History: Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Academic librarian, information officer, records manager - responsible for the selection, acquisition, organisation and dissemination of information within an organisation, often with a user training and liaison role.
• Archivist - plans and organises systems and procedures for the safekeeping of, and public access to, historically valuable collections. Archivists identify, evaluate and select important items, and negotiate the acquisition of material with the relevant providers.
• Civil Service administrator - interprets and applies complex written information relating to policies and procedures, produces high-quality materials and reports, researches and conducts analysis, and delivers findings.
• Heritage manager - are responsible for the conservation of as well as the public access to a range of heritage sites, including ancient monuments, historic buildings, museums and gardens.
• Museum/gallery conservator - acquires, maintains, develops, displays and interprets a collection of artefacts or works of art in order to educate, entertain and inspire the public.
• Politician's assistant - provide administrative, secretarial, research and publicity support for elected politicians.
• Trade union research officer - inform the activities and strategic development of trade unions by collecting, analysing and disseminating information on socioeconomic and political issues.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Barrister - responsible for understanding and interpreting the law, managing legal briefs (cases), researching and writing opinions, preparing cases for court, and preparing and presenting legal argument.
• Broadcast journalist, magazine journalist, newspaper journalist - responsible for investigating, gathering and reporting on news and authoring journal-specific features.
• Education administrator - organises and manages educational institutions’ administrative systems and processes. Areas of work can include central administration (such as admissions and recruitment) or an academic or support department, such as finance or careers, where the role is likely to involve more direct contact with students/pupils.
• Solicitor - advises individuals and organisations on legal aspects of personal and business matters.
• Primary school teacher - plans, prepares and presents lessons for pupils aged 5 to 11, motivating pupils, and assessing and recording pupils’ progress.
• Secondary school teacher - develops schemes of work and plans lessons, encourages, monitors and records the progress of individual pupils, and devises and adapts resources to suit their own students. Secondary school teachers must also keep up to date with developments in their subject area, and new teaching and learning methods.
• Writer - produces writing in various styles including fiction and poetry, non-fiction and material for the theatre, screen, radio and the web. Most writers work freelance and are self-employed.

Other options

A history degree provides openings to a wide range of other careers but it is also important, in order to boost prospects, to gain as many of the relevant skills and as much relevant work experience as possible prior to embarking on a particular career.

Volunteering, internships, part-time jobs and student projects can help to increase confidence and improve skills in communication, organising workloads, using initiative, working collaboratively, conducting research, project management and working to timescales.

It is also possible to make speculative approaches, especially to employers whose business is in the line of work that you are considering. Related work experience always helps to increase knowledge of the sector and can help you to establish important contacts.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.