Are You Thinking of
Becoming a Professional Genealogist by
Fimlier Geneany
If you are
thinking of becoming a professional
genealogist, you will benefit by following
these simple steps to see if you have the
necessary skill, experience, and expertise to
offer your services to others for
pay.
A
genealogist must be familiar with the various
types of genealogical records available and
know where to access them, as well as know how
to analyze and interpret evidence.
Read the code of ethics of the Association of
Professional Genealogists and the Board for
Certification of Genealogists and make sure
that these rules apply to you. Consider your
experience. A genealogist must be familiar with
the various types of genealogical records
available and know where to
access them, as well as know how to analyze and
interpret evidence.
Evaluate your writing skills. You must know how
and where to access information and have good
grammar and writing skills in order to
communicate your findings to your clients.
It is beneficial to you should think of joining
the Association of Professional Genealogists.
This way you can educate yourself as you can
take genealogy classes, attend seminars and
workshops, and read genealogical magazines,
journals, and books offered by this society for
professional genealogists as well as those
aspiring to become genealogists. No matter how
much you know there is always more to learn. It
is a good idea to volunteer with a local
genealogical society or an online genealogy Web
site to keep in touch with a network of fellow
genealogists, which will help to further
develop your skills.
List your goals. Think about what types of
research interests you, the access you have to
necessary resources, and the profitability of
doing research as a business.
You cannot run a successful business without
knowing about accounting, taxes, advertising,
licenses, and time management. So, develop your
business skills and learn to solve a wide
variety of genealogical problems. If you are
unsure about your qualifications, enlist the
services of a professional genealogist to
critique your work and offer guidance.
When you are ready, apply for certification or
accreditation. The Board for Certification of
Genealogists grants certification in six
categories and the Family History Library
offers accreditation in specific geographical
areas.
Practice your research skills. Visit
courthouses, libraries and archives to explore
the records. Get as much experience as you can
before working for others. Don't stop
researching your own family history. It is most
likely the reason you fell in love with
genealogy in the first place and will continue
to provide inspiration and enjoyment.
Strive for the highest level of truth and
accuracy in all phases of your work and act in
the interest of your client.
Fimlier Geneany is the proprietor and delegate
of a http://www.familygeneology.com family
genealogy, inc. which is a premier resource for
genealogy information. For questions or
comments, go to: www.familygeneology.com