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A Career in Meteorology

  • 10-01-2021 7:33pm
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭


    I have a passion in Meteorology and have had this interest since childhood. This expanded out to my own weather station at about 16 and then a Davis Vantage Pro 2 this summer.

    I went on to study Meteorology in England and have attained a Bachelors degree in the subject, in July of 2019.

    Since graduating I have had an uphill battle to get a job, searching high and low. In the U.K., there is only about 2 jobs a month, if that. I applied to the Met Office a few times and was always rejected at the Assessment Centre.. what was demotivating was that they take on people without a Meteorology degree so it sort of made my degree look pointless.

    I also applied to the Royal Navy (this was the closest I got) and was called 18 times only to give up after realising what I was in for. DTN was the other company I applied to.

    So what is becoming clear to me is the lack of jobs in the sector. I search and search for jobs and come across very little. I did manage to gain a temp retail job but this is not where I want to be.

    The problem is that these jobs are very competitive and I am competing against some highly qualified individuals. For ex, one job I was rejected had laid off airline pilots with 30 years of service.

    I unfortunately did not do my degree with a placement. All of the Met Office placements are for Undergraduates, I have contacted companies looking for work experience and have got nowhere.

    I explored alternative avenues such as Internships with UNEP or EUMET but got nowhere there either.

    I am looking to get into the industry but have very little ground to gain in terms of advancing my goals or differentiating my portfolio.

    It has become quite depressing to continually be looking for jobs and make no headway... I am sitting idle waiting for an opportunity or for the winds to change. Nothing is happening whilst I watch my peers move up in life.

    I regret studying this degree.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭Gaoth Laidir


    Which degree course was it? I assume it's recognised by the Met Office (a degree is a degree is a degree).

    In 1988, while I was in 2nd year in school, I was shown around Met Éireann in Glasnevin by John Doyle, who was one of the RTÉ meteorologists at the time (along with Dr. Aidan Nulty and Gerald Fleming). It was a great experience, seeing Dr. Nulty there at his desk, and it was something I said I wanted to do for a living. However, John told me then that the opportunities in meteorology were getting less and less, normally relying on a retirement for a position to crop up. Advances in automation meant that at some stage in the future (i.e. today) there would be less and less people directly employed. It's for that reason that I didn't pursue it professionaly.

    Met Éireann are going through a process of modernising the airport observational station network, with all but Dublin Airport becoming fully automated very soon. That's a whole host of observer jobs gone down the drain.

    However, I find it interesting that every week there seems to be some new young voice presenting the 17:59 radio bulletin on my way home. I know that one of these voices is an ex-(or maybe still current)Boardsie, so fair play to him for landing the job.

    I don't know how the UKMO work, but the majority of opportunities I would imagine are now in the field of modelling and climate research. Not your bread and butter forecasting or observer jobs but it seems to me to be the way it's headed.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,426 ✭✭✭ZX7R


    Never regret learning something.
    Maybe you should try a different Avenue but still in meteorology.
    Maybe try going down the forecasting route.
    Start your own weather profile on Facebook start with local weather forecasting local knowledge is key to been success.
    I noted from a previous post on another tread that your knowledge of meteorology is mainly numbers based perhaps there is another course you could find to further expand into meteorology.
    Sadly it's a very narrow field you choose as your path but hopefully opportunities will come to you.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,235 ✭✭✭Oneiric 3


    Have you ever applied to more commercial meteorological orgs like Meteogroup or similar?

    New Moon



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Oneiric 3 wrote: »
    Have you ever applied to more commercial meteorological orgs like Meteogroup or similar?

    Yes that is DTN


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    ZX7R wrote: »
    Never regret learning something.
    Maybe you should try a different Avenue but still in meteorology.
    Maybe try going down the forecasting route.
    Start your own weather profile on Facebook start with local weather forecasting local knowledge is key to been success.
    I noted from a previous post on another tread that your knowledge of meteorology is mainly numbers based perhaps there is another course you could find to further expand into meteorology.
    Sadly it's a very narrow field you choose as your path but hopefully opportunities will come to you.

