7+ Career Options for a History Degree Student and Useful Tips

Are you thinking of pursuing history on a college or graduate level? A history degree or major allows you to work in different industries and jobs. You can do so many things with this degree that you don’t have to limit yourself to one thing early on. Learn what you can be as a history graduate, who your typical employers are, and how to build your career.

Skills That You Should Cultivate if You Decide to Study History

Like any other graduate, know that employers will look at specific skills in your resume before they hire you. And having a history degree or major, there are some skills you are expected to possess. So, work on your skills as you study too. Some essential skills you should cultivate for this career path include:

• Research and investigative skills;
• Assessment and analytical skills;
• Communication skills (oral and written);
• Organization skills;
• Logical reasoning and critical thinking;
• Ability to interpret statistical data;
• Presentation skills;
• A profound interest in culture.

Career Paths You Can Pursue with a History Degree

History graduates can work in various industries, including business, law, tourism, and even finance. If you pursue this career, your skills will come in handy for jobs in education, academia, museums, and art galleries. Below the primary professions you can work in with a history degree:

Curator (Museum or Art Gallery)

A curator at a museum or gallery is responsible for managing art and artifact collections. You’ll deal with acquiring, caring, presenting, and interpreting collections to appeal to and educate people.

Academic Researcher

In this job, you will devote your skills to studying, researching, and publishing new material in your specialization. You will be based in a university and may spend other times teaching or supervising university students.

High School Teacher

You can also share the knowledge and experience you’ve gained in the subject you love by teaching in high school. As a teacher, your job will be instructing, supporting, observing, and recording your students’ progress.

Archivist

An archivist job is to collect, manage, and preserve archives, ensuring they are accessible to users. Archivists are usually employed in government facilities, museums, and galleries, hospitals, universities, media companies, libraries, to name a few.

Conservation or History Building Inspector

As a history building inspector, your job will be to preserve physical establishments that have particular historical significance to people. Your duties will include visiting and inspecting historical areas, assessing and recommending building for conservation, working in regeneration projects, etc.

Museum or Gallery Exhibitionist

As an exhibitionist in a museum or gallery, you will specialize in organizing events and exhibitions, marketing and PR, publications, and logistics. Expect to work in conjunction with curators, marketing executives, and museum/ gallery education officers.

Academic Helper

You may also work as an academic helper at essay writing review service specializing in history. Academic help is a big industry, as more and more students seek assistance/ guidance in their assignments online.

Other Jobs Where Your History Degree Would Be Beneficial

Opportunities that you can explore are not limited to jobs directly related to history. Numerous jobs and employers hire graduates of any degree. There are a host of other industries that a history degree would prove useful. Some of these jobs include civil service administrators, archeologists, editors, journalists, HR officers, marketing executives, solicitors, etc.

Tips for Making Connections and Succeeding in a History Career

While these jobs are available and lucrative, you’ll need to take steps to make yourself more competitive. Like most of the other careers, employment in history does have high competition. To succeed, you need to work hard, gain some experience, and make connections. Here are some useful tips to help you make a career path in this niche:

• Join academic societies or clubs to meet like-minded individuals;
• Apply for internships, study abroad, or volunteering opportunities to gain experience;
• Attend networking events in your career interests- career fairs, panels, conferences, workshops, employer info events, etc.;
• Consider summer employment programs (full-time or part-time);
• Keep yourself up to date with current trends, changes, and developments in your career interest;
• Sign up on LinkedIn to connect with history professionals, employers, and alumni as well as apply for jobs.

Final Words

A history degree will open you up to numerous career opportunities. You can even further your education in a particular specialization by pursuing a Masters. The important thing is to make a career plan, consult the right professionals, and get as much experience as possible. Remember to nurture in-demand soft skills for the current market.