Thread by @AMSEarlyCareer

The webinar has begun!! Tune in now to chat with these super awesome early career professionals!

The board started in 2012 to help keep early career professionals engaged and involved in @ametsoc. 16 members and 1 student liaison. We promote all things Early Career related in the weather/water/climate enterprise.

We have an award! The Award for Early Career Professional Achievement! It's now a society level award. Nominations are due May 1st, so nominate early, nominate often!

.@StephenMStrader, from the academia side and is a meteorologist and geographer. He comes at meteorology from the geographical mindset. Advice: always say yes to being involved. Never know what scenarios could benefit you down the road.

Matt Anderson: works at @NWSMorristown. Joined the board to help future scientists with resume building, jump start careers, and answer any questions about the @NWS.

.@IreneSans: Bilingual broadcaster in Florida. Joined the board to be a mentor, especially in the broadcast sector. Broadcast can be difficult to take on, due to the public nature of the job. #mentorship

.@RWM_Wx: Private sector and CCM meteorologist. Joined the Early Career Board to bring experience in communication of weather, in your job and to the public, and help shed light on how it's changed over the last decade or so. Advice: learn from your mistakes!

Matt Rogers: private sector, founder of Commodity Weather Group. Consulting meteorologist for the commidity and energy sector. Passionate about communication of weather to public, clients, and other meteorologists.

Question to panelists: Knowing what you know now, is there anything more you would have done in college to prepare for your career?

.@RWM_Wx: scripting and programming is very vital. You have tons of options for programming now. Also, risk management knowledge is helpful.

.@StephenMStrader: Work on your writing, how to communicate your research to a general audience. Think beyond your research to how you can best convey it to the average person. Take classes to improve your writing.

.@IreneSans: Learn another language, if possible! It'll only expand your marketability and value no matter what aspect of the field you go into.

Matt Rogers: best skill to have for an entry level job? Communication and programming skills would give you an advantage. Follow your passion! Find your niche within the weather industry, but don't worry if it takes a while to figure it out.

Next question: when is a good time to apply for my CBM? @IreneSans is on the CBM board: recommends at least 2 years of experience. Have to take a comprehensive exam with 100 questions, then send in your reel. We want you to show your best stuff.

Next question: how impactful were internships on your readiness for your first job?

Matt Rogers: tv internship helped me see a different aspect of the field. Highly recommend any internship, even if it's not in the exact area you want to go into. Helps whittle down where you do or do not want to go in the field.

Matt Anderson: it helps to learn from people who have been in the field every day for years during an internship. The connections you make when you intern are incredibly valuable.

.@IreneSans started in emergency management. Was able to brief officials as a junior in college. Fantastic experience. Then interned at a TV station, and everything took off after that, with freelancing even before graduating.

Next question: do you have an example of a time you failed or made a mistake, and what came of it?

.@RWM_Wx: dealing with a heatwave in Chicago, lost $850k because the high temp forecast was off by a few degrees. Learned that conveying the risks of a forecast was extremely important.

Matt Rogers: first year on a job, but didn't like it. Tried to learn about a lot of new things, learned and failed through them and eventually came to like what he was doing. Give it time and failures to determine where your success likes.

.@IreneSans: I had to suddenly start doing the weather in English. It seemed horrible at first, but it eventually propelled me to be a crossover, bilingual meteorologist. What seems awful to start could turn into something great!

.@StephenMStrader: wasn't sure if the college I ended up at for my master's was the right fit, but I stuck it out and realized that academia and research was the right place for me.

Matt Anderson: I was fatigued and ended up issuing an incorrect thunderstorm warning. Important to know yourself and when you're too tired to focus properly, and let your colleagues know.

Next question: How do you come back onto the weather enterprise, not as a student, but as an early or mid career professional?

.@jjrennie: goes back to the mentality of thinking outside the box. How can you make yourself stand out? What experiences do you have that others might now? Takes persistence and patience.

Next question: when looking for a job, is it easier or more useful to look for a job that utilizes my skill set or passion, or is it better to find a job, then tailor your skill set to do that job?

.@jjrennie: try and focus on finding your passion, but know it may take some time and persistence.

.@IreneSans: You need to be happy in your job and love what you do. It may not be the place you set as a goal for yourself, but if you are happy and work life balance is good, then that's okay!

Next question: when is a good time to move on to your next job?

Answer: you'll know when you're ready. It's a crazy feeling, but you'll know.

.@IreneSans: you know when things are changing, in you and in your surroundings. Stay in tune with the field and how it's evolving.

Last question: where do you see the weather industry going and evolving in the next few years?

.@RWM_Wx: for me personally, I think it's going into renewables and renewable energy forecasting. Forecasting solar wind, and today and wave energy will all come down to meteorological aspects.

Matt Rogers: just keep learning. If you're not moving forward and learning new things, you're falling behind. Keep up with the trends!

Matt Anderson: NWS is moving toward decision support, communication side of things, working with partners to keep people safe.

.@IreneSans: if you aren't flexible and adaptable, you will get run over. Gotta roll with the punches and keep going.

.@StephenMStrader: being willing to work across multiple disceplinaries is very valuable. Gaining experience in multiple realms is vital, even if short term benefits aren't immediately apparent.

We are here for you guys. Here to be a mentor, provide advice, tips, or be a listening ear. Whatever YOU need, we want to help with.

Final thoughts: @StephenMStrader: listen to those w/ different viewpoints than yourself.

Matt Anderson: continue to pursue your passion, make those connections. @NWS has the Pathways paid internship!

.@IreneSans: stay flexible and be willing to adapt. Don't be afraid to reach out. Send that email, tweet, direct message. The worst that can happen is that they don't respond. And most will respond!! We were where you are once, we know what it's like. We want to help.

.@RWM_Wx: reach out and continue to learn. Don't get left behind, work on being a leader.

Matt Rogers: meteorology is a really tough field. Don't get frustrated, it's a challenge for all of us. Stay patient and persevere. Persistence wins eventually! Hang in there.

And that's a wrap on our first webinar!! Thank you so much to everyone who tuned in and asked great questions! We appreciate your involvement!

Unroll, please @threadreaderapp 😊