This document summarizes a job description analysis conducted from January to May 2011. 46 entry-level archivist positions were analyzed for inclusion of soft skills. The top soft skills requested were working well with others (36 positions), oral communication skills (34 positions), and self-management/self-motivation (23 positions). Most positions were located in New York, Texas, and Illinois. Academic institutions and government agencies represented the most common employers. Continued analysis of job descriptions and distribution of surveys was proposed to further understand employer preferences.
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6. ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section Task Force on Core Competencies for Special
Collections Professionals. (2008). RBMS competencies for special collections professionals. College
and Research Library News, 69(10), 622 – 629.
Gabehart, A. D. (1992). Qualifications desired by employers for entry-level archivists in the United
States. American Archivist, 55(2), 420 – 439.
Miller, D. (2009). Professional Sustainability: The Elephant in the Archives – SAA Session #106.
Annual Conference of the Society of American Archivists. www.archivists.org/conference/
austin2009/docs/Session106_Miller.ppt
Promís, P. (2008). Are employers asking for the right competencies? A case for emotional intelligence.
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(2006). A*CENSUS (Archival Census and Education Needs Survey in the United States). American
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8. Defined nine categories of interpersonal / soft skills;
examined postings for inclusion of these
Online active job postings for full-time, professional, entry-
level archivist positions
Temporary and permanent positions
Must have “archivist” as part of job title
SAA Career website, various email lists and listservs (A&A,
EXLIBRIS, SHARP, DVAG, DUSAA), ALA JobList,
Indeed, Drexel and UTexas iSchool websites, ArchivesGig
9. Inherently “student”-related jobs = internships, practica,
volunteer, unpaid, part-time (less than 37.5 hours per week), etc.
Jobs situated outside the United States (Alaska/Hawaii were
included, Canada was not)
Paraprofessional positions
Jobs requiring more than four years of experience
Positions listed as “archivist” but did not require an advanced or
related degree
Positions that did not list the employer
10. Work well with others Enthusiasm
(patrons, donors, and
colleagues) Patience / Flexibility
Oral communication skills General (literally
“interpersonal skills”)
Self-management / Self-
motivation Other
Soft skills listed that did
Proactivity not fit in any other
category
Creativity
11. Academic: University
For Profit: Corporate
Government: State
Historical Society
Museum
Non-profit: Other
12. 46 total job postings found fitting the criteria so far.
27 permanent; 19 temporary
(10 additional jobs did not mention soft skills.)
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14. New York: 7; Texas: 5; Illinois: 4; Maryland: 3;
Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina: 2;
States in light yellow: 1; States in grey: 0
15. Illinois, New York: 3; Maryland, Michigan, Montana: 2;
States in light yellow: 1; States in grey: 0
16. New York, Texas: 4; Connecticut, Georgia: 2;
All others in light yellow: 1; Others in grey: 0
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20. Category Instances
Work well with others 36
Oral communication 34
skills
Self-management / 23
self-motivation
Other 16
“Interpersonal skills” 12
Patience / flexibility 9
Proactivity 8
Creativity 3
Enthusiasm 1
24. Continue job description capturing and analysis
Refine and distribute survey
Compare results of survey with job description trends
…ways to develop the research further…
