Mike Pemberton's comment on the presentation regarding the hiring out of RIM services is better than no RIM services at all is very true. Also, the fact that there exists a great need for RIM services, especially with companies whose number of employees is 300+ is also true. What Mike has unwittingly done is to challenge each of you, as ARMA members, on how to address this need, considering there are 8,000 'card-carrying members' across the country. This challenge could be rather daunting if it were not so simple...hire AND TRAIN more of those "just-outs" who have achieved the academic degree but may not have the direct experience that you/your hiring manager(s) look for.
For example, after working/listening to April Dmytranko's presentation on "Breaking through the Cardboard Ceiling", it began to dawn on me how those of us who are interested in getting into this field can break through the Paper Ceiling (as I call it). In terms of that, my challenge to each of you who have complained that 'why aren't there enough folks in this profession' is to consider the following as a way to cultivate a 'bumper crop' of potential candidates:
1.) CONTACT your local 'institute of higher learning' to see if they have either Intern or Practicum/WorkStudy programs for students. This provides the faculty with new/different outlets for educating their students; the students with exposure to new/different outlets for career opportunities; and the RIM employer with new/different outlets for locating potential employees.
2.) PARTICIPATE in the various 'Career Days' with your local 'institute of higher education'. This could range from taking literature to the department office to discussions with incoming students to a given program and culminate with interviews with potential graduates about some form of employment in this field.
3.) DISCUSSIONS with the faculty of your local 'institutes of higher learning' as to what your needs are regarding RIM and how they can/are address those needs. Now, before one of you says "Bill Stevens, that is easier said than done" consider this...one of our local 'institutes of higher learning' did just that with a regional utility company! They met with the utility company's management, discussed the various aspects of the required program(s), structured different courses to meet the demand, provided Internships and Work/Study programs for students, and hired those students once the program requirements were completed and graduation ensued. Now, considering that various local ARMA chapters are comprised of individuals whose companies span the range of employment opportunities, from local to international corporations, imagine the potential that each of you has to participate in this opportunity.
Hey, maybe this could be a topic worth presenting at the 2006 ARMA Convention in San Antonio, Texas!?!? Which of you is up for that challenge!?
Bill Stevens
--
William B. Stevens, Jr., MS-Information Sciences,
Project Archivist/Records Consultant,
Information Management Associates, Inc.,
2508 Dereck Drive, Apt. #J-4,
Knoxville, TN 37912
Phone: (865) 607-9625
Email: [log in to unmask]
-------------- Original message --------------
> I enjoy doing consulting work that leads to the employment of professionals in
> the RIM field. Also, I believe, there is a huge need for records managers. Using
> information from U.S. government documents, it is very clear that this need
> exists in many companies where RIMs are not represented. How do I know that?
>
> ARMA membership in the U.S. is about 8,000. Of that number, there are many
> organizations with more than one member (e.g., NARA). If you look at the number
> of companies with employees greater than 300, the need for RIM is striking. What
> are we doing about this need and availability of positions for RIMs? Search me!
>
> Frankly, I believe that RIM needs to be marketed more strenuously. Yet, there
> will be companies who may need records management but are not able--or
> willing--to hire a RIM. So, the presentation on contracting out RIM services is
> better than no RIM at all.
>
> Best,
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lynette Yohn
> Sent: Sep 23, 2005 10:08 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Proceedings
>
> Bravo!! Well said! Thank you for sharing your opinion.
>
> Lynnette S. Yohn
> Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
> Records Management Coordinator
> (651)662-6617
> (651)629-3162 - Pager
>
>
>
> Gus Harris
> Sent by: Records Management Program
> 09/23/2005 08:35 AM
> Please respond to
> Records Management Program
>
>
> To
> [log in to unmask]
> cc
>
> Subject
> Re: Proceedings
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yeah thanks. Looks like some interesting material available there. Course
> I wasn't to crazy about the presentation titled, "Don't Hire a Records
> Manager"...or something to that affect. I understand the reasoning,
> etc...but still think it's misleading. It makes me recall the days when I
> worked in the broadcasting field...and "contract" engineering was becoming
> popular. Stations began contracting engineering work on an "as needed"
> basis rather than the traditional full time staff engineer. Sure, they
> could operate. But, many learned that the engineer wasn't just there to
> take care of emergency transmitter problems, etc. And, consequently they
> became less competitive with stations who had kept a full time engineer. I
> believe in the RM field we have to continue to impress upon organizations
> that Records and Information Management is a basic, continuing, essential
> activity that every organization needs to address as a fundamental
> operating
> cost...not an "as needed" type thing. I just don't think you can really
> manage records and info effectively without a full time staff RM who is
> there day in and day out. Sort of like treating a few symptoms instead of
> curing the illness!
>
> Just my humble opinion...
>
> Gus
> RM
> University of West FL
> Pensacola, FL
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of bobd
> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 8:35 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Proceedings
>
>
> Works great. Thanks....
>
> Bob Dalton
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf
> Of rcogar
> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 12:14 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Proceedings
>
> You can access the proceedings from this url:
> www.arma.org/conference/2005/speakers/
>
>
>
> Rae Cogar
>
> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
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> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
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> J. Michael Pemberton
> Information Management Associates, Inc.
> 10515 RAven Court
> Knoxville, TN 37922
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> http://www.theimpros.com
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