Archivist Jobs: Overview
Archivists preserve documents, such as writings, photographs, and maps, and then make those records available to the public. Archivists typically work for large organizations like libraries, government institutions, museums, and universities; and their job hours are often 9-5 pm. If there is a large project that requires extensive archiving, however, they may be expected to work overtime. Archivist jobs should see a 12% growth rate in the next decade which is much more than the national average of 5%.
Here are some of the responsibilities of an archivist:
- Organizes documents and archival material
- Determines how to preserve documents and archival material
- Helps researchers access the archives
- Maintains archives
- Updates archives periodically
- Creates online databases to access the archives
Salary for Archivist Jobs
The national median salary for an archivist is $51,967, with a low end of $38,187 and a high end of $70,303. Salaries differ depending on experience, education, and the city and its cost of living. Higher than normal salaries can be expected in cities like New York City, where archivists can expect a salary of $60,106, and Los Angeles, where you could earn $61,320.
To find more information on archivist salaries in your city, use the Monster's Salary Tool. Here you'll also find salary information about similar careers and ways to increase your income.
Finding Archivist Jobs
To find archivist jobs, first define what your interests are. Do you prefer to archive museum documents, medical documents, corporate documents, or university documents? Your interests should help you decide what kind of archivist you'd like to become.
Consider where you would like to work and what kind of hours you'd prefer. You can choose a regular 9 - 5 job or you can freelance from project to project. Think about growth opportunities, too. Some archivists start as record technicians or assistants and then become record managers, for instance.
Review the Job Description
Review the job description carefully, and pay attention to any duties and responsibilities, such as preserving documents, creating online databases for the public, or updating archives. Ensure that your skills and qualifications match. Do you have experience preserving documents? Are you familiar with digitizing paper documents? Review the educational and experience requirements as well. If there are specific certifications required, make sure you have those certifications. Some archivist positions require certified archivists (CAs) only.
Besides the required certification, the job description may highlight preferred knowledge and experiences, such as knowledge of archival methodology and developing classified systems. If your resume lacks some of these qualifications, consider getting additional training or interning under an archivist to expand your knowledge.
Research the Company
Archivist jobs differ depending on the organization, so it's important to assess the type of archiving you will be doing. It could be for the military, a national park, or a museum. What kind of documents does the company archive, and why? These answers may be available on the website.
Research the company to ensure you understand its mission and its values. Do they line up with your own? Evaluate whether the organization and its company culture suit your interests and if you see yourself at the organization in the long term.
How to Apply to Archivist Jobs
Once you have reviewed the job description carefully, list your skills, qualifications, and experiences that match. Think about whether you prefer to work for a large, well-funded organization or a boutique company with a part-time archival staff.
Create an Effective Resume
Did you find an archivist job that piques your interest? Then it's time to create an outstanding resume. Here are some tips:
- Most job descriptions contain keywords. These are words that describe specific responsibilities and skills. Use these keywords in your own archivist resume to ensure recruiters can find you in a resume database. Some resume keywords you may see for an archivist job are "cataloging," "archival research," and "digitization."
- Use bullet lists to make your archival qualifications stand out, and emphasize the skills included in the job description. These may be skills like knowledge of archival software, records management, or preservation techniques.
- If you're multilingual, highlight this too. Some documents may be in another language, such as Latin, and your input could be invaluable.
- Describe your achievements using action verbs. Make sure to show quantifiable results, such as how much data you were able to digitize within a specific time frame.
- If you have certifications, such as Certified Archivist (CA) or Digital Archives Specialist (DAS), make sure that you list them.
- Employers always want to see references and samples, so have both ready. There may be online proof of your catalog work that you can link to or an archivist manager you can use as a reference.
For more help with your resume, take a look at our professional resume writing services. We will create a custom and unique resume for you that highlights your skills and expertise.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter
A cover letter may not be necessary for the job, but it's a good idea to include it. For one, it's a great way to introduce yourself as an archivist and demonstrate how you stand out from the crowd.
To customize your cover letter, find out who the hiring manager is and direct the letter to that person. Write a catchy opening sentence and then go straight into why you are qualified for the archivist position. Include accomplishments such as your digitization projects, or how much archival software you are familiar with. Explain why you are a good fit for the company.
Mention your passion for the type of archiving the company offers, whether it's medical, military, corporate, or historical. If you are applying for military archivist jobs, include your military background. These details can easily give you an edge over the competition.
Submit Your Application
Once both your resume and cover letter are ready, you can start applying for archivist jobs. Create a free Monster account and fill out your profile. With your online resume, you can apply with just one simple click of a button. Don't forget to double-check you have included all the necessary information and that there are no grammatical errors.
