HOW TO GET THERE
Typical pathway
There is no single required pathway listed for this occupation, and entry can vary by employer. Many workers complete college study or a university program related to records, archives, library work, information management, history, or a similar field. Some jobs may also value hands-on experience with filing systems, databases, and digital record tools. Secondary-school students can prepare by building strong computer, research, and organization skills, and by looking for volunteer or part-time work in libraries, archives, museums, schools, or office settings. Good English or French communication, depending on the workplace, is also helpful. Requirements may differ across organizations, especially between public institutions and private workplaces.
THE WORK
What you may do
Legacy duties
- Assist in developing inventories, forms and finding aids
- Implement and update classification plans and records scheduling and disposal plans
- Codify and classify archival materials
- Put archival materials on microfilm
- Transfer materials from current to semicurrent status or put into permanent storage
- Purge, sort, reduce and sample archives
- Apply standards and policies for storage of archival materials
- Research and retrieve archival materials
- Participate in instructing and assisting users
- Ensure the use of computerized document systems.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
What a day can include
A typical day can include checking incoming records, sorting new material, and making sure items are stored in the correct place. You might update a classification system, create or revise a finding aid, and enter information into a computerized records database. Some time may be spent searching for old files, responding to requests from staff or visitors, or helping users understand how to find materials. You may also review items for transfer into storage, apply retention or disposal rules, and prepare materials for microfilm or long-term keeping. The work often mixes desk tasks with careful handling of paper, photographs, and other physical items. Attention to detail matters because small mistakes can make records hard to trace later.
SKILLS TO BUILD