Question:

Are internships required for meteorologists? or are they optional?

by Guest62569  |  earlier

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and are they paid or not paid?

thank you

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2 ANSWERS


  1. Internships are optional but it looks really good to have one on a resume. If you are trying to get a job, they are likely to take someone with experience before someone that didn't have an internship.

    Some internships are paid and some are not. I know people who get paid over 10 dollars an hour for their internship. I do not get paid for my internship but I am happy to work there because I know in the end it is worth it.

    You can get an internship with NWS or a private sector, both would be great for experience. If you are planning on doing broadcast I highly suggest getting an internship because news stations will only hire people with some sort of experience.

    Best of luck and I hope I helped! :)


  2. They are optional, but I think any student should treat them as if they are required.  Working as a recruiter for many years, I can tell you that internships are very important for the following reasons.

    For your self

    1. On the job experience - The real world is not like a classroom.  This is the best way to find out whether you really want to work 40 hours or more per week as a meteorologist.

    2.  Find out what you really need to know from what you learn from class.  It is estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of what you learn in a classroom setting are really needed once you get out in the working world.  Knowing this, you can concentrate on learning more of these needed skills.

    3.  Learn how diverse the field of meteorology really is.  What do a climatologists do?  What does a forensic meteorologists do?  What about an aviation weather forecaster, remote sensing specialists, IMET/Fire weather forecaster, private consultant. Ag forecaster, NWP/weather model expert, media weather programmer, micro-meteorologists, ocean route forecaster, Weather futures forecasters, etc.

    4.  No two forecaster will forecast the same way.  Here is a chance that you can learn early in life the many different ways each one of the forecasters will do to come up with a forecast.  

    5.  The more people you know, the more people you can go to and ask for career advice.

    As for your employer...

    1.  More on your resume will give more information for your employer to learn about you.

    2. Meteorology is a small career and very competitive field.  Many of the managers know other managers and employers.   If you do well in your internship, others employers will know.

    3.  Gain an advantage or shortcut into a entry level job.  I'm sure you have heard how difficult it is to get a weather job.  If you do well in an internship, you may be hired right away without a need to apply or interview for a job.  Sometimes an employer will save a position until you finish and get your degree.

    4.  Like any other field of employment, it is who you know that is usually more important than a good resume.  And as a recruiter, many of us in the weather field know that some of people with the highest GPA will end up being sone of the worst forecasters.  Why?   The real world is much more complex than anything they teach in school.  And much of operational weather forecasting skills are based on understanding the importance of the local effects, something colleges and universities can not teach you.  

    5.  Employers will have better and more choice references. It is always good to know that somebody had tried out their career  choices.  This will reduce the chance of an employer selecting and investing time and money into  a candidate.  Only to find out a few weeks after the new employee started his job that he is leaving because he can not work midnight shifts.  A candidate will come with more risks for the employer to invest in if that candidate does not have any experience working in the real world in his academic field of interest.

    These are just some of many reasons why recruiters and employers would love to see resumes with one or more internships listed...volunteer or paid.

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