How to Follow up With an Employer
Once you send your archivist application off, wait one to two weeks before following up. It is best to email the recruiter or hiring manager. Find the name of the hiring manager in the job description or look on the company's site for the hiring manager's name and contact information. If you are not able to find a specific hiring manager, don't hesitate to call the company and ask who to contact.
Next, craft your follow-up letter. Be professional, polite, and humble. Reiterate your passion for archiving and why you believe you're a great fit for their company. Highlight your certifications and past accomplishments, and keep the follow-up letter short.
Interviewing Tips
If you get an email or phone call to conduct an interview, you're on the right track. Here are some important interviewing tips to remember.
Prepare for the Interview
Research the company thoroughly to prepare for an archivist job interview. Make sure you understand their mission, what they stand for, their work culture, and the kinds of archiving they do. Look through the company's social media channels and its blogs. Keep up with daily postings to see what the company values.
The Interview Process
Make sure you prepare some answers to interview questions. One of the best ways to answer job interview questions is by using the STAR technique. The STAR technique asks you to describe the Situation, the Task assigned, the Action you took, and the Result you achieved.
Be prepared to answer specific archival questions, such as:
- Have you handled confidential information when archiving?
- What's your favorite archival project? And why?
- Have you developed your own system of archiving?
Practice talking about your archival practices as well as your experiences and achievements. You should also be prepared to answer questions about subjects like digital preservation, metadata standards, and archival software.
Follow Up
After the interview, send a thank-you email expressing your gratitude for the opportunity. If you don't hear back within one to two weeks, compose a brief follow-up letter. Here are some things you should include:
- Recap what you talked about in the interview.
- Reiterate your interest in the archivist job.
- Remind the interviewer of your qualifications and your skills.
- Provide your contact information.
If you still don't hear back, wait another week or two. A lack of response usually means you did not get the position. Accept the situation, think about how you could improve your interviewing techniques, and continue your job search for more archivist positions.
What to Do When You Get an Archivist Job Offer
Getting a job offer is a big deal, so you should be proud of yourself and respond with a thank you email as soon as possible. Before you say yay or nay to the offer, however, ask for time to look the offer over. Look at the responsibilities and ask for clarification if you have any questions.
Check the offered salary against the median archivist salary in your city. Does it measure up? Look at other benefits such as paid time off and health benefits as well. If the salary isn't quite what you were expecting, it's okay to negotiate. Just make sure to do thorough research so you can build your case.
Career Paths for Archivist Jobs
You have many career choices after becoming a Certified Archivist, but most archivists tend to work in either museums or university institutions. Here are some career paths to consider:
- Museum Curator: A museum curator is where many archivists end up. Most museums require that you have a master's degree in history, art history, or a related field. Having a CA certification may be required as well.
- Medical Records Clerk: Hospitals and healthcare facilities store years of patients' data, and having an archivist to organize and update this data is crucial. If the medical field is your passion, a medical records clerk could be a satisfying career to pursue.
- Records Clerk: A records clerk can be a broad title as it refers to an archivist at any organization. The company may be a corporation, a bank, a police department, a national park, the military, and more.
Decide What Your Career Path Should Be
To decide what career path you should take, write down your interests and passions. If you enjoy art history, then a museum is an ideal setting. Your interests may also extend to government institutions, universities, or even public parks. If so, narrow down the kinds of companies you'd enjoy working for and check Monster to see if there is an archivist position available.
If you're not entirely sure, consider getting an internship or entry-level position in the archival field. Hands-on experience can help you narrow down your focus or see how well-suited you are to a job.
Professional Development
Some archivist positions require additional degrees. You may need to get a master's degree in library science, public administration, or history. If you don't have a CA or a DAS, consider getting both certifications. For additional experience, participate in archival projects. These are often short-term positions that end once all the documents are archived. They can be a nice addition to your resume.
The Future of the Archivist Industry
As artificial intelligence starts to expand, archivists may need to work alongside AI to catalog and organize large collections of documents. Having knowledge of AI and how it can streamline the work of archivists may be essential.
Companies are starting to make environmentally friendly business choices, which means they are relying on paper less and less. This will call for more digital archiving. Those with a DAS certification may see more job opportunities as a result.
You may also need to be familiar with archiving online content, such as social media content and websites. You will need to be knowledgeable about software tools that can help digitize and preserve a company's social media footprint.
Finally, as many archived documents move into digital data, there will be more threats of data breaches and cyber-attacks. You will need to be familiar with cybersecurity software that can ensure data protection.
Similar Occupations to Archivist Jobs
Like an archivist, these occupations work with sensitive materials that need to be preserved or restored: