Meteorologist to seismologist
A meteorologist already meets 77% of what the seismologist role asks for. The move turns on 6 required skills not yet in the profile.
36.9/ 100
1 How much of what a seismologist is expected to do is already part of a meteorologist’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 seismologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A seismologist role treats 35 of its required skills as things a meteorologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply for research funding
- apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities
- apply scientific methods
- apply statistical analysis techniques
- communicate with a non-scientific audience
- conduct research across disciplines
What stands in the way is 6 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 41 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A seismologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a meteorologist background worth leading with.
- already held operate remote sensing equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
- already held design scientific equipment communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held geography natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held use geographic information systems working with computers
- already held apply statistical analysis techniques information skills
- already held apply scientific methods information skills
All 41 carried skills, including the 35 the seismologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 20 missing skills fall into 6 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 seismology required
- still to learn geophysics required
- still to learn physics required
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
- still to learn interpret geophysical data required
- optional, not held analyse seismic risk optional
- optional, not held map the mantle of the Earth optional
- optional, not held collect geological data optional
- optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
- optional, not held conduct field work optional
- still to learn use seismometers required
- optional, not held predict earthquakes optional
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held write research proposals optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a seismologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 seismology study this
- 02 use seismometers practise this
- 03 interpret geophysical data 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 41 skills that carry over
- already held apply for research funding skill
- already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
- already held apply scientific methods skill
- already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
- already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
- already held conduct research across disciplines skill
- already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
- already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
- already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
- already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
- already held evaluate research activities skill
- already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
- already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
- already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
- already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
- already held manage intellectual property rights skill
- already held manage open publications skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage research data skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held mentor individuals skill
- already held operate open source software skill
- already held perform project management skill
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held promote open innovation in research skill
- already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
- already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
- already held publish academic research skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held statistics knowledge
- already held synthesise information skill
- already held think abstractly skill
- already held write scientific publications skill
- already held apply blended learning skill
- already held design scientific equipment skill
- already held geography knowledge
- already held operate remote sensing equipment skill
- already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
- already held use geographic information systems skill
14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held analyse seismic risk optional
- optional, not held map the mantle of the Earth optional
- optional, not held predict earthquakes optional
- optional, not held collect geological data optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held develop scientific theories optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held conduct field work optional
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
- optional, not held write research proposals optional
24 held skills the seismologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role analyse weather forecast skill
- not needed by the target role assist scientific research skill
- not needed by the target role calibrate electronic instruments skill
- not needed by the target role carry out meteorological research skill
- 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 research on climate processes skill
- not needed by the target role create weather maps skill
- not needed by the target role design graphics skill
- not needed by the target role develop models for weather forecast skill
- not needed by the target role geographic information systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role hydrology knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage meteorological database skill
- not needed by the target role mathematical modelling knowledge
- not needed by the target role meteorology knowledge
- not needed by the target role oceanography knowledge
- not needed by the target role operate meteorological instruments skill
- not needed by the target role present during live broadcasts skill
- not needed by the target role quantitative analysis knowledge
- not needed by the target role review meteorological forecast data skill
- not needed by the target role study aerial photos skill
- not needed by the target role use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions skill
- not needed by the target role use specialised computer models for weather forecasting skill
- not needed by the target role write weather briefing skill
6 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 seismology required
- still to learn geophysics required
- still to learn physics required
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- optional, not held geology optional
- optional, not held remote sensing techniques optional
Common questions about this move
Can a meteorologist become a seismologist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A meteorologist already covers 77% of what a seismologist is expected to do: 41 skills carry over, 35 of which the seismologist role treats as required.
What skills does a meteorologist need to become a seismologist?
6 required skills are missing, plus 14 optional ones. They fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by natural sciences, mathematics and statistics. The single most important is seismology.
How hard is the move from meteorologist to seismologist?
Its learning distance is 36.9 out of 100, which is the moderate 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.