2 answers
Aurora
Student
Frankfort, Kentucky
5
Questions
Asked
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When going into the field of history, what is the best thing to do to get yourself started up without losing too much time or money?
I understand that getting into a job or a major can be difficult, so I was just curious as to what you have done or what you wish you'd done back then.
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2 answers
Michele Federle
Instructional Coach
4
Answers
New Berlin, Wisconsin
Updated
Michele’s Answer
If you're interested in a career in history and want to avoid spending unnecessary time or money, my biggest piece of advice would be:Start gaining experience before you spend a lot of money on degrees.
Many students assume they need a graduate degree immediately, but it's often better to first confirm that you enjoy the day-to-day work historians actually do. You can do this by: volunteering at local museums, archives, historical societies, or preservation organizations, taking a few history courses at a community college before committing to an expensive university program.talking with professional historians, archivists, museum curators, and teachers about their jobs, learning practical skills such as research, writing, public speaking, digital archives, and database management.
If I were starting over, I'd spend more time exploring the different careers within history. Many people think "history major = history teacher or professor," but there are careers in:
Museums Libraries
Archives Genealogy research
Historic preservation Cultural resource management
Government agencies Public history organizations
I would also try to get internships as early as possible. Experience often matters just as much as coursework when applying for jobs.
A practical path might look like this:
Take introductory history courses.
Volunteer or intern at a historical organization.
Build research and writing skills.
Decide which history career interests you most.
Then invest in the specific degree or certification needed for that path.
The biggest mistake many people make is earning an expensive degree before figuring out what type of history work they actually want to do. Getting hands-on experience early can save both time and money while helping you build a professional network.
Many students assume they need a graduate degree immediately, but it's often better to first confirm that you enjoy the day-to-day work historians actually do. You can do this by: volunteering at local museums, archives, historical societies, or preservation organizations, taking a few history courses at a community college before committing to an expensive university program.talking with professional historians, archivists, museum curators, and teachers about their jobs, learning practical skills such as research, writing, public speaking, digital archives, and database management.
If I were starting over, I'd spend more time exploring the different careers within history. Many people think "history major = history teacher or professor," but there are careers in:
Museums Libraries
Archives Genealogy research
Historic preservation Cultural resource management
Government agencies Public history organizations
I would also try to get internships as early as possible. Experience often matters just as much as coursework when applying for jobs.
A practical path might look like this:
Take introductory history courses.
Volunteer or intern at a historical organization.
Build research and writing skills.
Decide which history career interests you most.
Then invest in the specific degree or certification needed for that path.
The biggest mistake many people make is earning an expensive degree before figuring out what type of history work they actually want to do. Getting hands-on experience early can save both time and money while helping you build a professional network.
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
342
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Law is a good path if you do not pursue teaching. Consider law school.