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Indexer apprenticeships

Records clerks and assistants > Indexer

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Indexer apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
  • specialist training with a professional body


    • University

    If you want to work in a specialist area, like science or law, you'll need in-depth subject knowledge, which you could get from doing a relevant degree. You'll usually need 2 to 3 A-Levels, or equivalent, for a degree.


    Apprenticeship
    You may be able to start by doing a library, information and archive services Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship. You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths.

    Direct Application
    You can apply directly for jobs. Many indexers have a higher education qualification like a degree, although this is not essential. Often, indexers start this work as a second career, using the experience and in-depth knowledge they've built up from their main area of work. 

    Other Routes
    You can do a training course with the Society of Indexers by distance learning. This is a combination of online tutorials, assignments and assessments. The course takes around 45 to 50 hours of study and is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. It includes: 

    • indexing terminology 
    • cross-referencing 
    • indexing books, periodicals and websites 
    • computerised search systems 
    When you've successfully completed the course you'll be awarded accredited indexer status, which is recognised by employers as a first stage towards becoming a professional indexer. The Society of Indexers runs short workshops, which give an overview of indexing together with practical exercises. These are useful for anyone who may be thinking of taking up indexing as a career. They also offer workshops on working as a freelance indexer and establishing an indexing business.

    Indexer apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • the ability to work well with others 
    • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail 
    • sensitivity and understanding 
    • customer service skills 
    • to be flexible and open to change
    • administration skills 
    • excellent verbal communication skills 
    • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

    Indexer apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    In your day-to-day duties you could: 

    • study documents to get an overall idea of what they cover 
    • identify important words and phrases in the text, record where they occur and put them in alphabetical order 
    • identify the main topics and break them down into sections 
    • cross-reference related topics 
    • organise the index so that information is easy to find 
    • index photographs, diagrams and other illustrations 
    • use specialist computer software for sorting, formatting and printing
    Working environment
    You could work from home or in an office.

    Career path and progression - Indexer apprenticeships

    You could combine indexing with related areas such as proofreading and copywriting.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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