Key Attributes Utilities Meter Readers Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Noah Smith

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Utilities meter readers read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.

The core tasks that utilities meter readers are likely to carry out include:

Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-hand computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.
Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage such as broken seals.
Report to service departments any problems such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that utilities meter readers would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for conventional work environments. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.8%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81.8%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80.8%