FORECAST YOUR FUTURE WITH THE MET OFFICE!

The Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, offers some of the coolest careers around – from scientists to weather presenters and tech pros!

The weird and wonderful world of weather is mind-bogglingly cool! Did you know that there are over three million flashes of lightning around the world each day? Or that the coldest temperature ever recorded during a UK winter was a whopping -27.2°C? Brrr, we’re cold just thinking about it! 

Nobody finds the weather more intriguing than the Met Office. For over 170 years, they’ve been one of the most trusted names in forecasting, helping people plan their days and stay safe – come rain or shine. 

Let’s take a look at some of the many, varied jobs done by people at the Met Office. Maybe one day YOU could work there too! 

Name and age

Angel, 20

Role at the Met Office

I’m a design and content industrial placement. My role is all about content creation! From working on briefs, research, photography, recording weather forecasts and creating engaging content that educates, informs and promotes environmental awareness.

Career path

I study film at university and have always been a creative and analytical individual. I saw this industrial placement as an opportunity to apply my skills in a new way. It has been a rewarding experience so far, introducing me to new opportunities within media.

Favourite weather fact

Did you know that wildfires sometimes create tornadoes made of fire called fire whirls?

Name and age

Luke, 23

Role at the Met Office

As a Software Developer, I build computer programmes that store and process observations data. When we say “observations,” we mean weather that we observe, like when and where lightning strikes happen, or the temperature recorded at a weather station throughout the day and night.

Career path

Computers have fascinated me from a young age, so I studied Computer Science at secondary school and college. I found a job as a software developer straight after finishing college. I’ve now been at the Met Office for one year, and I’m currently studying Data Science at university alongside work.

Favourite weather fact

If you count how many times a snowy tree cricket chirps in eight seconds and add five, you can estimate the air temperature (in Celsius). This is called Dolbear’s law.

Name and age

Evie, 26

Role at the Met Office

As a Data Analyst, I look at the information we collect about the people who work at the Met Office, helping us to make decisions such as ensuring we have the right people in the right jobs and that our employees are happy.

Career path

I never imagined I’d have a ‘maths job’ but growing up, I loved understanding how things worked and asking ‘why?’. I didn’t know I could do that as an actual job until I saw the Met Office’s Data Analyst apprenticeship. Doing it means I have been able to learn outside of a classroom and get paid at the same time!

Favourite weather fact

You can only see a rainbow when the sun is behind you!

Name and age

Noah, 21

Role at the Met Office

As a Level 3 Apprentice Engineer in the Systems Engineering team, I help install and manage meteorological instruments that collect data for weather forecasts and climate records. My time is split between assembling systems in the workshop and installing them nationwide.

Career path

I joined the Met Office in September 2022 after completing my A-levels, starting as a Level 2 Mechatronics apprentice. I successfully completed this course at the end of my first year and progressed to a Level 3 apprenticeship, which I am now one year into.

Favourite weather fact

A bolt of lightning can reach temperatures of about 30,000 kelvins (53,540°F), which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun!

Name and age

Jonathan, 28

Role at the Met Office

As a Meteorologist, I write weather forecasts for different organisations and people, such as the airports you fly from and the presenters you watch on TV. It’s important to share this information to ensure public safety during storms or heatwaves.

Career path

My fascination with the world around us meant geography was my favourite subject at school. I studied this further at university before then deciding to focus on meteorology and the science behind the weather. The Met Office was the perfect place for me to turn my passion into a job.

Favourite weather fact

When sand from a desert is blown into the sky, it can mix with the clouds and make raindrops look red in colour – we call this blood rain.

Name and age

Lottie, 24

Role at the Met Office

I use science to understand how the weather in the UK is going to change because of climate change. This helps the Government and businesses get ready to make sure everyone stays as safe as possible!

Career path

I studied maths and physics at university and learned about climate change from the news, books and at school. I was worried about what climate change will mean for our future, so I decided to work at the Met Office where we try to understand the problem better.

Favourite weather fact

Weather fact? Around 30 tornadoes a year are reported in the UK. Climate fact? Antarctica is the world’s largest desert…

Want to find out more about the Met Office? Visit metoffice.gov.uk