Think you know your isobars from your elbow? Then chances are you are over-qualified for the latest job to be advertised in RTE.
The advertisement for television weather presenters, which appeared in The Irish Times yesterday, is carefully worded, saying applicants "should be graduates in science or related fields, ideally (our italics) specialising in meteorology".
The wording conveys the impression that, despite a proposed relaunch of the weather, the presentation of such data is still a serious business. But it leaves plenty of scope for graduates of the what-a-stunner/ hunk school of broadcasting so avidly recruited for the recently revamped Network 2.
While there has been something of a thaw in relations between Met Eireann, which failed to win the tender to present the weather, and RTE over the issue, the ice has not quite melted, and yesterday a source expressed "real disappointment" at the advertisement.
"In our view the presentation is best done by fully qualified people, preferably the same people who prepare the forecasts," a Met Eireann spokesman said. It was pleased, however, that the other parts of the contract, including the collating of data and the design of graphics, had been left to the experts.
Farmers' and fishermen's groups expressed annoyance yesterday at RTE's expected move to a more infotainment-based style of weather presentation. Mr Frank Doyle, of the Irish Fishermen's Association, said the weather was not "a plaything or a device for entertaining the public. It is a serious subject".
When the new weather strategy was revealed last month, Mr Joe Mulholland, managing director (television), said the move was not a case of jazzing up the weather or bringing in stunners, but represented a chance for well-qualified young people to get on TV.
Meanwhile, an RTE source confirmed that young, attractive weather presenters were being sought for the jobs and added that Gerald Fleming of Met Eireann was being retained to appease the more conservative weather viewers.
Applicants for what are being advertised as freelance positions also require a "confident on-screen manner and voice" and are requested to include a recent photograph along with their CV.
The antics of TV3's wacky weatherman, Martin King, are thought to have accelerated the revamp of RTE's weather service, which should be completed by February. His main tip for would-be weathermen and women was "Sell your personality and be yourself".
Applicants could also look for inspiration to the ultimate TV babe, Jennifer Aniston of Friends, who in her current shampoo ad gets her priorities right when referring to the high-tech qualities of the product. "Here's the science bit," she purrs.