    Yes it is very narrow. I didn’t think of alternative avenues when I chose to study the degree.

    And the University did not tell us of the poor job opportunities.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭Danno


    Have you volunteered to be a climatological observer? I know it's an unpaid role, but it can serve to keep your interest alive while you pursue another career. Met Offices are looking for more and more climate observers because many of the existing ones are elderly folk who naturally won't be with us long term into the future. You'd also have a direct contact line with the Climate Division and perhaps if you strike up a good accord with them you might get informed of an upcoming position...


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,235 ✭✭✭Oneiric 3


    Nqp15hhu wrote: »
    Yes it is very narrow. I didn’t think of alternative avenues when I chose to study the degree.

    And the University did not tell us of the poor job opportunities.

    You are obviously very young still and have your whole life ahead of you. Try not to get too despondent as something will turn up eventually. Just keep knocking on those doors!. In the meantime, you could utilise this time by fine tuning your skills, volunteering (as Danno suggested) and perhaps tune up on some statistical computing in Python or R (I would recommend the latter) as this will just add to your skillset and will be greatly beneficial to you in the long run.

    Also, and while maybe not the most attractive option to you right now, but it might be worth considering applying to American or European Meteorological orgs as well.

    New Moon



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Oneiric 3 wrote: »
    You are obviously very young still and have your whole life ahead of you. Try not to get too despondent as something will turn up eventually. Just keep knocking on those doors!. In the meantime, you could utilise this time by fine tuning your skills, volunteering (as Danno suggested) and perhaps tune up on some statistical computing in Python or R (I would recommend the latter) as this will just add to your skillset and will be greatly beneficial to you in the long run.

    Also, and while maybe not the most attractive option to you right now, but it might be worth considering applying to American or European Meteorological orgs as well.

    I was thinking of learning Python as I have read up on it. But really I do just want a permanent, full time job now. So looking into other industries.

    I need to start earning proper money now.

    Not sure I can apply to American organisations. I am not American.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Danno wrote: »
    Have you volunteered to be a climatological observer? I know it's an unpaid role, but it can serve to keep your interest alive while you pursue another career. Met Offices are looking for more and more climate observers because many of the existing ones are elderly folk who naturally won't be with us long term into the future. You'd also have a direct contact line with the Climate Division and perhaps if you strike up a good accord with them you might get informed of an upcoming position...

    I haven’t seen anything, it’s possible... I do need concrete experience.


  • Registered Users Posts: 103 ✭✭zisdead


    I can tell you for sure with a degree in Metrology (science based) if you went and did a 1.5 or 2 year conversion course to a masters in Software engineering (no need for a primary degree in computer science) you will walk into any one of fifty American multinationals in Dublin.

    The likes of Google go nuts when the see a software engineer with an otherwise quirky primary degree or back story not in software originally.

    I did just that (from mechanical engineering) and was making 60K after 2 years. So if a full time job is your main concern that is your route 100%.

    Take out a loan if you have to it will pay you back 10 fold in no time.

    see this Masters as an example

    https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=PROG&MAJR=T195


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    zisdead wrote: »
    I can tell you for sure with a degree in Metrology (science based) if you went and did a 1.5 or 2 year conversion course to a masters in Software engineering (no need for a primary degree in computer science) you will walk into any one of fifty American multinationals in Dublin.

    The likes of Google go nuts when the see a software engineer with an otherwise quirky primary degree or back story not in software originally.

    I did just that (from mechanical engineering) and was making 60K after 2 years. So if a full time job is your main concern that is your route 100%.

    Take out a loan if you have to it will pay you back 10 fold in no time.

    see this Masters as an example

    https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=PROG&MAJR=T195

    A lot of people have said this to me. An awful lot of people are going down this route too.

