In our first Ask the Indexers post of 2026, we ask the indexers: what initially drew you to indexing, and how did you know it was the right fit?
Valeria Padalino, Advanced Professional Member
I first came across indexing when I read an article by another indexer in the CILIP journal. The piece described the work in such an engaging way that it immediately caught my attention. At the same time, I was looking for a career that would offer flexibility while raising small children, and indexing seemed to fit that need perfectly. It combined the possibility of working independently and managing my own time with the promise of intellectually stimulating work.
What intrigued me most was how naturally indexing aligned with the work I had already been doing for many years. I have a postgraduate degree in library and information science, and I have been a librarian for more than twenty years. I am naturally drawn to professions where I can organise information so that other people can find it, and indexing felt like a further step in the same direction. I loved the idea of analysing a text, uncovering how ideas connect, and creating a structure that supports the reader’s journey. When I began training, I found the process completely absorbing. That blend of intellectual focus, independence, and flexibility convinced me that indexing was the right fit, both professionally and personally.
Geraldine Begley, Advanced Professional Member
I first read about indexing in the book “101 Ways to Start Your Own business” by Christine Ingham back in 1996. I moved from London back to Ireland that year and did a start-your-own business course. I contacted the Society of Indexers, completed the distance learning indexing course in 1999 and started indexing in 2000. I am still indexing 25 years later.
I knew it was a good fit because I could work from home and it suited my family circumstances. The start-up costs were low and I needed a PC, printer, indexing software and an internet connection. I also enjoyed the work and the flexibility.
Susan Vaughan, Advanced Professional Member
Chance! I had been working as a research assistant at a university and had come to the end of my contract. My ex-boss had just finished editing a new book and discovered that his usual indexer had retired. He knew I was looking for work so asked me to do it. This led to other people in my field (archaeology) asking me to index their publications and it grew from there.
This coincided with me having my three children so it was something I could do from home.
Helen Taylor, Advanced Professional Member
I have a background in information science and librarianship and my work involved cataloguing and classification, which is a very similar skill set to indexing. I was looking for something that I could do from home where I could work at my own pace and choose my own projects. I have always been an avid reader so indexing seemed like a good fit. I enrolled on the training course and I really enjoyed it, especially working on the practical indexing assignments, which gave me confidence that I had made the right decision.
Joanna Penning, Advanced Professional Member
I knew an indexer – also a friend, and I used to feel curious about her work. But, although I needed an additional occupation at the time, I saw it as her ‘thing’. And then a relative who was visiting, and aware of my friend’s business, just said one day – Could you do that Jo? – and I started thinking – yeah, maybe, why not?
At first I was worried about the IT side, an area that I had always felt apprehensive about. But once I started on the SI course I found that, although it was challenging, the process of indexing was quite fascinating, multi-faceted and something I increasingly felt was within reach. The tutors were very responsive and encouraging and there were ample opportunities to reach out to other students and newbies who were on the same path.
Samantha Clark, Advanced Professional Member
I have a background as a Librarian and specifically as a Cataloguer. I used to see adverts in the professional journal for the Society of Indexers and it was always in the back of my mind as something which I might be interested in. When my husband started looking for a new job in a new area I decided to attend an introduction to indexing workshop, which I enjoyed. I then gave up one of my two part time jobs and started the training course. I attended a conference and everyone was very enthusiastic about indexing. I love that I can fit indexing around my life and take it with me. I enjoy organising information and indexing has turned into an interesting and enjoyable career.
Christopher Phipps, Advanced Professional Member
The principal draw was the combination of using existing skills and experience (librarianship) and the portability of the work (being able to work from pretty much anywhere). Additional attractions were being one’s own boss, flexibility of working hours, the possibility of interesting projects to work on, no more commuting and handsome remuneration (note: one of these is not true!).
Kate McIntosh, Advanced Professional Member
I did a post-grad in Library and Information Management. I started working in a law library, so built up a network of contacts within legal publishing. Then when I decided I wanted to work from home, I initially did some abstracting and then found indexing.
Christine Boylan, Advanced Professional Member
I remember a couple of university textbooks that were very difficult to use and I realised after a while that this was because the indexes were very poorly organised. I love reading and discovering new areas of interest and particularly enjoy organising information, making lots of lists in daily life. Somewhere, I don’t remember where, I read that indexing was a profession and there was training course. I was looking for a change in career, happy to be self-employed and, on reflection, indexing seemed the perfect fit. Little did I realised that I would still be indexing over thirty years later.
Linda Haylock, Advanced Professional Member
Working as a librarian, and not too happy in my job, I noticed in the CILIP magazine, an advert for an ‘Introduction to Indexing’ workshop to be held in London. I attended this workshop led by Joan Dearnley and joined the Society almost immediately afterwards. I realised my skills leant themselves to indexing and, though I still intended to carry on working in the library field, I decided to do the indexing course. Things progressed from there and I began full time indexing at the end of 2009/beginning of 2010.
Rob Gibson, Advanced Professional Member
I had worked in publishing and was keen to retain connections with books and with authors. I felt that the combination of process and creativity involved with indexing would suit my character, and having flexibility and autonomy was an attractive prospect after many years of office life.
