The information demands of governments, institutions, businesses, and individuals can only be addressed if they match the resources available to them and if potential users have access to those resources. The volume and complexity of information, and the systems and services that can deliver it, are growing in tandem with increasing information needs and reliance on effective delivery. With this growth, more people are starting their careers as information management graduates.
Information is obtained, classified and manipulated in different ways, for different purposes (political, business, personal, historical, etc.) and in different fields. Information management (IM) careers have many common characteristics. The context of these roles may vary, but they are all involved in managing information to make it accessible to specific groups. The end result is the same. A service that reduces the time constraints of those looking for specific information. The ability to match information needs with available resources and an information management major teaches people how to use software and systems to manage important information.
Now more than ever, with technological innovation impacting every area of business, students and graduates with an interest in technology can make a real difference in the industry.
It is important to take a great care in understanding and aligning each career aspiration with that the IM recruitment market requires.
Some good reasons for a career in Information Management are listed below.
High salary
Information management professionals with can easily earn up to £40,000 for regulatory roles & up to as much as a six-figure salary for those that include strong technical experience.
And there’s more: The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in this field will continue to grow in importance throughout 2020s. What else could you wish for?
Information management is the future of business technology
Knowledge is power and information has never been more important. Organizations around the world are constantly looking for better ways to organize, store and protect their data – a trend that will continue into this decade.
So if you are worried about job relevance, this is the industry for you.
You will be a key player
Information management personnel are the only ones capable of designing, running, and overseeing an organization’s information system. These skills are extremely valuable in the digital age, making you a key player in any team.
Field flexibility
If you are interested in technology, but also want to work in non-business fields, a career in information management is a perfect fit for you. Every company needs someone to store and protect their data, so you’ll always have plenty to choose from.
Work flexibility
Specializing in information management does not necessarily mean you will be a manager. In fact, there are many career prospects for students and graduates in this sector.
Some of these include technical roles like data analyst, computer systems analyst, database administrator, and information security analyst, legal/regulatory roles like Data Protection Officers and Information Officers and even heritage/librarian roles like Archivists.
Work-life balance flexibility
Similar to a career in technology, a career in information management is likely to give you a great work-life balance with flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely.
You will learn and develop key skills
Working with data and critical information means you’ll learn and develop skills that are hugely valuable to businesses around the world, such as researching and installing new systems, protecting networks from external attacks, and keeping IT departments running smoothly.
You solve problems
Working in this field will be a challenge for you. Many. If you enjoy dealing with high stakes and pressure cooker situations, the information industry is the place to be.
You will work in a team
You might think that having a job in tech means you’ll spend a lot of time alone, but you couldn’t be more wrong. As an information management expert, you’ll need to work a lot with other people, whether it’s supporting other departments or mentoring the next generation of IT workers.
You can drive change across the industry
Finally, working in information management will give you the opportunity to influence the industry and society as a whole. Sounds great, right?
Over the coming months we will take a more in depth look at some of the possible careers available within Information Management. From Records Manager/Archivists through technical roles like Data Scientist and even the legal/regulatory minds of Information Governance Managers, we will walk through the careers of industry experts and discover what challenges and successes they’ve experienced and why they love this varied and wide-reaching industry.
