Archivist interview questions and answers

About the job itself

Why do you want to work as an archivist?
What drew you to this work, what you already know about it, and something from your past that shows you will be good at it.
What do you have that this job asks for?
Employers usually look for: ARA accredited postgraduate qualification. Say what you hold, with expiry dates where there are any, and bring the proof (cards, certificates, a portfolio): it is checked before you start.
What pay are you looking for?
A figure you can justify. Adverts for this job usually pay £26,000 to £35,000 a year, so check the advert, know your number and give it calmly.

Questions for public sector & charity

Why do you want to work for an organisation like this?
You understand its purpose and it matters to you.
Tell me about a time you worked with somebody in a vulnerable situation.
Respect, patience, and knowing when to refer on.
How do you make sure you treat everybody fairly?
Consistent rules, listening, and awareness of your own assumptions.
How do you work with volunteers or partner organisations?
Respect, clear roles, and regular contact.
Give an example of using one of our values at work.
That you read the values and can show one in action.

The questions every interviewer asks

Tell me about a time something went wrong at work and what you did.
A real example: what happened, what you did yourself, how it ended, and what you do differently now.
Is there anything that would stop you working the hours or shifts we need?
Honesty now saves both sides a bad start. Say what you can do, not only what you cannot.
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Ambition that fits the job: getting better at it, a ticket or qualification, perhaps leading a team.
What is the hardest part of this kind of work, in your view?
That you know the job as it really is, and how you handle its bad days.
Do you have any questions for us?
Always have two ready. See the list further down this page.

Questions to ask them

At the end you will be asked whether you have any questions. Have two ready:

What does a normal day or shift look like?
What would good work look like after the first three months?
Who would I work with, and who would I report to?
What training will I get at the start?
When can I expect to hear back, and what is the next step?

For the employer: what you must not ask

The same questions work from your side of the table. These do not, because UK law forbids them or makes them a risk:

Age, date of birth or when somebody left school. Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Ask whether they meet any legal minimum age, nothing more.
Marriage, children, pregnancy or plans for a family. Protected characteristics. Ask everybody the same question about whether they can work the hours.
Health or sickness absence before a job offer. Section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 bans it, except to make adjustments for the interview, to check they can do a task that is intrinsic to the job, or for monitoring.
Religion, nationality or where somebody is "really" from. Protected characteristics. Check the right to work for every candidate in the same way, after the interview, not by guessing from a name or an accent.
Spent convictions. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 a spent conviction need not be disclosed, except for roles exempt from the Act, where a standard or enhanced DBS check applies.
Trade union membership. Refusing work because somebody is or is not in a union is unlawful (Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, section 137).

Ask every candidate for the same job the same core questions, and write the answers down. It is fairer, and it is your best evidence if a decision is ever challenged.