History - using your degree
From CareersWiki
Contents |
Introduction
A degree from Scotland's first university is an excellent start to any future career. St Andrews has a reputation for excellence and the ability to attract the brightest students world wide. With this as a starting point you are well on the way to impressing future employers.
History graduates have characteristics many employers seek (see Employability Profile) and a History degree provides openings to a wide range of careers in business, the church, civil service, diplomatic services, teaching, public relations, politics, literature and arts, law, and information technology. Many historians attain the top jobs in their chosen careers.
Well known History graduates:
- Michael Briggs - QC,
- Gordon Brown - former Prime Minister, (Edinburgh)
- Robert Gunn - Chairman of Boots
- Salmon Rushdie - Author, (King College, Cambridge)
- Lord Sainsbury - President of the supermarket chain, (Worcester College, Oxford)
- Sacha Baron Cohen - Actor and comedian,(Christ's College, Cambridge)
- Marmaduke Hussey - BBC Chairman of Governors,(Trinity College, Oxford)
- John Tusa - Managing Director of BBC Worldwide, (Trinity College, Cambridge)
- Jonathon Ross - TV presenter, (University of London)
Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, is on record as saying: ‘I wish I had studied History at University.’
The Careers Centre can provide information on a comprehensive range of careers including those detailed above. There are specialist advisers for different occupational areas. We offer 20 minute drop-in sessions on a first come, first served basis. Drop-in is available for all students and recent graduates of the University of St Andrews on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
Students who are in their penultimate or final year and those studying for a Masters or Phd, can book an appointment with a careers adviser. Booked appointments generally last up to 30 minutes. Visit Careers advice for further details.
Student / Alumni Profiles
Hannah is a Modern History graduate from the University of St Andrews. She undertook the Graduate Diploma in Metalwork at West Dean College, leading to an MA in Conservation Studies. Read her profile.
Where Our Graduates Go
| Year | Organisation/Company | Position | History Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ITV News | Assistant News Editor | Not directly |
| 2011 | Accenture | Management Consultant | Not directly |
| 2011 | Chatteris Educational Foundation | Primary School Teacher | Not directly |
| 2010 | London Philharmonica Orchestra | Marketing Director | Not directly |
| 2010 | HSBC | Commercial Associate | Not directly |
| 2010 | KPMG | Restructuring Administrator | Not directly |
| 2009 | University of Edinburgh | PGCE | Yes |
| 2009 | NWT Supplies | Marketing Head | Not directly |
| 2009 | Intellect | Programme Executive | Not directly |
| 2009 | National University of Ireland | History Lecturer | Yes |
| 2009 | i-to-i | English Teacher | Not directly |
| 2009 | PricewaterhouseCoopers | Accountant | Not directly |
| 2009 | British Council | English Teacher and Foreign Expert | Not directly |
| 2009 | West Dean College | Graduate Diploma in Metalwork, leading to MA in Conservation Studies case study | Yes |
| 2008 | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | Gap year commission - case study | Not directly |
| 2008 | Youngs Bluecrest | Marketing Graduate - case study | Not directly |
| 2007 | NHS Primary Care Trust | Contract Performance Manager - case study | Not directly |
| 2005 (CAN) | The Capital Group(Los Angeles) | Investment Management Associate - case study | Not directly |
| 2005 (CAN) | Oxford University Press | Assistant Marketing Manager | Not directly |
| 2005 (CAN) | Ministry of Defence | Job Evaluation Analyst | Yes |
| 2004 (CAN) | Jekyll Island Museum (USA) | Museum Specialist | Yes |
| 2004 (CAN) | Gulf British Academy (Kuwait) | Teacher | Yes |
| 2003 (CAN) | Park Court Chambers, Leeds | Barrister | Not directly |
| 2002 (CAN) | Seven Stories, Centre for Childrens Books | Project Archivist | Yes |
| 2002 (CAN) | Talent Intelligence, London. | Talent Intelligence Manager | Not directly |
| 1967 | North Island College, BC (until 2005) - now retired | Campus Principal case study | Not directly |
Careers Alumni Network (CAN) indicates these alumni are willing and keen to be contacted to help St Andrews students with their careers search.
Where Our Postgraduates Go
| Year | Organisation/Company | Position | History Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Marks & Spencer | Planning and Environment Officer | Not directly |
| 2007 | AXA | HR Administrator | Not directly |
| 2009 | National University Of Ireland, Galway | History Lecturer | Yes |
| 2009 | The Law Agency | Solicitor | Not directly |
| 2008 | Headland Archaeology | Maritime Specialist | Yes |
| 2007 | Open University | Associate Lecturer | Yes |
| 2007 | AXA | HR Administrator | Not directly |
| 2006 | Lasal | Investment Analyst | Not directly |
Popular Jobs for History Graduates Nationally
In 2010, six months after graduation, nearly 50% of history graduates were in employment in the UK or overseas. A further 8% 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 15% of those in work were in clerical and secretarial posts, 23% in retail and catering, 10% in managerial roles in commerce, industry and the public sector, 8% in the business and financial professions and 7% in professional roles in marketing, sales and advertising. Approximately 9% were believed to be unemployed.
