What does an information specialist do?
An information specialist is responsible for obtaining data through various strategies such as surveys, research, and analysis. It is essential to coordinate with different teams to learn their data needs and utilize them upon gathering. There may also be instances where an information specialist must work with other groups for tasks, such as building databases and networks. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure data integrity, protect their source's identities, adhere to all the company's policies and regulations, and abide by the state law when gathering information.
Information specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real information specialist resumes:
- Manage windows patch upgrades and provide software pushes using Microsoft SCCM.
- Manage university and small business research grants and evaluate vendor RFP responses.
- Manage USAID OTI grants database to track and monitor implementation of program activities.
- Manage network resources, including video conferences, printers, servers, PCs, and switches.
- Manage redesign and CMS implementation for VermontAmerican.com.
- Follow standard operating procedure docs access via SharePoint intranet.
- Maintain departmental PC workstations including software installation and upgrades.
- Provide technical support in installing, troubleshooting, configuring PCs and relate peripherals and application software.
- Conduct preliminary screening of patients for various types of clinical trials in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
- Second direct report to the group s CIO.
- Set up and support Citrix and VPN.
- Process attorney, subpoenas, court orders.
- Oversee consistent implementation of HIPAA policies and procedures.
- Generate monthly reports for CIO showing usage statistics and trends ..
- Install and service microcomputer hardware and software in LAN environment.
Information specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Information Specialists are proficient in Patients, Data Entry, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Problem-solving skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Information Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 17%
Utilized strong verbal communication and negotiation skills to resolve emergent and non-emergent issues including agitated and aggressive patients and visitors.
- Data Entry, 15%
Assisted Librarian with classification projects, information progression, data entry and preservation of the community resource databases.
- Customer Service, 9%
Collected and presented project statistical data and customer service trends as assigned for required project reporting and made recommendations as necessary.
- FOIA, 8%
Conducted substantive legal analysis of FOIA law to assist in making decisions and recommendations to upper level management.
- Management System, 5%
Analyzed the company order management system to determine necessary enhancements to improve streamlining end to end order processing.
- PowerPoint, 4%
Developed sophisticated and effective presentation skills, including learning aids such as PowerPoint.
Common skills that an information specialist uses to do their job include "patients," "data entry," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important information specialist responsibilities below.
Listening skills. The most essential soft skill for an information specialist to carry out their responsibilities is listening skills. This skill is important for the role because "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Additionally, an information specialist resume shows how their duties depend on listening skills: "listened to customer complaints and referred to state agencies as necessary. "
Problem-solving skills. Many information specialist duties rely on problem-solving skills. "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them.," so an information specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways information specialist responsibilities rely on problem-solving skills: "performed query generation and resolution on all clinical trial data prior to data entry on und and oracle systems. "
Speaking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of information specialists is speaking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday information specialist duties, as "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "addressed and resolved customer complaints empathetically and professionally. "
Writing skills. information specialist responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." This resume example shows what information specialists do with writing skills on a typical day: "assisted in writing press releases and helped set-up for news conferences. "
Customer-service skills. Another crucial skill for an information specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "customer-service skills." A big part of what information specialists relies on this skill, since "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." How this skill relates to information specialist duties can be seen in an example from an information specialist resume snippet: "point of contact for customers when reporting serious adverse events associated with supplement use to the fda. "
The three companies that hire the most information specialists are:
- DLA Piper25 information specialists jobs
- Nationwide Children's Hospital12 information specialists jobs
- Crown Castle International11 information specialists jobs
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Compare different information specialists
Information specialist vs. Help desk specialist
The primary role of help desk specialists is to maintain relationships between the company and its customers. Their duties and responsibilities include responding to guests' queries, providing technical computer support, and maintaining computer systems' performance. Help desk specialists are also responsible for following up with customers to resolve issues and train computer users. There are several requirements to be qualified for this position, which include having relevant customer service experience, problem-solving and analytical skills, and the ability to prioritize vital tasks.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, information specialist responsibilities require skills like "patients," "data entry," "foia," and "management system." Meanwhile a typical help desk specialist has skills in areas such as "technical support," "desk support," "phone calls," and "client facing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Help desk specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than information specialists. In fact, help desk specialists are 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Information specialist vs. Information technology/support technician
An information technology (IT) support technician is an individual who is responsible for providing support and troubleshoots software and hardware problems faced by customers. As for larger organizations that have their own IT department, technicians must work together internally with their IT staff members. IT support technicians are involved in inspecting and resolving minor local area network and wireless network issues, which include TCP/IP, DHCP, and VPN. They are also required to obtain an associate's degree in computer science or related field.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real information specialist resumes. While information specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "data entry," "foia," and "management system," information technology/support technicians use skills like "desk support," "phone calls," "remote desktop," and "os."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Information technology/support technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than information specialists. In fact, they're 4.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for information specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Information specialist vs. Computer support specialist
A Computer Support Specialist is responsible for providing the highest customer service for clients with technical and system issues, resolving network failures, and creating support tickets for IT personnel. Computer Support Specialists utilize various system tools and applications to diagnose end-users network issues and conduct immediate troubleshooting. They also help the IT staff design and improve system features and infrastructures and create instructional manuals for deliverables. A Computer Support Specialist must have excellent technical and communication skills to document customers' requests and identify system solutions.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, information specialists are more likely to have skills like "patients," "data entry," "foia," and "management system." But a computer support specialist is more likely to have skills like "computer support," "technical support," "desk support," and "network printers."
Computer support specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to information specialists. Specifically, they're 3.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Information specialist vs. Information technology technician
An information technology technician, also known as an IT technician, is responsible for ensuring that all computer systems in a company or organization are running smoothly and efficiently. Their duties primarily revolve around installing and maintaining systems, including software and hardware, and resolving any issues. They also provide technical support such as troubleshooting, navigation, and even system upgrades. Furthermore, an information technology technician can choose whether to work for a company or independently.
Types of information specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
