History: Career areas

A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that, six months after graduation, 53% of history graduates were in employment in the UK or overseas. A further 9% were combining working with further study.

It is unusual to go directly into a job that is directly related to a history degree until you have completed some kind of further study. Because of this, many graduates are working in roles that appear unrelated to their degree, but a degree in history provides an entry to a huge range of professions.

For example, approximately 13% of those in work were in clerical and secretarial posts, 24% in retail and catering, 10% in managerial roles in commerce, industry and the public sector, 11% in the business and financial professions and 9% in professional roles in marketing, sales and advertising. Approximately 8% were believed to be unemployed.

Where are the jobs?

With their flexible combination of skills, it is not surprising that history graduates who can demonstrate their abilities pursue a wide variety of careers, including teaching, law, research, accountancy, journalism, administration, information management and the media.

Typical employers of history graduates include banks, television and radio broadcasters, national and local government, management consultancies, law firms, schools, higher education institutions and retailers.

For more information on potential career areas, see:

• creative arts and culture - includes activities such as art, crafts and design, dancing, music, acting, writing, photography;
• teaching and education - includes work in schools, further education and higher education;
• public sector - incorporating a huge range of opportunities within the civil service and local government.

For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors. 

Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?