No experience is needed to become a genealogist, but those with prior work experience will increase their chances of landing a job, building a large client list, and earning higher pay.
Genealogists need an inquiring mind and an interest in history to do their work. They should also be patient, thorough, and well organized when detailing documentation of facts and sources. Genealogists must also be good with people, as they spend a lot of time conducting interviews. In addition to these skills, the Association of Professional Genealogists cites the following traits as important for successful genealogists: time management, financial management, customer service, contract management, project management, business writing, organization, and marketing and sales.
- Anthropologists
- Archaeologists
- Conservators and Conservation Technicians
- Demographers
- Economists
- Education Directors and Museum Teachers
- Ethnoscientists
- Futurists
- Genealogical Researchers
- Geographers
- Historians
- Historic Preservationists
- Lexicographers
- Linguists
- Medical Ethicists
- Political Scientists
- Sociologists
- Statisticians