CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORY MAJORS

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1 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORY MAJORS If there is one question that career counselors and faculty advisors are asked more often than all others by students seeking assistance with career planning, it is this: What can I do with this major? An undergraduate student in the liberal arts and sciences is actually developing a broad array of skills that might be applied to any number of careers, rather than developing an in-depth expertise in just one area. Therefore, a better question to pose might be: What skills am I developing in my major, and how might I explore careers that would require these skills? The study of history has long been recognized as central to a liberal arts education and has served as a foundation for successful careers in many fields. Although the study of history is most often associated with careers in law, public service, teaching and the academic world, the skills learned through historical study have proven useful in a great variety of callings, ranging from city administrator or advertising traffic manager to foreign service representative or museum curator. Many history majors proceed directly to law school or a graduate program. SKILLS/ABILITIES Informing and explaining ideas Analyzing ideas and information Describing and evaluating issues, problems, and events Interviewing Organizing materials and ideas Observing people, data, things, and reports Compiling information Interpreting events and ideas Working with details Summarizing Adapting ideas Researching, comparing, and compiling research reports Understanding and interpreting the present/past Using written and spoken media Examining all pertinent evidence Understanding society Developing ideas and projects Analyzing impact of problems on society Planning Organizing materials and information Knowledge of how societies cope with changing circumstances Seeing relationships between factors Decision-making Developing a world view

2 OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES The occupations in this list are only a sampling Anthropologist FBI / CIA Agent Journalist Archeologist Foreign News Correspondent Lawyer Public Relations Specialist Archivist Foreign Service Officer Lecturer Research Assistant Biographer Genealogist Legal Assistant / Paralegal Government Official Librarian Teacher, Social Studies Community Relations Director Historian Lobbyist Technical Writer Congressional Aide Historic Preservation Specialist Market Research Analyst Travel Agent Consumer Advocate Historic Site Tour Guide Media Consultant Urban Administrator Counselor Historical Society Staff Member Museum Curator Urban Planner Museum Technicians & Specialist Writer / Author Demographer Insurance Agent / Broker Park Ranger Economist Intelligence Analyst Peace Corps / Vista Worker Editor International Relations Specialist Political Scientist Artifacts Conservator Lace and Textiles Restorer Art Director Folklorist Gallery Assistant Antique Buyer Interpretive Guide Information Scientist Government Relations Assistant Institutional Researcher Photograph Cataloger Marketing Director Public Information Director Records Manager Sales Representative Investigator

3 RESEARCHING YOUR CAREER IDEAS How do you find out what s out there? Researching careers is a time-consuming, but necessary process. Waiting until graduation to start thinking about your career plans is as absurd as studying after you ve taken your final exams. 1. Written and On-line Resources: Visit Career & Counseling Services Career Resource Center (located on the Ground Floor of East Hathorn Hall) Visit the Chalmer Davee Library Browse the Internet, such as Career & Counseling Services Web Page ( 2. People Resources: Talk with Faculty and Alumni Join Professional Organizations Conduct Occupational Interviews Use Career & Counseling Services Career Information Network Consult Employer Directories and the Yellow Pages 3. Obtain Direct Experience: Job Shadowing Volunteer or part-time work Internships are essential! Talk with your departmental faculty coordinator for internship information.

4 Join Phi Alpha Theta (history honors society) Suggestions to Enhance Your Skills Take advantage of travel seminars offered at UWRF Work in the archives department on campus Work in the library Participate in Semester Abroad Work for the Student Voice Volunteer to do research with a professor Enhance your computer and technical skills Join campus organizations and develop your leadership skills Obtain an internship Work or volunteer at a museum Augment your major by minoring/taking classes in sociology or human geography Join the Geography Club Learn about different cultures by being involved in campus organizations like the Diversity Awareness Committee, African American Alliance, Community Action Theater Troupe, etc. And become involved in on-campus cultural events such as Unity in the Community, Powwow, Cinco de Mayo, etc.(see the Academic Success Center for details about events and organizations) Involve yourself in student government and politics, and/or volunteer to help political campaigns Keep informed of current events and the changing world

5 CAREER RESOURCES FOR HISTORY MAJORS Career & Counseling Services Career Resource Center (Ground Floor, East Hathorn Hall) Career & Counseling Services Career Resource Center is open every day from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; we are also open until 7:00 PM Thursday evenings. The following books may be of interest to students majoring in History: Career Choices for the 90's History The History Internship Book 100 Jobs in Social Change Career Choices for the 90's Law Opportunities in State and Local Government Opportunities in Federal Government Careers Careers for History Buffs and Others Who Learn from the Past Careers for Born Leaders Careers for Culture Lovers and Other Artsy Types Careers for Legal Eagles and Other Law and Order Types Career Choices for the 90's Political Science and Government Career Opportunities in Art Museums, Zoos, and Other Interesting Places Law Enforcement Careers Great Jobs for History Majors Careers in Government Careers in Communication America s Top Internships National Directory of Internships 100 Jobs in Words Careers in Marketing Public Relations Careers Liberal Arts Jobs The GOLD Book Job Smarts Top 50 Careers A Career in Law John Douglas s Guide to Careers in the FBI Career Opportunities in Law and Management Almanac of International Jobs and Careers Opportunities in Overseas Careers Opportunities in Social Science Careers Guide to Careers in World Affairs Jobs World Wide