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We are seeking college students to volunteer at our office this coming spring semester.
The goal of our Student Volunteer Program is to allow the volunteer to gain experience in the operations of a National Weather Service Forecast Office.
Some values of volunteering at NOAA/NWS as a student include:
Gaining insight into operational meteorology that will help you better understand how the meteorology courses you are taking apply to a real work environment
Gaining insight into how the NWS operates, which can help you learn what future research and tools need to be developed in order to advance the science of meteorology and its applications
Gaining insight into NWS systems operations and data collection that can help you whether you choose a future in the public or private sector, including research, development, and application of meteorology
Work experience to include on your resume and make you more marketable
Potential for college course credits through independent study.
Establishing valuable contacts and references while gaining help perfecting your resume
I realize this is an old thread...but just recently searched and saw this and since I am employed by NWS for a long time I can offer some info
1. People are not quitting the NWS. Yes a few do, due to marriage, lifestyle changes, etc. But the gap is due to retirements and then for reasons unknown an extremely slow hiring process from the time of the job bid, to selection, to the very long background checks, to then moving. With the rapid increase in social media, DSS (disaster support services) for various organizations, etc workload has increased and spread out over various new ways, and the hiring process behind those retiring was very very slow. Some offices were down 5-7 people, and with requirements of always 2 people on a shift (due to health/safety reasons) and just normal severe summer/winter weather when more staff is needed many people have felt burnt out. Not to mention increased training requirements and lack of time to do them.
2. With the recent hiring wave in the past couple months and on-going and in the near future ahead, it is hoped the number of people coming in will at least be closer to those retiring. With the modernization the NWS went through in the 1990s, many were hired in that boom time (late 80s-mid 90s) and the first wave of retirements of these folks are soon coming, esp those with military experience whose years in the military combine with NWS can allow them to retire with fewer years in the NWS.
3. Operational meteorologists work rotating shifts, as do most weather jobs....except perhaps TV and other more M-F industries. What the government job has provided over the years as compared to the private sector is overall better pay and better benefits. Competition to get into the entry level NWS positions is extremely intense, from those out of college to those in private sector wanting to move in to the NWS.
4. General benefits is that the govt does may a portion of our health insurance...certainly not all....we pay a portion. Also a decent retirement annuity program. as you move up you do get increased hours of annual leave you can use for whatever purposes. I earn 8 hours of paid leave each 2 weeks....but the last two years I have not been able to use all the leave I acquired (there is a maximum amount you can carryover at the end of the year). Thus I lost the hours or I gave them to someone in medical need in the NWS who has ran out of leave.
5. Over the years, there have been much talk about doing more with less. IE hiring 1 for every 2/3 retirements. Better modeling leading to a more push/button philosophy to forecasting, esp on quiet days. This talk ebbs and flows, but no doubt more click and send public weather grids are the future, esp in quiet weather days, when model variations are not great. This lends itself to more time for outreach, training. The days of someone sitting and only doing forecasting and spending the day over model data is over...you must integrate social media, training and forecast skills.
Nice post Dan, thanks for the info! I hope this shut down doesn't affect you too much..
I remember with the last government shutdown many of my links didn't work because they were from NWS or ended in ".gov". I hope this one doesn't last long but for those wondering here are the impacts
I dont know if the websites are impacted.... they are not currently... but I know that impacts are not felt til after several days and longer...it kind of snowballs.
But our work at the office continues as before. Now anyone with training seminars, etc that they were supposed to attend is impacted and cannot travel....anything that is not considered supporting the immediate safety of life and property is curtailed.
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