Potential History Careers

History is one of those niches where besides working in a museum or imitating Indiana Jones, not many people know what they can do with it.

Yet, there is much more to completing an online history course than meets the eye. For instance, history degrees require great problem solving skills and an ability to analyse and complete complex academic projects, all of which are easily transferable skills that you can apply to a range of different jobs.

But what are your precise options? What career route can you take with a history qualification in your arsenal?

Let’s take a look:

• University professor – take your history qualification to PhD level and you can choose to teach history at university. Now, one advantage to this career path is that on top of teaching classes and mentoring students; you will also have plenty of time to perform your own independent research, which is great for budding Indiana Jones’s;
• Archivist – if you’re not familiar with this role, then the job of an archivist is to protect and store important world documents/letters that play a role within history. As such, your historical knowledge will play a vital role in ensuring that they are archived correctly;
• Politics – this position is something you could potentially pursue once you’ve gained valuable connections and experience. In fact, some of the most famous politicians have got a history background;
• Heritage manager – within this role you would aim to conserve, manage and interpret findings made at heritage of sites;
• Museum careers – a common career path following a history degree is to work in museums. Whether that be in curation and creating exhibits, or teaching and educating the public; there are numerous roles you can undertake within a museum setting;
• Secondary school teacher – adding teacher training to your skillset would allow you to take your history qualification and use it to educate secondary school children;
• Archaeologist – true, you will need an archaeology qualification as well as a history degree in order to apply for this role; however, this fascinating career will keep your brain challenged and eager to uncover more about the past;
• Journalist – understanding the past and the lessons they teach us will hold you in good stead when reporting and investigating stories. Similarly, you’ll be well equipped to research and prepare reports thanks to all the papers and presentations you produced during your studies;
• Human resources officer – you need to be a particular kind of person to work in HR. You need to be inquisitive, have great attention to detail and be organised. A history degree will give you such skills and more;
• Information officer – most organisations require information officers who can manage their digital information and ensure that it is accessible to all employees. Again, your experience of harnessing and organising large amounts of info will make you ideal for this job;
• Marketing executive – a key part of marketing is understanding human nature and the influence of historical patterns. Your history background will make it easier for you to identify these patterns and use them to gain insights into customer behaviours;
• Solicitor – that’s right! Many lawyers choose to do a foundation degree in history in order to help them understand the past and the way laws are applied today.

See what we mean?

The skills you’ve acquired from completing a history degree can help you to explore and succeed in a range of different careers. So if you’re still wondering if doing an online history course is the right path for you, then why not take a look at your career options above? You may be surprised by what history has got to offer.

To learn more about history and how it can help you in the workplace, visit our blog.