Weather forecaster to meteorology technician
A weather forecaster already meets 25% of what the meteorology technician role asks for. The move turns on 16 required skills not yet in the profile.
72.6/ 100
1 How much of what a meteorology technician is expected to do is already part of a weather forecaster’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 6 of its required skills as things a weather forecaster already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- carry out meteorological research
- mathematics
- meteorology
- review meteorological forecast data
- use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions
- use specialised computer models for weather forecasting
What stands in the way is 16 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 8 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 weather forecaster background worth leading with.
- already held carry out meteorological research information skills
- already held use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions 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
- already held review meteorological forecast data information skills
All 8 carried skills, including the 6 the meteorology technician role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 27 missing skills fall into 9 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 apply scientific methods required
- still to learn apply statistical analysis techniques required
- still to learn collect weather-related data required
- still to learn execute analytical mathematical calculations required
- still to learn perform scientific research required
- optional, not held analyse scientific data 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 assist scientific research required
- still to learn write technical reports 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
- still to learn climatology required
- optional, not held statistics optional
- still to learn precision measuring instruments required
- still to learn calibrate optical instruments required
3 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 use geographic information systems practise this
- 02 apply scientific methods practise this
- 03 apply statistical analysis techniques 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 8 skills that carry over
- already held carry out meteorological research skill
- already held mathematics knowledge
- already held meteorology knowledge
- already held review meteorological forecast data skill
- already held use meteorological tools to forecast meteorological conditions skill
- already held use specialised computer models for weather forecasting skill
- already held analyse weather forecast skill
- already held conduct research on climate processes skill
The 3 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn meet deadlines required
- still to learn use geographic information systems required
- optional, not held scientific research methodology 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 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 scientific research methodology optional
- optional, not held statistics optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- optional, not held write scientific publications optional
- optional, not held write weather briefing optional
15 held skills the meteorology technician role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adopt a relaxed posture skill
- not needed by the target role audiovisual equipment knowledge
- not needed by the target role breathing techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role develop instrumentation systems skill
- not needed by the target role develop models for weather forecast skill
- not needed by the target role lighting techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role memorise lines skill
- not needed by the target role photography knowledge
- not needed by the target role physics knowledge
- not needed by the target role present during live broadcasts skill
- not needed by the target role pronunciation techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role read pre-drafted texts skill
- not needed by the target role use data processing techniques skill
- not needed by the target role vocal techniques knowledge
- not needed by the target role work with a voice coach skill
4 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 precision measuring instruments required
- optional, not held scientific research methodology optional
- optional, not held statistics optional
Common questions about this move
Can a weather forecaster become a meteorology technician?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A weather forecaster already covers 25% of what a meteorology technician is expected to do: 8 skills carry over, 6 of which the meteorology technician role treats as required.
What skills does a weather forecaster need to become a meteorology technician?
16 required skills are missing, plus 11 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is use geographic information systems.
How hard is the move from weather forecaster to meteorology technician?
Its learning distance is 72.6 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.