Job Profile

Name	Trainee Archivist

Details

Archive Trainee posts are usually aimed at people who are hoping to go on and study for a professional archive qualification. Competition for posts can be fierce but they provide a good grounding in the range of skills you will need as an archivist. Expect to get your hands dirty, shifting boxes around, scanning documents and all sorts of other manual stuff. And we should warn you, trainee positions are not always paid.

The Archives and Records Association has a list of employers who offer paid trainee posts.

Key responsibilities

Directing and assisting all users with their enquiries and research in the public search room
Responding to telephone, e-mail and written requests from researchers and members of the public
Assisting with the care and preservation of archive collections and maintaining good order in the strong rooms.
Assist with cataloguing related activities such as numbering andlisting of documents and with inputting of data into databases
Supporting the development and maintenance of digital resources, including handling, scanning and digital manipulation
Locating the required archives in response to requests
Preparing presentations, displays and exhibits and giving talks to special interest groups
Producing teaching materials

Starting salary	Pre-qualification salaries are typically around £17,000.
Potential earnings	The Archives and Records Association recommend that the minimum salary paid to recently qualified archivists should be £21,937. Could potentially reach £35,000 for qualified and experienced assistant archivists.
Entry requirements	Basic literacy and numeracy skills although ‘trainee’ posts will require a degree
Essential skills	Employers themselves look for good communicators that can relate well to people. You need to be good presenters and confident talking to groups of people. Logical, flexible and forward thinking are another must.
Professional qualifications	There are a number of postgraduate courses in archives administration and records management, including entry-level qualifications for people new to the profession, as well as full-time Masters and distance learning courses. A list of qualifications recognised by the Archives and Records Association is published and updated on their website www.archives.org.uk . Currently, courses are available at: · University College London · University of Northumbria at Newcastle · University of Wales, Aberystwyth · University of Liverpool · University of Dundee · University College Dublin · University of Glasgow.
Apprenticeships	Apprenticeships are available in England and Wales
Promotional prospects	Senior Archive Assistant Assistant Archivist Archivist Records Manager

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