I've always thought that being a Meteorologist/weather-woman would be a great job. What other job do you know of that won't damn you for making a wrong forecast or won't hold you accountable?
Meteorologists have a wonderful skill in ambiguous language. What is the difference between
Partly Sunny and Partly Cloudy?
How do you really measure a percentage for a chance of rain?
And what's with a temperature range of "somewhere in the 60's"?
Doppler radar has certainly made us all more knowledgeable about weather patterns, however, it doesn't take an advanced degree to figure out that the dark green shadow over my city means bad weather. It's happening. I can see it out my window.
All kidding aside, we can learn a lot from this occupation and how they communicate. We all need to learn a little CYA.
Lessons learned from a Meteorologist:
- Don't over-commit
Never promise something you can't deliver or know can't be delivered. - Do your research
Know what previous patterns have been. At least you'll be able to speak with accurate historical data. - Leave yourself wiggle room
Speaking in generalities can often prevent backlash.
While these lessons work for a meteorologist, I realize they won't work for every occupation. Use at your own risk.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
