Table 1Transition record

geothermal techniciantofossil-fuel power plant operator

A geothermal technician already meets 36% of what the fossil-fuel power plant operator role asks for. The move turns on 10 required skills not yet in the profile.

From geothermal technician

36%

Overlap1

To fossil-fuel power plant operator

14 Skills carried over

10 Required, not held

66.5 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 66.5

This move: 66.5 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the fossil-fuel power plant operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the geothermal technician profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A fossil-fuel power plant operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a geothermal technician background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held respond to emergency calls for repairs communication, collaboration and creativity
already held coordinate electricity generation communication, collaboration and creativity
already held smart grids systems engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held ensure safety in electrical power operations assisting and caring
already held electric current engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held electricity consumption engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 14 carried skills, including the 7 the fossil-fuel power plant operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 29 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 required, 7 supplementary

required, not held control steam flows required
required, not held operate boiler required
required, not held operate steam turbine required

optional, not held operate ash handling equipment optional
optional, not held operate gas turbines optional
optional, not held close circuit breaker optional
optional, not held respond to electrical power contingencies optional
optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional
optional, not held replace large components optional
optional, not held tend compressor engine optional

02 constructing 3 required

required, not held monitor electric generators required
required, not held monitor utility equipment required
required, not held monitor gauge required

03 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held fossil-fuel power plant operations required
required, not held mechanics required

optional, not held natural gas optional
optional, not held fossil fuels optional

04 assisting and caring 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held regulate steam pressure required
required, not held wear appropriate protective gear required

optional, not held ensure compliance with environmental legislation optional

05 communication, collaboration and creativity 4 supplementary

optional, not held advise on equipment maintenance optional
optional, not held liaise with engineers optional
optional, not held resolve equipment malfunctions optional
optional, not held train employees optional

06 information skills 4 supplementary

optional, not held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule optional
optional, not held maintain system logs optional
optional, not held read engineering drawings optional
optional, not held report on production results optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a fossil-fuel power plant operator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply health and safety standards skill
already held electric current knowledge
already held electric generators knowledge
already held electrical power safety regulations knowledge
already held electricity knowledge
already held maintain electrical equipment skill
already held troubleshoot skill
already held coordinate electricity generation skill
already held electricity consumption knowledge
already held energy conservation knowledge
already held ensure safety in electrical power operations skill
already held maintain records of maintenance interventions skill
already held respond to emergency calls for repairs skill
already held smart grids systems knowledge

The 1 learning area not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held arrange equipment repairs optional

19 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held operate ash handling equipment optional
optional, not held operate gas turbines optional
optional, not held arrange equipment repairs optional
optional, not held close circuit breaker optional
optional, not held natural gas optional
optional, not held respond to electrical power contingencies optional
optional, not held advise on equipment maintenance optional
optional, not held ensure compliance with electricity distribution schedule optional
optional, not held ensure compliance with environmental legislation optional
optional, not held fossil fuels optional
optional, not held liaise with engineers optional
optional, not held maintain system logs optional
optional, not held perform minor repairs to equipment optional
optional, not held read engineering drawings optional
optional, not held replace large components optional
optional, not held report on production results optional
optional, not held resolve equipment malfunctions optional
optional, not held tend compressor engine optional
optional, not held train employees optional

31 held skills the fossil-fuel power plant operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role alternative energy knowledge
not needed by the target role assess heating and cooling systems skill
not needed by the target role check compatibility of materials skill
not needed by the target role combined heat and power generation knowledge
not needed by the target role conduct routine machinery checks skill
not needed by the target role define energy profiles skill
not needed by the target role district heating and cooling knowledge
not needed by the target role domestic cooling systems knowledge
not needed by the target role electric heating systems knowledge
not needed by the target role electrical equipment regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role geothermal energy knowledge
not needed by the target role geothermal energy systems knowledge
not needed by the target role geothermal power generation methods knowledge
not needed by the target role geothermal power plant operations knowledge
not needed by the target role health and safety in the workplace knowledge
not needed by the target role operate climate control skill
not needed by the target role operate drilling equipment skill
not needed by the target role perform energy simulations skill
not needed by the target role prevent pipeline deterioration skill
not needed by the target role promote environmental awareness skill
not needed by the target role promote sustainability skill
not needed by the target role promote sustainable energy skill
not needed by the target role provide information on geothermal heat pumps skill
not needed by the target role renewable energy knowledge
not needed by the target role switching devices knowledge
not needed by the target role test electrical equipment skill
not needed by the target role test pipeline infrastructure operations skill
not needed by the target role test procedures in electricity transmission skill
not needed by the target role thermodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role types of heat pumps knowledge
not needed by the target role zero-energy building design knowledge

4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held fossil-fuel power plant operations required
required, not held mechanics required
optional, not held natural gas optional
optional, not held fossil fuels optional

Index

Other moves recorded from geothermal technician

Full index of moves from geothermal technician

Note

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.