Write This, Not That

Genealogists.com is one
of the world’s largest family history research firms, and we continue to grow
at a remarkable rate.  We currently are hiring for several positions, including Project Manager and Sales Manager.  Consequently, it seems we are always seeking
additional researchers.  

Given this fact, we thought it might be helpful if
we shared some pointers as to what not to say in your job application, along
with some tips on what we find impressive or attractive in an applicant’s résumé.

1.  Please do not
tell us that your family history research has been completed. As any seasoned
genealogist knows, one’s family history is never finished.  Instead, share
with us the ways in which you were able to break through some dead ends that
you encountered or let us know approximately how many years you have
been engaged in your own or others’ family history research.

2.  Please do not
tell us that you have amassed over 70,000 names in your family tree. 
Quality research involves much more than sheer quantity of records gathered.  We are seeking hunters, not gatherers.  Please do include details about your successes with tracing difficult-to-find
ancestors, and the methods you use to ensure that your family tree has been
accurately constructed.

3.  Please do not
tell us that you have traced your ancestry back to Adam.  In all our years
of doing family history research, we have never found anyone who has been able
to prove their descendence from Adam. 
Please do let us know if you have experience with a particular era
in time and how you would help others who have difficulty putting
events in their proper historical and cultural context.

4.  Please do not
answer the question about what repositories can you access by listing FamilySearch,
Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast.  As important as these sites
are, Genealogists.com focuses on the over 90% of records that are not online.
Please do indicate whether you have expertise in a particular geographical area, have proficiency in a foreign language, or understand a particular
ethnic or racial group. Your ability to read maps, decipher certain scripts
(for example Old German), or basic knowledge of ecclesiastical records for
instance are all very valuable skills that you should mention in your
application.

We hope that this brief
list will help you be more successful in your efforts to join one of the largest and
most successful research firms in the world.  We appreciate your interest
in joining us as we know that our researchers truly are the reason for that success.  We pledge to do all we can to continue to attract and
retain the best genealogists in the world in order to access the records needed to compile family histories as well as make family history research
affordable for the general public.

by Jim Heddell © 2014, Genealogists.com. All
rights reserved