A history degree gives you a unique outlook on past events and current state of the world unfolding before us. Throughout the degree, you develop strong analytical, research, and communication skills that can be applied to a variety of careers.
- Historian/Academic Researcher
Being an academic researcher requires a lot of dedication to one subject, so if you have found a specialisation that you thoroughly enjoy during your studies, you may want to become a full time historian! Historians and academic researchers often work within a university or museum analysing historical documents and sometimes comparing these present day issues. These findings are then taught in lectures, relayed to policymakers, made into books, or shared with museums. In order to make a career in academia, you must acquire a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a PhD in the type of history you want to specialise in.
- Public Policy Advisor/Political Analyst
Pursuing a history degree gives you very strong transferable research and analytical skills. The ability to comprehend and synthesize long documents paired with a knowledge of past and present government and international relation issues prepares history students to work in public policy. Your work could bring you directly into government, but also working with NGOs or media houses. If this interests you, you may want to check out the UK’s Civil Service Fast Stream!
- Heritage Manager
A heritage manager works multiple roles on the site they choose to manage. This is mainly office work, but will also be interacting with people who attend the site. Interactions may be via tours, working as a sales associate within gift shops on the site, or running events. The more corporate side of the job will involve finding ways to advertise your chosen site and increase attendance. It will also involve communicating with the local government and the companies who are working with you to preserve the site. All of this work comes with a financial component which requires being able to balance the site’s budget and secure further funding. If you have this dedication to preservation and have a flexible skillset, this job may be for you!
- Archivist
An archivist is tasked with record keeping and making archived records accessible to the public. In a more in depth conservator role, the job involves restoring documents which requires a knowledge of the document material and great focus and dexterity. On a typical day, an archivist may need to catalogue and digitise material, then go give an educational talk on the records. They may also need to communicate buying and donating records. Check out the Archives & Records Association’s student membership or even your local heritage/museum sites if you are interested!
- Public Relations/Marketing
Similar to the skills of being a political analyst, a history degree will also prepare you for jobs in the marketing space and public relations. The ability to analyse current events, identify trends, and assess the political and social climate of the times make history students very useful to PR agencies and marketing firms. Both roles involve being able to come up with and inform marketing campaigns which requires strong writing and public speaking skills that are needed to sell your company/client. If you are better at quick crisis management, you may prefer PR and if you are more interested in research, you may prefer marketing!
- Museum Curator
Similar to the goals of a heritage manager, a museum curator must work to maintain the institution’s exhibitions and galleries. This includes locating, buying, and managing pieces while also finding ways to advertise them to the public and secure funding for the exhibitions. A curator must also have extensive knowledge on the collection in order to give educational talks, interpret pieces for museum attendees, and manage other employees/volunteers at the museum. This requires strong interpersonal communication, but also a love for the pieces. If you are interested in this career path, you may want to begin looking at lower position jobs like an archivist, education manager, or assistant curator!
- Financial Advisor
Reading complicated historical documents gives history students the background for interpreting complicated financial documents. This may involve reviewing the finances of individual clients, creating financial plans for clients, or advising larger institutions like banks all while keeping up to date on financial law. If you have an economic background, this career path may interest you; and if you would like an economic background, check if your university runs a finance bootcamp!