
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn breathing techniques required
- still to learn pronunciation techniques required
- still to learn vocal techniques required
- optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
- optional, not held lighting techniques optional
- optional, not held mathematics optional
- optional, not held photography optional
- optional, not held physics optional
Common questions about this move
Can a climatologist become a weather forecaster?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A climatologist already covers 32% of what a weather forecaster is expected to do: 7 skills carry over, 4 of which the weather forecaster role treats as required.
What skills does a climatologist need to become a weather forecaster?
8 required skills are missing, plus 8 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by arts and humanities. The single most important is memorise lines.
How hard is the move from climatologist to weather forecaster?
Its learning distance is 61.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.