Meteorologist instructor

Name: Mark Schwarz
Age: 34
Job title: Meteorologist instructor
Working hours: 37 hours week
Employer: Met Service; universities; Crown Research Institute; other research organisation
Pay: $66,000 to $78,000
Qualifications needed: science degree such as physics, chemistry, pure maths
Career prospects: promotion within Met Service; university lecturer; researcher

Describe your job

I'm part of the professional development and consulting team running an internal training course for meteorologists. There is not sufficient training or any qualification in the country to the level we need for our meteorologists so we do it ourselves.

We require people to have a good, solid science background but then we up skill them on the meteorology. We are developing material, presenting it in lecture style, doing lots of practical classes. It's a full-on course. We cover other training within the company as well. And last year I supervised diplomas for a Victoria University course, and I've supervised dissertations and projects. I've done peer reviewing of internal work, and our own research.

A typical day would be researching new material, putting it into notes in a web format, teaching a class or two, maybe replying to a letter from the public and looking over some forecasts. If there is something interesting, keeping an eye on it and giving any advice I think is necessary.

Why did you choose the job?

I did a Masters in Quantum Physics at Waikato University. I thought there was a limited market for quantum physicists in New Zealand and lots of my friends went overseas but I didn't really like that idea. I'm a Kiwi through and through. I wanted something with a science background but with a market feel. I wanted to get out there.

I like people. The Met Service is presented as being rooted in science but quite a dynamic organisation. And you are certainly out there in the public eye. At the interview I told them I didn't have any particular interest in the weather and they liked me anyway. I liked the balance of science and commerce.

Why is the job important?

I'm helping to ensure the good quality of meteorologists. I also try to encourage a good role for people. A lot of work has been put into making computer systems that can forecast. But you don't really want to trust a computer with your life. You need really good, well educated, onto it people to make the final decision.

The most important forecast that we do is for regional councils for flood warnings. The best feedback that we get from these [council] guys is that they like talking to our forecasters. They get computer readouts, too, and they want to know what it really means. To some degree I'm the conscience of the organisation because I'm a bit of an objective party. I'm not writing the forecasts at the moment and can assess them. And I'll say if I don't think they are particularly good. That's good for the health of the organisation.

What's the best part of the job?

The freedom to explore and the joy of education. I love teaching.

What interesting events have occurred?

We've just moved into severe convection forecasting in the last couple of years - tornadoes, hail - the sort of thing they've been doing in the USA for years. I was involved in the first pilot project. I did a climatology of lightning across the country to see where we get thunder storms and then I did a climatology on severe thunder storms. Now we run forecasts of severe, flash funding, tornadoes, hail and so on. It's still in its early stages but it's been really interesting to be involved.

What are your strengths?

I have a wide range of skills and interests. I'm solid in the science, have that objectivity and I can communicate - writing reports, teaching, talking. I feel I could work on my teaching because I'm not a pure teacher. I have a colleague who trained as a teacher, is a gifted teacher and can really draw out the best in students. I tend to be a bit of a scientist and expect them to understand the science.

What's your job hunting advice?

I'd recommend a solid background in physics. It would get your foot in the door. Then be prepared to spend a year feeling like you don't know anything as we try to teach you. We do pay people for that year but there's lots to learn so it's quite an arduous task. Then it's applying it in the field and having a passion for teaching and development. A good thing about the job is that Met Service appreciates passion so if you show it you'll go places.