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Information Scientist

Information Scientist

Do you want to become a Information Scientist? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Information scientists are responsible for researching, collating and organising information. They work for a diverse range of organisations including government departments, the education sector and research institutes.

The work involves researching information from a wide range of sources including:

• books, journals and publications
• the internet
• databases.

Increasingly, ICT skills are becoming a more important part of the role.

Once the information has been collected, an information scientist must be able to reproduce it in a user-friendly way, often as a report or graph. Sometimes scientists help other departments with enquiries or advice.

It is common to specialise in a field such as medicine, law or science. In some environments, the work can be highly pressurised and demanding.

Most information scientists work 37 hours a week, although part-time work is sometimes available. Short-term contracts are increasingly available. The work is office based and a lot of time is spent working at a computer screen, collecting or recording information.

Salaries range from around £16,000 to £35,000 a year. Information scientists need to:

• understand the requirements of information users
• be innovative in finding, analysing and presenting complex information
• be accurate, methodical and well organised
• have good communication and ICT skills
• be interested in their area of research.

There are opportunities in a wide variety of organisations throughout the UK, particularly in large cities. The sector is currently stable. There are good career opportunities for information scientists with specialist knowledge in areas such as science and computer science.

Most information scientists are graduates, although Apprenticeships and NVQs/SVQs are available in certain areas.

Once in employment, individuals can apply for membership of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Large employers with information science departments may offer opportunities for promotion. Scientists may become self-employed and work as consultants. There are also some opportunities to work abroad.

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