Archivists
Career Snapshot
From a turn-of-the-century love letter to an antique map that settles a modern property dispute, archives collect and preserve valuable records of the past. Archivists arrange and care for them.
Archivists sort through historically valuable paper, film, and electronic archives, determining what to keep and what to discard. The work may necessitate research into the artefacts' origins and values.
It is critical for archivists to be technologically savvy. Computers, for example, are increasingly being utilised to store and display archive material. Strong organisational skills are required: archivists must be able to catalogue materials so that they can be found readily.
Although the workplace is normally peaceful, it might get cluttered with stored goods. Bending to move big boxes and ascending ladders to reach high shelves may be required.
Archivists typically specialise in a specific period of history. They may work for museums, libraries, or even corporations - anyplace records and related materials are kept.
Employers prefer candidates with graduate degrees in history or library science, as well as expertise working with historical materials. The Academy of Certified Archivists certification can provide you an advantage.
This is a profession that entails much more than merely keeping track of old documents. Archivists play an important role in safeguarding fragile and often irreplaceable historical records.