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Archivists

Under the title Archivists, workers appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. O*NET rates it as extensive preparation, which usually means graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. It leans on reading comprehension, writing, and active listening. One core duty is to organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials. With a code of CIS, this is mostly a job for people drawn to orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. Investigative interests also help, rated 4.7 out of 7. If you want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, keep it on your list. If you need leading, persuading and making business decisions, it may feel thin.

What they do

Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.

Main tasks

  • Organize archival records and develop classification systems to facilitate access to archival materials.
  • Provide reference services and assistance for users needing archival materials.
  • Prepare archival records, such as document descriptions, to allow easy access to information.
  • Create and maintain accessible, retrievable computer archives and databases, incorporating current advances in electronic information storage technology.
  • Establish and administer policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials.
  • Direct activities of workers who assist in arranging, cataloguing, exhibiting, and maintaining collections of valuable materials.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and writing.

May not suit you if

  • You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.8 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CIS takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Accessioning Archivist
  • Archivist
  • Digital Archivist
  • Film Archivist
  • Museum Archivist

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.