Archivists gather, file, record and rank documents for public and private companies, associations or government. Under their control, archives are organized and stored before being distributed and made available tot he public. Archivists often work in the information and culture sector, but can also be employed by a company to manage its information flows. The arrival of computers has revolutionized the profession, with the filing of data usually done using software and information made available on an intranet or the Web.
MAIN DUTIES
- Gather and file documents, information, images, files, etc. for a company
- Perform information searches
- Determine document authenticity
- Assist researchers
- Ensure good archive accessibility
- Participate in developing archive management and conservation policies
- Propose methods to extract information from archives
EDUCATION
A bachelor’s degree with a minor in archiving or equivalent is essential to apply for a job as an archivist. In the cultural field, an increasing number of employers, particularly in the public sector, require applicants to have a master’s degree in history, library science or archiving.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
- Knowledge of integrated document management
- Knowledge of laws governing the management of information
- Excellent knowledge of office systems software
- Excellent grasp of archive management software
- Knowledge of the target sector
- Bilingualism is an asset
PROFILE
- Meticulous
- Organized
- Punctual
- Flexible
- Good teacher
- Sociable
- Team player
CAREER PATH
Archivists can eventually manage an archiving department and thus be in charge of all the archives and the associated distribution policy. In the cultural sector, they can hold heritage curator or librarian jobs.