Table 1Transition record

steam plant operatortoindustrial machinery mechanic

A steam plant operator already meets 30% of what the industrial machinery mechanic role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.

From steam plant operator

30%

Overlap1

To industrial machinery mechanic

7 Skills carried over

9 Required, not held

67.9 Difficulty2

Career overlap Distant match

30%

Learning distance Substantial retraining

67.9/ 100

adjacentmoderatesubstantialcareer change

1 Share of the industrial machinery mechanic role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the steam plant operator profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Why

Why this move works

A industrial machinery mechanic role treats 7 of its required skills as things a steam plant operator already does. These are the ones it depends on most.

conduct routine machinery checks
electricity
hydraulics
mechanics
perform maintenance on installed equipment
resolve equipment malfunctions

What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 7 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A industrial machinery mechanic role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a steam plant operator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held perform maintenance on installed equipment constructing
already held conduct routine machinery checks working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held hydraulics engineering, manufacturing and construction
already held use testing equipment working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held resolve equipment malfunctions communication, collaboration and creativity
already held electricity engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 7 carried skills, including the 7 the industrial machinery mechanic role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 30 missing skills fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 constructing 2 required, 5 supplementary

required, not held inspect industrial equipment required
required, not held perform test run required

optional, not held install hydraulic systems optional
optional, not held install pneumatic systems optional
optional, not held lay pipe installation optional
optional, not held operate soldering equipment optional
optional, not held operate welding equipment optional

02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held electrical wiring plans required
required, not held types of lubricants required

optional, not held manufacturing of office equipment optional
optional, not held manufacturing of pumps and compressors optional

03 information skills 1 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held write records for repairs required

optional, not held estimate restoration costs optional
optional, not held consult technical resources optional
optional, not held prepare compliance documents optional
optional, not held record test data optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held troubleshoot required

optional, not held provide customer information related to repairs optional
optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional
optional, not held order supplies optional

05 working with computers 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held solve technical problems required

optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional

06 assisting and caring 1 required

required, not held secure working area required

5 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a industrial machinery mechanic role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 7 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held conduct routine machinery checks skill
already held electricity knowledge
already held hydraulics knowledge
already held mechanics knowledge
already held perform maintenance on installed equipment skill
already held resolve equipment malfunctions skill
already held use testing equipment skill

The 5 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required

required, not held pneumatics required

08 working with machinery and specialised equipment 3 supplementary

optional, not held install blinds drive systems optional
optional, not held install electrical and electronic equipment optional
optional, not held operate industrial equipment optional

09 handling and moving 1 supplementary

optional, not held dispose of hazardous waste optional

10 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held issue sales invoices optional

11 services 1 supplementary

optional, not held manufacturing of taps and valves optional

21 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held estimate restoration costs optional
optional, not held install blinds drive systems optional
optional, not held issue sales invoices optional
optional, not held manufacturing of office equipment optional
optional, not held manufacturing of pumps and compressors optional
optional, not held manufacturing of taps and valves optional
optional, not held provide customer information related to repairs optional
optional, not held apply technical communication skills optional
optional, not held consult technical resources optional
optional, not held dispose of hazardous waste optional
optional, not held install electrical and electronic equipment optional
optional, not held install hydraulic systems optional
optional, not held install pneumatic systems optional
optional, not held lay pipe installation optional
optional, not held operate industrial equipment optional
optional, not held operate soldering equipment optional
optional, not held operate welding equipment optional
optional, not held order supplies optional
optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional
optional, not held prepare compliance documents optional
optional, not held record test data optional

21 held skills the industrial machinery mechanic role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role adjust cylinder valves skill
not needed by the target role arrange equipment repairs skill
not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
not needed by the target role collaborate with engineers skill
not needed by the target role heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration parts knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain records of maintenance interventions skill
not needed by the target role manufacturing of steam generators knowledge
not needed by the target role monitor automated machines skill
not needed by the target role monitor utility equipment skill
not needed by the target role monitor valves skill
not needed by the target role monitor water quality skill
not needed by the target role operate automated process control skill
not needed by the target role operate boiler skill
not needed by the target role operate hydraulic machinery controls skill
not needed by the target role operate stationary steam engine skill
not needed by the target role operate steam turbine skill
not needed by the target role perform minor repairs to equipment skill
not needed by the target role repair heating equipment skill
not needed by the target role thermodynamics knowledge
not needed by the target role types of steam engines knowledge
not needed by the target role use personal protection equipment skill

6 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held electrical wiring plans required
required, not held pneumatics required
required, not held types of lubricants required
optional, not held manufacturing of office equipment optional
optional, not held manufacturing of pumps and compressors optional
optional, not held manufacturing of taps and valves optional

Index

Other moves recorded from steam plant operator

Full index of moves from steam plant operator

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.