Genealogy research entails tracing a person's ancestors using historical data such as birth certificates, census records, military records, and wills. Those who have studied or worked in genealogy research typically have gained abilities such as the ability to do research and analyse data, attention to detail, organisation, and a respect for history. This means that if you have a background in genealogical research, you may have numerous different job options. This article examines 15 careers that you could pursue if you are currently trained as a genealogical researcher.
15 jobs in genealogical research
Here are 15 careers that will put your skills as a genealogical researcher to good use. In descending order of national average wage, they are:
1. Library assistant
A library technician's primary responsibilities include working in a library under the supervision of a librarian. Their primary responsibilities include assisting library patrons in finding books, using the database and other search services, and responding to patron questions. They may also be responsible for maintaining the library's database, repairing or replacing damaged books, and stocking library shelves with new or returned volumes.
2. Technician in a museum
A museum technician's primary responsibilities include preparing, preserving, and securing items in a museum collection or display. Museum technologists may work with skeletal remains, paintings, books, fossils, and textiles, among other things. Their primary responsibilities include inventory control (assigning registration numbers to artefacts), assessing repairs and determining the best repair method for each item, keeping records on the location and condition of each item, and taking photographs of all items.
3. Private detective
Primary responsibilities: Private detectives and investigators gather and analyse information for their clients. They are typically self-employed and work from an office, though they may be required to leave regularly throughout an investigation. Their services include performing background checks, investigating computer crimes, locating missing people, and generating evidence in court. As part of their profession, a private investigator may utilise a range of research tactics such as interviews, computer and non-computer searches, surveillance, acting undercover, and using GPS tracking devices and video cameras.
4. Tour guide for historical sites
Primary responsibilities: A historical tour guide leads groups of people through cities, parks, or other cultural or historical sites, pointing out significant artefacts and delivering relevant information. Historical tour guides might work for themselves or for a visitor's bureau, business or government body. Their responsibilities include designing educational and entertaining tours, conducting research to ensure that the information they present is accurate, organising itineraries, providing accommodations if needed, greeting tourists, and answering questions.
5. legal assistant
A paralegal's primary responsibilities include providing support services to attorneys. Paralegals are typically employed by a law firm, a corporation's legal department, or a government body. Their main responsibilities include researching legal questions, articles of law, and regulations, gathering and preparing case evidence and documentation for attorneys, writing draughts of contracts, mortgages, and other legal documents, assisting attorneys with trial preparation by summarising information and gathering affidavits and other statements, and maintaining case databases.
6. Primary responsibilities of a broadcaster: A broadcaster reports on news and feature items using a specific media such as radio or television. Broadcasters are typically employed by local or national radio or television stations. They might even work for themselves as podcasters, presenting programmes on both the internet and social media. Their key responsibilities include programme preparation and rehearsal, researching background material for programmes, creating scripts, interviewing guests, and keeping the programme on time.
Librarian (n.)
A librarian is an information science practitioner who maintains libraries and assists patrons in their search for information. Typically, librarians work for public libraries, schools, colleges, government agencies, hospitals, and enterprises. Their duties include developing and managing databases, soliciting recommendations for future book acquisitions via reviews, requests, and catalogues, arranging library programmes and events, training and supervising library workers, and establishing budgets.
8. Research assistant
Primary responsibilities: A research associate's primary responsibility is to assist a research team by acquiring and analysing data, as well as organising and validating their findings. Depending on their training, research associates work in a variety of subjects. There are research associates in medical, finance, and academics, among other fields. A research associate's job tasks generally involve writing draught reports, providing useful information to management and decision-makers, gathering and comparing data from various sources, and assisting with the development of research techniques.
9. Records keeper
A records manager is in charge of supervising and improving a company's records and information management systems. Records managers can operate in a variety of environments, including commercial offices, hospitals, and law firms. Their primary responsibilities include overseeing the storage, maintenance, protection, disposition, and backup of all physical and digital records, tracking record movement, developing policies and procedures for record organisation and archiving, and designing procedures to protect sensitive records and data.
Genealogist who specialises in genetic genealogy
Primary responsibilities: A genetic genealogist is a specialist in the use of DNA in genealogy. Human DNA samples are used by genetic genealogists to determine familial matches to that DNA profile. A genetic genealogist's analysis can help people trace their family ancestors or assist law enforcement in solving cold cases. A genetic genealogist's key responsibilities include evaluating DNA data supplied by clients, doing research utilising historical records, interviews, and other evidence, and presenting the findings to clients.
eleven. archivist
An archivist's primary responsibilities include analysing and evaluating historical artefacts such as books and records for historical significance and value, as well as cataloguing them for future use. The majority of archivists work for museums and historical institutions, as well as colleges and government bodies. An archivist's responsibilities include determining an item's preservation needs and the best preservation method to use, organising collections, writing descriptions of items in a collection, maintaining an archival database, teaching archival techniques classes, and creating exhibitions of archived material.
Archaeologist 12
Primary responsibilities: An archaeologist collects information about former civilizations and how people lived by examining material such as pottery, tools, paintings, ruins, and weapons. Their primary responsibilities include carefully excavating sites in search of artefacts, evaluating finds to determine their purpose and value, compiling inventories of excavated items, consulting with appropriate authorities about cultural resource regulations, and presenting their findings to the public through workshops and other venues.
13th. researcher
Primary responsibilities: A researcher collects, analyses, and interprets data from a range of sources, including books, interviews, surveys, journals, and the internet. Researchers can work in a variety of areas, including medicine, finance, and academia. Their key responsibilities include understanding research specifications and requirements, analysing patterns and trends, recording research results, preparing budgets and timelines with management, and creating proposals and presentations.
Geographer (14th)
A geographer's primary responsibilities include studying the land, topographical characteristics, and inhabitants, as well as cultural and political systems associated to geography. The majority of geographers work for federal or state governments, however some work for architectural and engineering firms. The primary responsibilities of a geographer include collecting data from maps, satellite imagery, censuses, and field observations, analysing data from Geographic Information Systems, conducting focus groups, interviews, and surveys to collect data, creating reports, and presenting research results.
15. Historian Primary responsibilities include researching, analysing, and interpreting historical sources such as books, documents, newspapers, photographs, and other media in order to study, write, and teach about the past. Historians frequently work for the government, but they may also work independently or for academic institutions. Their job responsibilities include gathering historical data from various sources, determining the authenticity and significance of historical information, providing advice or guidance on historical subjects, writing books and papers based on historical research findings, and presenting historical information through lectures, classes, and other venues.