Table 1Transition record

water engineertowastewater treatment operator

A water engineer already meets 41% of what the wastewater treatment operator role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.

From water engineer

41%

Overlap1

To wastewater treatment operator

12 Skills carried over

8 Required, not held

58.7 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 58.7

This move: 58.7 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the wastewater treatment operator role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the water engineer 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 12 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A wastewater treatment operator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a water engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held manage desalination control system working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held perform water chemistry analysis information skills
already held perform water treatment procedures working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held water chemistry analysis natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
already held interpret scientific data to assess water quality information skills
already held water reuse engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 12 carried skills, including the 7 the wastewater treatment operator role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 21 missing skills fall into 6 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 2 required, 5 supplementary

required, not held carry out waste water treatment required
required, not held operate water purifying equipment required

optional, not held maintain desalination control system optional
optional, not held maintain specified water characteristics optional
optional, not held operate hydraulic machinery controls optional
optional, not held operate pumping equipment optional
optional, not held operate sewage treatment plans on ships optional

02 information skills 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held perform water treatments required
required, not held document analysis results required

optional, not held ensure proper water storage optional
optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
optional, not held perform sample testing optional

03 handling and moving 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held collect samples required
required, not held dispose of sewage sludge required

optional, not held prepare samples for testing optional

04 constructing 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held maintain water treatment equipment required

optional, not held maintain water distribution equipment optional

05 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held percolation required

optional, not held laboratory techniques optional

06 assisting and caring 2 supplementary

optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional
optional, not held use personal protection equipment optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a wastewater treatment 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 12 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held interpret scientific data to assess water quality skill
already held measure water quality parameters skill
already held monitor water quality skill
already held perform water chemistry analysis skill
already held perform water treatment procedures skill
already held use water disinfection equipment skill
already held water chemistry analysis knowledge
already held ensure compliance with environmental legislation skill
already held ensure equipment maintenance skill
already held manage desalination control system skill
already held water policies knowledge
already held water reuse knowledge

13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held ensure proper water storage optional
optional, not held maintain desalination control system optional
optional, not held maintain specified water characteristics optional
optional, not held maintain water distribution equipment optional
optional, not held operate hydraulic machinery controls optional
optional, not held operate pumping equipment optional
optional, not held operate sewage treatment plans on ships optional
optional, not held test samples for pollutants optional
optional, not held apply health and safety standards optional
optional, not held laboratory techniques optional
optional, not held perform sample testing optional
optional, not held prepare samples for testing optional
optional, not held use personal protection equipment optional

61 held skills the wastewater treatment operator role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role adjust engineering designs skill
not needed by the target role advise on environmental remediation skill
not needed by the target role advise on irrigation projects skill
not needed by the target role advise on pollution prevention skill
not needed by the target role advise on soil and water protection skill
not needed by the target role analyse community needs skill
not needed by the target role analyse route possibilities in pipeline projects skill
not needed by the target role approve engineering design skill
not needed by the target role compute irrigation pressure skill
not needed by the target role conserve natural resources skill
not needed by the target role conserve water resource skill
not needed by the target role consider the impact of material characteristics on pipeline flows skill
not needed by the target role create designs for pipeline engineering skill
not needed by the target role design dams skill
not needed by the target role design drainage well systems skill
not needed by the target role design piers skill
not needed by the target role design sprinkler systems skill
not needed by the target role design weirs skill
not needed by the target role detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure skill
not needed by the target role develop environmental remediation strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop flood remediation strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop irrigation strategies skill
not needed by the target role develop sewerage networks skill
not needed by the target role develop water purification methods skill
not needed by the target role develop water supply schedule skill
not needed by the target role ecosystems knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering processes knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with safety legislation skill
not needed by the target role ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures skill
not needed by the target role environmental engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role flood remediation equipment knowledge
not needed by the target role follow up pipeline integrity management priorities skill
not needed by the target role hydraulic fluid knowledge
not needed by the target role hydraulics knowledge
not needed by the target role identify risk of flooding skill
not needed by the target role inspect pipelines skill
not needed by the target role install irrigation systems skill
not needed by the target role irrigation systems knowledge
not needed by the target role landscape design knowledge

21 further entries not listed here

2 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 percolation required
optional, not held laboratory techniques optional

Index

Other moves recorded from water engineer

Full index of moves from water engineer

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.