vortmax112

interesting thread. looks like the pessimists have been right so far since the time this was first posted.

I don't think it's cause and effect..i.e. majoring in meteorology causes your chances of being employed to go way up. I think it's more that people who choose to major in meteorology AND succeed in completing the degree are hardworking, intelligent, and highly motivated people which also happen to be charactoristics that make you likely to be employed.

It's hard to think this hasn't been brought up already, but people with degrees in the atmospheric sciences are among the most employed in the country. It goes without saying that not all the jobs in which these people are working are in meteorology. Better advice might be to reconsider WORKING in meteorology, since it's next to impossible to find a job in the field. Majoring in meteorology, on the other hand, is a brilliant idea if you like having a job.

I agree it stands so maybe that was a poor choice of words on my part. Other things stand out too though so let the hiring official make his choice based on what he is looking for. Like I said, I think our service men and women are underpaid and its a shame some of them have such a hard time getting the help they need when they return. But I fundamentally dissagree with forcing someones hand on a hiring decision. I hear your argument but lots of people have some pretty intense life experiences they've gone through, being raised by abusive or neglectful parents or what not - any number of things. Should they all get that kind of preference too?

actually, I enjoy research papers and launching weather balloons, and doing calculus, and physics...

my response was not to belittle anyone, my response was to the statement in bold...I feel military service is something that makes you stand out, over and above the ability to complete a research paper or launch a weather balloon

I know that vets are not simply handed jobs. I never said that. They have to have the qualifications as you say. But if you have two applicants who are both basically qualified as say, a gs-9 and the vet, while being basically qualified do to schooling and experience, doesn't have anything else on his resume that really makes him stand out as a top candidate for the meteorology job and the other guy (not vet) does, I don't think it's fair that the MIC has no choice but to hire the Vet even if he wanted to pick other guy. Instead of giving Vets these kind of perks that are unfair to others applying for Govt jobs we should be paying them better and making sure they are well taken care of in terms of health benefits and what not for serving our country.

I'm also a bit touchy on the Vet subject...being a Vet, and underemployed...well, I might as well face it...when i was employed, i was underemployed, except my job ended last friday...so now i'm just unemployed...

first off, in govt jobs, you don't block people just by being a Vet...you have to have the schooling and the experience for the job you are applying for...Vets just don't get handed jobs...if Nick and I both apply for the same NWS job...and we are the only two applicants...he's going to get the job because he has his degree and he has been working as a Met...my Vet status won't count for crap...

so for those of you who had thought otherwise, you are wrong and you need not post anymore on this subject...

Not a big deal? I beg to differ..This makes it extremely difficult for a non-vet to get in. Most openings have several hundred applicants these days so more often than not out of that number you often do have at least 3 vets, especially for any place that's halfway decent. Now I did eventually get in but on 3/4 of my applications I was blocked and not reffered do to this despite being in the gold catagory.

just to let you know...qualified vets don't just get the 5 pts. anymore. If there is a few that are qualified at a specific grade...they actually block the non-vets from being considered at that grade. It's not a big deal...but I've been qualified at the gold category for a number of applications but still did not get referred to the local office because a couple vets or more qualified at all three internship grades and blocked the rest of the golds.

I just got hired by the NWS this year after applying for about 15-20 openings over the course of 6 months. I had 7 1/2 years of private sector experience and just a B.S. degree. I think if you have a strong operational background in the private sector where you can get the kind of experience that will help you score high on the application that that may be more valuable than a masters degree.

So, long-time lurker here. Doesn't say this on the profile, but I'm a meteorologist.

I think these days it's strongly preferable to have an advanced degree for most parts of the field. If you're doing broadcasting, there seems to be a bias against advanced degrees (they're looking for a communicator, so an advanced science degree is an overqualifier for most stations). But generally, a master's degree makes you a stronger prospect for job openings, and will allow you to advance further.

It's a double-edged sword with PhDs, however. The education is a plus. But, many private companies recognize that PhDs expect to be paid that much more, and that doesn't fit with a lot of bottom lines. If you're doing a PhD, it might make it harder to find an opening, as you're overqualified for the entry-levels.

I opted to stop at master's level and followed some of the other recent masters' grads from my program into the energy industry. Most of my colleagues who did PhDs are in some combo of research/academia, and the ones who stuck with the bachelor's either did broadcasting or left the field. That's been my experience anyway.

P.S. On another note, for NWS, I believe 15% of their hires had advanced degrees in 1985. today, the number is more like 85%. Unless you're a SCEP or something, you'll likely need a master's to get a job offer from the NWS.

One thing about the NWS, I think a lot of mets are drawn to it in part because the pay and benefits are currently a lot better than most private sector met jobs. I think in the future though that this difference may be less as there is talk of scaling back benefits and pay of federal workers.

Again, it is NOT saying that only 1.6% don't have jobs in meteorology and the other 98.4% are working in the field, it is saying that only 1.6% are unemployed with NO job. I'd say that at best only about half of today's met grads will end up working in the field of meteorology. There are a lot of mets and unfortunately not a lot of met jobs so a lot of people get forced out of the field. but met grads tend to be highly motivated intelligent people so most end up doing something, hence the low unemployment numbers. That stat is VERY misleading...

I thought I would share this with you all, If it has not been shared already:

The 10 college majors with the lowest unemployment rates

Majors and their unemployment rate:

1. Actuarial Science—0 percent

2. Astronomy and Astrophysics—0 percent

3. Educational Administration and Supervision—0 percent

4. Geological and Geophysical Engineering—0 percent

5. Pharmacology—0 percent

6. School Student Counseling—0 percent

7. Agricultural Economics—1.3 percent

8. Medical Technologies Technicians—1.4 percent

9.Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—1.6 percent

10. Environmental Engineering, Nursing, and Nuclear Industrial Radiology and Biological Technologies—2.2 percent

Yes, to succeed you have to REALLY, REALLY, want it. the advice you have been given is good but the problem is that not everyone can be better than everyone else. There are just too many mets and not enough jobs and the market is trying to send this message with the low salaries that exist in this field in the private sector. Usually this is what acts to bring things back into balance but it doesn't seem to be happening in this case. Probably because of these very misleading articles claiming things like "1.6 percent unemployment rate" among mets. I'm 100% sure they are talking about employment in general and not that 98.4% of graduating mets have found a job in this field. Good luck to you.

The NWS road show stopped in at Valpo on Monday and this year it included a Valpo grad who was working for United Airlines (technically ENSCO) as well.

The MIC of LOT and IWX were both there, and they said right now they can't desperately want people who have GIS minors, or CompSci minors, or in LOT's case, people who can speak/write Spanish. It's all about diversifying yourself, interning EVERYWHERE you can, getting good grades, and being professional. This is why I like Valpo meteorology, the program is so small that I know all the professors and they all know me, and they are telling it like it is: be a go-getter and be better than everyone else or reconsider your major.