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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7. Job description analysis
January 1, 2011 to May 1, 2011

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.)

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

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

22. Permanent Temporary

23. Final thoughts

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…