About Fresh AJ

My weather blog, Fresh AJ, is about giving you juicy insights into the weather industry!

I’ve always felt the problem in meteorology is that there is limited guidance for students and new graduates about which career path they should choose.  Same for career professionals who want to move up in their careers or make a career transition to another meteorology sector (heck, even out of meteorology).   The guidance counselors you meet generally don’t know the ins and outs of the weather space because they haven’t worked in them.  Google searches of each sector on the internet basically describe the industry but do not give you the juicy insights that most of you should know.

My goal is to try and fill that void and give you a real and honest sense of each weather sector.  I want to help give you a competitive edge in an environment where there are very few meteorology job openings.

In my blog, I’ll provide you with secrets, tips, and success stories on how to stand out from the competition in each sector…whether its in aviation or energy, TV or for the government, private consulting or your own weather start up, storm chasing, and weather derivatives.

Some of the topics that I will discuss in my blog are:  salaries, work/life balance on the job, current/new meteorology sectors, roles, how to land meteorology and/or non-meteorology jobs, top cities and universities for meteorologists, along with personal stories and experiences of my own journey!  You’ll also see and hear interviews from professionals in each sector so you know what you are looking for, what it takes, and where you  fit in!

I’ll also bring up my thoughts on current events in meteorology, whether controversial or not.  You’ll get the real deal here.

If you like what you see…you can subscribe to my blog on the right hand side of the home page.   And if you can…show me some love by “liking” my blog or “tweeting” this to your peeps.    You can also comment on my FreshAJ Facebook Page and/or follow me on twitter at @ajain81.

  • Warren_Taisley

    AJ, I just wanted to commend you on your blog. This is great, and I couldn’t agree with you more that there is a lack of real guidance and insight for new graduates. I graduated in 2008 from the University of Utah and took a job with the FAA as an air traffic controller. While in training, I was offered a job for a private sector company and left the FAA. I’ve worked as a meteorologist for 3 years now and really want to transition into aviation meteorology ( I also have an FAA Airline Dispatch License). I’ve just started my new search, and I really love your blog. Keep up the good work!

  • Anonymous

    Hi Warren, thanks a lot. I’m really appreciative of your kind words! Best of luck in your job search Warren! And let me know if you’d like for me to discuss anything further about Aviation Meteorology (other than what is already on the blog :)

    Thanks again,

    AJ

  • http://profiles.google.com/lisaromeowrites Lisa Romeo

    My son will embark on studying meteorology at college in a few months, so it’s great to have discovered your blog. Appreciate your thoroughness and practical approach.

  • Bigdavesmall

    I’m trying to figure out how to go from academic research in hydrology and atmospheric dynamics into the private sector. I program in C, C++,python, etc. I know a lot of statistics, machine learning and stochastic and numerical modeling techniques. Private sector companies won’t hire me because I’m too academic. Can you provide some information about companies that are hiring and how to make the transition from research to industry?