Obtain basic experience in the field by organizing and managing your own digital documents so that they are easier to access and use. What were some of the biggest challenges of organizing these documents, and what can you do to become better organized? Try to stay digitally organized and search for apps that can help you manage your documents and other digital files.

Learn more about document management by getting an internship or part-time job in the DM department of a company that interests you. Find internship or job openings through your schools career services office and through employment Web sites. Also search the career sections of companies Web sites to see if there are openings for DM assistance.

Another way to explore the field is through participation in a professional association. Look for upcoming events near you on association Web sites and see if there are volunteer opportunities. Talk to a DM specialist to learn more about this career. Ask your school counselor, computer science teacher, or school librarian to help arrange an information interview. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? How will advances in technology change the field? Perhaps you could also job-shadow a document management specialist.

Document management specialists are hired by companies to develop and monitor document management (DM) systems for their employees. Specialists meet with the companies employees to discuss their needs and requirements of the systems they use for managing documents. They also find out if there are issues with accessing electronic content in order to improve on the DM system. The job requires strong knowledge of computers as well as excellent interpersonal skills for dealing with a wide variety of employees, from subordinates and peers to upper management.

The job entails electronically managing all of the documents and records of the company. Document management specialists must also keep up with the laws for managing documents and records, to ensure the companys DM system is in compliance. They consult with IT specialists to determine the most effective and efficient systems for electronic document processing, retrieval, and distribution. They also help companies establish organizational policies for efficient, legal, and secure electronic document management.

Typical work activities for document management specialists include collecting information about employees needs and documenting this information in written or electronic form; providing technical support for the maintenance or use of DM software systems; monitoring companies operations activities; and developing procedures for managing data. They use a wide variety of software programs in their work, such as analytical software, database user interface and query software, document management software, and enterprise resource planning software.