Archivist: Key Skills, Qualifications and Career Path
Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a Archivist
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Practice Now »What is a Archivist?
Archivists are responsible for maintaining and preserving valuable documents, historical records, and artefacts. They also facilitate access to these records, ensuring they are organised efficiently, and their conservation is properly managed for future use and research.
Skills
- Strong organizational skills for managing and cataloguing large collections of documents and artifacts
- Attention to detail for accurately recording and preserving historical information
- Research skills for locating and analyzing historical documents and records
- Knowledge of archival standards and best practices for preservation and access
- Communication skills for working with colleagues, researchers, and the public
- IT skills for managing digital archives and databases
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and projects
- Time management skills for meeting deadlines and managing multiple projects
- Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to archives and records management
- Strong organizational and cataloging skills
- Proficiency in archival research and preservation techniques
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
- Knowledge of information management systems and databases
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Familiarity with copyright and intellectual property laws
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing technologies and trends
- Commitment to lifelong learning and professional development
Qualifications & Education
- An accredited degree or postgraduate qualification is required for entry into the library professionals career field in the UK
- Most postgraduate courses require applicants to have prior relevant work experience
- Professional qualifications in Information and Library Service are available at Levels 2, 3, and 4
- NVQs/SVQs in Information and Library Service are also available at Levels 2, 3, and 4
Career Path
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a qualification is required to be an archivist in the UK. A degree and postgraduate training are necessary for this job. Most degree subjects are accepted, but it may be useful to have a degree in subjects like history or information science.
Yes, archiving is a good career choice in the UK as the job outlook is projected to grow 12% from 2021 to 2031, with an average of 4,700 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers each year over the decade.
Yes, archivist is primarily a desk job as they typically work in an office environment during regular business hours. However, they may also need to work in the field during outdoor exhibitions and may work overtime or on weekends to allow public access to stored documents.
An archivist is responsible for preserving and organizing historical documents and records. They work with various types of materials such as paper documents, photographs, maps, films, and computer records. Archivists are trained to ensure the proper storage and conservation of these materials and also assist people in accessing and obtaining the information they need.
The average age of an archivist in the UK is 50 years.
You need a degree and postgraduate training to be an archivist in the UK. Most degree subjects are accepted, but it may be useful to have a degree in history or information science.
To be an archivist in the UK, you will need a first degree followed by a postgraduate qualification accredited by the ARA (Archives and Records Association). While the subject of your first degree is not typically important, many archivists have degrees in history, law, classics, and English. In certain specialized areas, such as scientific archives services, having a relevant degree may be beneficial.
Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Archivist mock interview, under 10 minutes
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