You will be …: a study of job advertisements to determine employers' requirements for LIS professionals in the UK in 2007

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what employers seek when recruiting library and information professionals in the UK and whether professional skills, generic skills or personal qualities are most in demand.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis of a sample of 180 advertisements requiring a professional library or information qualification from Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professional's Library + Information Gazette over the period May 2006‐2007.

Findings

The findings reveal that a multitude of skills and qualities are required in the profession. When the results were compared with Information National Training Organisation and Library and Information Management Employability Skills research, customer service, interpersonal and communication skills, and general computing skills emerged as the requirements most frequently sought by employers. Overall, requirements from the generic skills area were most important to employers, but the research also demonstrates that professional skills are still valued. An unanticipated demand for profession related experience was found: this was the single most frequently sought requirement in the advertisements analysed.

Research limitations/implications

Although the Gazette is the largest source of library and information jobs, it does not provide a complete picture of the employment market.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to debates about the skillsbase of the profession, and raises awareness of the abilities professionals need to cultivate in order to progress through their careers.

Citation

Orme, V. (2008), "You will be …: a study of job advertisements to determine employers' requirements for LIS professionals in the UK in 2007", Library Review, Vol. 57 No. 8, pp. 619-633. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530810899595