Records manager : Career development

A relevant professional qualification is very useful for long-term career development and joining one of the key professional bodies is also helpful. However, there is no defined career path, so progress will depend on developing your own route based on your interests and experience.

Records management is a relatively new profession and if you stay with the same employer, career development may be limited. Teams are often small and the records manager may be the most senior position. Records managers seeking to secure a more varied and senior position with higher pay may need to change employer and opportunities are increasing as a result of increased recognition within most sectors of the value of knowledge and information management.

The range of freelance and consultancy opportunities is increasing as many organisations without in-house specialists require short-term support in records management. It is possible to be self-employed, working for several clients, or to join a large management consultancy or specialist agency.

Freelance work is available through agencies. This is usually short-term contract work, which involves setting up an information system for an organisation. Increasingly, records managers are employed to both establish a new system and oversee it in the long term. Companies are also increasingly recognising the importance of employing professional staff to raise awareness of key legislative issues.

There are considerable opportunities for consultancy work (usually senior professionals), occasionally involving overseas travel, as employers recognise the need for expertise they lack in-house. Consultants may provide services, for example to commercial data storage companies or the management consultancy section of large accountancy practices.