Summer Internships & Work Experience
It can be very valuable to gain experience of work in various areas, but particularly in those areas that you are considering as a future career.
- The University Careers Centre has information on vacation jobs and internships in the US
- If you'd like to stay in St Andrews over the summer, you might want to apply for the St Andrews Summer Internship Scheme.
- Remember to network with students in more senior years, tutors, family and friends they may have suggestions and contacts.
- The Undergraduate Research Internship Programme (URIP) was launched in 2008 by the University of St Andrews. Under the URIP scheme, the University funds 20 undergraduates to carry out research over ten weeks during the summer vacation. The students work on independent projects under the guidance and supervision of a member of academic staff. Look out on the website for application forms which normally have to be returned by the end of April.
- Several penultimate year students have been successful in getting a paid summer internship with the Saltire Foundation. These are global experiences in USA, Japan, Cayman Islands and others.
- If you are interested in teaching or other work with children the University runs schemes in partnerships with local education authorities which give students access to school pupils. To find out more contact the staff involved by e-mail, schools.access@st-andrews.ac.uk .More Schools are offering the UK Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, which requires students to spend up to 25 hours working within a Primary or Secondary school or Science centre. The module is assessed and contributes towards the final degree outcome.
- Being active in societies can be a useful way of gaining experience and add to your CV. Have a look at the case study from a History student who made the most of his time at St Andrews through involvement in societies. At St Andrews you have a wealth of societies to choose from. The History Society is open to any students with an interest in history.
- Places such as the National Trust, Historic Scotland etc are large organisations who are particularly interested in attracting history students to their placements.
- Washington Navy Yard Internships have openings in the archivist, collections management, curatorial (museum and Naval Art Collection), historian, librarian, museum education, and public relations areas. In addition to Washington, DC, there are internships in Newport, RI, Carderock, MD, Patuxent River, MD, and Keyport, WA. Applicants should email an application form (from Washington Navy Yard), an academic letter of reference, a single-spaced writing sample >1,000 words (ideally an academic paper), and an unofficial transcript.
The table below aims to give some examples of the experiences of History students.
| Year | Organisation/Company | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | National Trust | Tour Guide |
| 2007 | Naval Historical Centre | Museum Program Assistant - case study |
| 2008 | Arts and Theatres Trust Fife Ltd | Archiving video collection |
| 2008 | Educational Cultural Exchanges (ECE_Travel) | Delegation Manager - Vacation work - case study |
| 2008 | Accenture | Analyst - case study |
| 2008 | National Galleries of Scotland | Education Department -case study |
| 2009 | North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources | Research/Essay Intern, North Carolina Historical Highway Markers Program - case study |
Employability Profile
Over the course of your degree you develop a good mix of subject specific and transferable core skills (communication, team work, time management, presentation etc). Consider these alongside your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.
Skills
The profile below identifies the skills that can be developed through the study of your discipline based on subject benchmark statements developed by UK higher education academic communities.
This table is able to help you to identify the valuable skills that you can offer to potential employers.
| A graduate in History typically will have the ability to: | Evidence: |
|---|---|
| demonstrate command of a substantial body of historical knowledge | |
| understand how people have existed, acted and thought in the context of the past | |
| read and use texts and other source materials critically and empathetically | |
| appreciate the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past mentalities | |
| recognise there are ways of testing statements and that there are rules of evidence which require integrity and maturity | |
| reflect critically on the nature and theoretical underpinnings of the discipline | |
| marshall an argument, be self-disciplined and independent intellectually | |
| express themselves orally and in writing with coherence, clarity and fluency | |
| gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information | |
| analyse and solve problems | |
| use effectively ICT, information retrieval and presentation skills | |
| exercise self-discipline, self-direction and initiative | |
| work with others and have respect for others’ reasoned views | |
| work collaboratively and participate effectively in group discussions | |
| show empathy and imaginative insight. |
History Careers/Employability Link
Each School has a Careers/Employability Link who "champions" employability. Yours is Dr Bridget Heal. If you have any information you consider important for your fellow students please let her know. Alternatively you can contact the Employability Coordinator for the University, Pamela Andrew,at pea1.
Links to Useful Resources
- Mapping Your Future - Employability for History students - Pamela Andrew
- Destination Statistics of St Andrews graduates
- Prospects: Options with History
- Higher Education Academy Student Employability Profile: History
- Institute of Historical Research Provides resources for historians
- Internet for History A free online tutorial to help university students develop their internet research skills
- Royal Historical Society The RHS was founded in 1868 and remains the foremost society in Great Britain promoting and defending the scholarly study of the past.
- Online Industry Sector Profiles - Scotland This online resource has been produced by Heriot-Watt University Careers Service to help explore Scotland's main industries. It provides industry facts and figures, significant Scottish employers, job options, vacancy sources and case studies.
- Research Gate research jobs