    I really need to find something concrete to get a sustainable job.

    At the moment it’s all hiring freezes. Any job I apply to where I get even slightly far, the response is “we will get back to you in...”. And that never happens.


  • Registered Users Posts: 234 ✭✭konman


    Hi

    have you got someone to critique your interview? might be possible you are doing or saying something wrong in interviews. Very common thing to happen. I have interviewed loads of people myself and some people come across very badly in interviews without even knowing it. Im not suggesting this is the case with yourself but worth looking into.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    konman wrote: »
    Hi

    have you got someone to critique your interview? might be possible you are doing or saying something wrong in interviews. Very common thing to happen. I have interviewed loads of people myself and some people come across very badly in interviews without even knowing it. Im not suggesting this is the case with yourself but worth looking into.

    I am atrocious at interviews, due to anxiety. I only got my current job because I was offered a trial.

    I wouldn’t have got it if I was interviewed.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,592 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    You would really want a postgraduate qualification to have a good chance of finding something, at least a masters, but even then as you see there isn't a whole lot out there in Ireland or the UK.

    Europe is a different story though, do you have a 2nd language? Germany will have a lot more opportunities to find work either at universities (paid postgraduate research) or consulting companies. There's just as much competition of course but you can at least find stuff to apply for.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 46 vurstflavor


    Did you check your criminal history in uk
    As you would not get a job in government even with a minor conviction


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    You would really want a postgraduate qualification to have a good chance of finding something, at least a masters, but even then as you see there isn't a whole lot out there in Ireland or the UK.

    Europe is a different story though, do you have a 2nd language? Germany will have a lot more opportunities to find work either at universities (paid postgraduate research) or consulting companies. There's just as much competition of course but you can at least find stuff to apply for.

    I know hence needing to study another degree to move into something else.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Did you check your criminal history in uk
    As you would not get a job in government even with a minor conviction

    Not sure why you would say that about me.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Did anyone apply to Met.ie?


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,033 ✭✭✭Snowbie


    Nqp15hhu wrote: »
    Did anyone apply to Met.ie?

    Go state side (Post COVID), plenty of jobs over there in meteorology in a wide variety of fields.

    As was mentioned, the only true way to a meteorologist in Ireland was by way of meteorological officer but now since most sites are becoming automated, that back door in has now closed.

    Use your degree and get to the states. Much more interesting weather there anyway.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Snowbie wrote: »
    Go state side (Post COVID), plenty of jobs over there in meteorology in a wide variety of fields.

    As was mentioned, the only true way to a meteorologist in Ireland was by way of meteorological officer but now since most sites are becoming automated, that back door in has now closed.

    Use your degree and get to the states. Much more interesting weather there anyway.

    No they had a position.

    I don’t believe I could gain entry to the American market with the strict entry requirements and high competition.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,235 ✭✭✭Oneiric 3


    Nqp15hhu wrote: »
    I don’t believe I could gain entry to the American market with the strict entry requirements and high competition.

    You won't know until you try, and if you fail, then try again. American's see merit & value in perseverance.

    New Moon



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    I have now had my third interview at one meteorology company and was rejected yet again. At this point I don’t know what this company actually wants from me, so far as the interview or experience. At times I have thought that they have interviewed me for the positions for HR reasons, with no intention of taking me on. I meet the requirements for the job perfectly and know people who work in the company with a non meteorology degree and no experience. So what is wrong with me?

    I am confused about the constant interview invites but constant rejection, why invite me if nothing is changing? The job requires training so what odds is it that I don’t perform well in the interview, surely my meteorology knowledge would be advantageous to that training setup?

    I have curated and altered my interview at each stage, even spending money prior to this interview meeting two separate interview guidance people’s only to be rejected. I have literally done all I can do and it’s not good enough.

    At this point, It seems that these meteorology companies don’t care about interest in the topic or degree types, rather how well you perform in an interview socially.

