As an archivist, you’ll use your knowledge of the past, attention to detail and analytical skills to manage archival materials and share knowledge with the world. Read on to learn more about the field, what your job might involve and what you’ll need to work on to build a career.
Archivists use their skills to manage, preserve and share valuable materials or information. Roles can range from self-employed to senior positions. You could go on to focus on a specialist area or branch out into managerial positions.
Your responsibilities could involve work on historic artefacts and rare documents, data management for governments or businesses, advising on archival strategy or managing other archivists. Archivists are valued for their organisational skills and eye for detail. They use their passion for preservation to care for the past and share knowledge, physically or digitally. You’ll be able to enjoy the satisfaction of helping historians and the public access the materials they need.
Daily activities can include:
The average salary for an archivist in the UK is £23,920. Graduates start at around £25,500.
You might travel as an archivist to attend conferences, training courses or work on international projects through larger employers.
You might be able to complete administrative tasks from home, but you’ll often be expected to work on-site with records or storage systems.
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