Do you sometimes think, 'I love history, but what am I going to do with a history degree when I am out there in the real world'? Don't worry, every historian, at some point or another, has had the very same question. While we know there is great value in patiently dissecting the past, in uncovering causes, reconstructing events, and teasing out meaning from the language of our sources, in short in simply doing what we love, we sometimes worry about how all this will translate into a job.
Well, fortunately, historians today have more options than ever before:
Do you see yourself researching topics of YOUR interest, whether they are the gendered assumptions in nineteenth-century British newspapers, the social composition of Renaissance armies, or whatever you deem essential to improving our understanding of the past? Would you like to communicate your findings to colleagues and impart your passion for history to students? Then a career as an academic historian might be for you. Many of our students have gone on to successful careers in academia. Talk to our faculty about the different possibilities in graduate studies in Canada and the US. We do not tout this option because we have to, we do so because we find our careers extremely rewarding, and we think you would too.
If spending years researching the late medieval trade in Merino wool, or some such other topic, only to write a book which not even your parents might read is not your cup of tea but you still like DOING history, then you might want to think of the exciting opportunities in applied historical research and public history. Historians apply their skills in more settings than ever before: from museums and local historical societies to historical preservation, government, and even editing. Take one of our courses in Public History and experience first-hand what historians can do to reach the public at large and how they utilize their experience in a variety of applied fields. Who knows, you might end up joining our Public History Program. Again, we do not recommend this because we have to, but because we know it can bring you the results you want.
If you want more information on the types of careers that historians pursue, take a look at the American Historical Association's web publication, "Careers for Students in History." www.historians.org/pubs/careers/index.htm
It is chock-full of precise information on a variety of history careers, including overviews, market conditions, and testimonials.
Finally, remember that, as historians, you have skills that are TRANSFERABLE. You might not be reading and analyzing Magna Carta in your next job, but the ability to think critically, to develop a cogent and structured analysis, to find patterns and assess evidence, and to communicate in written and oral form will serve you well in any career you pursue. Even more so, employers LOOK for these qualities. So dust up your resume, and play up the skills that you have as a historian. You won't regret it.
