Statistical assistant to meteorology technician
A statistical assistant already meets 29% of what the meteorology technician role asks for. The move turns on 15 required skills not yet in the profile.
70.5/ 100
1 How much of what a meteorology technician is expected to do is already part of a statistical assistant’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 meteorology technician role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A meteorology technician role treats 7 of its required skills as things a statistical assistant already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply scientific methods
- apply statistical analysis techniques
- assist scientific research
- execute analytical mathematical calculations
- mathematics
- perform scientific research
What stands in the way is 15 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 9 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A meteorology technician role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a statistical assistant background worth leading with.
- already held assist scientific research communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held write technical reports communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held apply statistical analysis techniques information skills
- already held apply scientific methods information skills
- already held execute analytical mathematical calculations information skills
- already held statistics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
All 9 carried skills, including the 7 the meteorology technician role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 26 missing skills fall into 8 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 carry out meteorological research required
- still to learn review meteorological forecast data required
- still to learn use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions required
- still to learn collect weather-related data required
- still to learn use specialised computer models for weather forecasting required
- optional, not held analyse scientific data optional
- optional, not held analyse weather forecast optional
- optional, not held conduct research on climate processes optional
- optional, not held manage meteorological database optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- still to learn operate meteorological instruments required
- still to learn operate precision measuring equipment required
- still to learn operate remote sensing equipment required
- still to learn use communication devices required
- optional, not held maintain equipment optional
- still to learn climatology required
- still to learn meteorology required
- still to learn precision measuring instruments required
- still to learn calibrate optical instruments required
- still to learn meet deadlines required
2 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a meteorology technician role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 carry out meteorological research practise this
- 02 review meteorological forecast data practise this
- 03 use geographic information systems 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 9 skills that carry over
- already held apply scientific methods skill
- already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
- already held assist scientific research skill
- already held execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held write technical reports skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held statistics knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn use geographic information systems required
- optional, not held advise on weather-related issues optional
- optional, not held create weather maps optional
- optional, not held design scientific equipment optional
- optional, not held write scientific publications optional
- optional, not held write weather briefing optional
11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on weather-related issues optional
- optional, not held analyse scientific data optional
- optional, not held analyse weather forecast optional
- optional, not held conduct research on climate processes optional
- optional, not held create weather maps optional
- optional, not held design scientific equipment optional
- optional, not held maintain equipment optional
- optional, not held manage meteorological database optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- optional, not held write scientific publications optional
- optional, not held write weather briefing optional
29 held skills the meteorology technician role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role algorithms knowledge
- not needed by the target role analyse big data skill
- not needed by the target role carry out statistical forecasts skill
- not needed by the target role compile statistical data for insurance purposes skill
- not needed by the target role conduct financial surveys skill
- not needed by the target role conduct public surveys skill
- not needed by the target role conduct quantitative research skill
- not needed by the target role data quality assessment knowledge
- not needed by the target role data science knowledge
- not needed by the target role deliver visual presentation of data skill
- not needed by the target role design questionnaires skill
- not needed by the target role develop financial statistics reports skill
- not needed by the target role digital data processing skill
- not needed by the target role gather data skill
- not needed by the target role identify statistical patterns skill
- not needed by the target role manage database skill
- not needed by the target role perform clerical duties skill
- not needed by the target role perform data analysis skill
- not needed by the target role process data skill
- not needed by the target role produce statistical financial records skill
- not needed by the target role quantitative analysis knowledge
- not needed by the target role research design knowledge
- not needed by the target role revise questionnaires skill
- not needed by the target role statistical analysis system software knowledge
- not needed by the target role statistical modeling techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role survey techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role tabulate survey results skill
- not needed by the target role use spreadsheets software skill
- not needed by the target role write work-related reports skill
3 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 climatology required
- still to learn meteorology required
- still to learn precision measuring instruments required
Common questions about this move
Can a statistical assistant become a meteorology technician?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A statistical assistant already covers 29% of what a meteorology technician is expected to do: 9 skills carry over, 7 of which the meteorology technician role treats as required.
What skills does a statistical assistant need to become a meteorology technician?
15 required skills are missing, plus 11 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is carry out meteorological research.
How hard is the move from statistical assistant to meteorology technician?
Its learning distance is 70.5 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.