Suitability of Information Professionals’ Profile for Current Work Market Demands

Abstract

This paper submits the results of a research named “Work Market Profile of Information Professionals and its suitability for information professionals in Colombia in the 21st century”. It is a mixed approach research that applied documentary analysis, an interview, a survey and a focus group. These techniques enabled us to determine the main work market trends which include a strong incorporation of technological infrastructure and the demands of a developing a digital culture, designing and providing specialized information products and services with a high added value, a managerial conception of institutions related to the transfer of information, the creation and organization of library and documentary conception aimed at the user and at the development of research in the field. These are trends that require the development of skills as creativity, flexibility and imagination, which allow the development of new products and innovative service management. Although this research concludes that there is a correspondence between professional training and the requirements of the work market, it also warns that it is necessary according to the voices of alumni and employees, to strengthen ICTs, management, Analysis and Organization of Information, Services, Document management, and in research and teaching related aspects.