    It is frustrating to have this interest, participate in daily, have the degree and to be told “no” repeatedly, not to mention all of the hundreds and hundreds of pounds I have spent going to assessment centres and preparing for interviews. Yet see people working in the job who have no actual interest in it. I have also heard that they took on most people on the assessment day I attended, so why not me? There’s just something off about the whole thing. Honestly I just think there’s something about me they don’t like. I wonder if disclosing my Aspergers initially is the problem (or other prejudices).

    I am ready now to move on from Meteorology and study a masters in an unrelated subject. There are too few job vacancies and too few opportunities to gain experience. I can’t sit without a job waiting on the rare job vacancy to come up.

    As arrogant as this sounds, I firmly believe they are missing out on not hiring me and are underestimating my skills by taking my performance in an interview at face value. To much of a focus on HR red tape is missing out on passionate candidates.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭Gaoth Laidir


    You're not the first person to be unsuccessful in a series of interviews and you won't be the last. It happens to most people.

    Maybe you need to start looking at yourself instead of constantly blaming others. Just some harsh constructive criticism, based on what I see here. It's important to be humble, open to other ideas and a team player, but unfortunately you don't come across as any of those, at least here anyway. I would seriously start asking questions of how those coaches you're paying are actually doing their job.

    Sorry for the blunt reply, but sometimes you need someone to tell you as it is.


  • Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭BingCrosbee


    Which degree course was it? I assume it's recognised by the Met Office (a degree is a degree is a degree).

    In 1988, while I was in 2nd year in school, I was shown around Met Éireann in Glasnevin by John Doyle, who was one of the RTÉ meteorologists at the time (along with Dr. Aidan Nulty and Gerald Fleming). It was a great experience, seeing Dr. Nulty there at his desk, and it was something I said I wanted to do for a living. However, John told me then that the opportunities in meteorology were getting less and less, normally relying on a retirement for a position to crop up. Advances in automation meant that at some stage in the future (i.e. today) there would be less and less people directly employed. It's for that reason that I didn't pursue it professionaly.

    Met Éireann are going through a process of modernising the airport observational station network, with all but Dublin Airport becoming fully automated very soon. That's a whole host of observer jobs gone down the drain.

    However, I find it interesting that every week there seems to be some new young voice presenting the 17:59 radio bulletin on my way home. I know that one of these voices is an ex-(or maybe still current)Boardsie, so fair play to him for landing the job.

    I don't know how the UKMO work, but the majority of opportunities I would imagine are now in the field of modelling and climate research. Not your bread and butter forecasting or observer jobs but it seems to me to be the way it's headed.
    A neighbour of mine got a job within the last 2 years as a Meteorologist with Met Eireann.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    You're not the first person to be unsuccessful in a series of interviews and you won't be the last. It happens to most people.

    Maybe you need to start looking at yourself instead of constantly blaming others. Just some harsh constructive criticism, based on what I see here. It's important to be humble, open to other ideas and a team player, but unfortunately you don't come across as any of those, at least here anyway. I would seriously start asking questions of how those coaches you're paying are actually doing their job.

    Sorry for the blunt reply, but sometimes you need someone to tell you as it is.

    Dialogue between abrasive and antagonistic forum members has absolutely nothing to do with interviews.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭Gaoth Laidir


    giphy.gif


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,254 ✭✭✭Nqp15hhu


    Yeah you can get back in your box now. Take your nasty digs elsewhere. Thanks


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,011 ✭✭✭John.Icy


    Why did you ask about interviewing if you genuinely cannot take on board a single criticism? Do you want advice or not?


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,476 ✭✭✭giveitholly


    giphy.gif

    I don't know why you even bother at this stage


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  • Registered Users Posts: 809 ✭✭✭omicron


    I know if I read your post history here in your current or previous account I wouldn't be in a rush to be working with you every day.


This discussion has been closed.
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