To ask what career you’d go into after a History degree?

[dearfatherpraybuildmeaboat]

DD has almost finished and is in a rut. She’s the first in our family to go to uni, and hopes to get a 1st. She is at a RG uni and studying History, but now unsure what to do. She’s considering becoming a history teacher but isn’t very passionate, and from what I’ve read on here it’s a bad idea.

Apart from that she is stuck, and even after research she seems to have understood her only other decent options are law and accountancy, but thinks her chances for these are tiny. Her main aim is to earn decently and move away from our tiny deprived town in the North— but what careers would allow for that? I’d love someone who knows about skilled jobs to throw some ideas into the mix

My brother did history and is now a primary school headteacher.

She could look at grad scheme jobs won’t necessarily use history but it’ll show her what’s out there.

Could look at heritage and conservation, but she would have to do a masters!

Quite fail that was @dearfatherpraybuildmeaboat

The pay is shite though, look up Fair Museum Jobs for examples!

I studied history at Leeds, graduated 2012 and I’m a senior manager in the NHS now. Also from small northern town and first to go to uni.

has she looked at the NHS grad scheme? I didn’t do it, I started as a band 3 and worked my way up over the last 10 years and am earning 65k now, not mega money to some people, but plenty for me 10 years post graduation and a couple of maternity leaves in between x

I did History and I’m also from the north. I spent 15 years working in Marketing. Worked my way up and was well paid. My experience with History is that the skills are very transferable and lots of graduate jobs accept History graduates, so I think it depends if it is important to her to use her degree. If it isn’t then I would encourage her to be as open minded as possible and really not limit herself.

Sorry OP this isn't directed to you but I think all 2nd years should be made to attend a mandatory career session. Fair enough if they attend and still don't use the resources given but at least they can't complain that they don't know.

The ex ceo of NatWest has a history degree

She's right not to go into teaching unless she has a passion for it. Lots of people do a QTS because they don't know what else to do, and it rarely makes for good or happy teachers.

CS fast track could be a good shout if they're running it.

Not history but classics graduate here. I ignored careers all through uni because I was going to be a teacher. Realised a few weeks before starting my PGCE that I really didn’t want to do that.

I went home for a year and worked in shops / temp office jobs while applying for graduate schemes. I literally just applied to anything that took any degree. Ended up in transport in a HR scheme. Loved it. Moved into management consultantcy (wish I’d done that earlier tbh as great if you don’t know what you want to do)

Am now a SAHM but about to retrain in something slightly medical.

I have a history degree and I am a librarian. It would have to be uni or specialist libraries though to be able to earn a decent amount of money though.

I have a history degree (and a postgrad) and I am in a very senior local government leadership role. The key transferable skills have been research and analysis.

I have a history degree and work in museums. It's true the pay is crap but it's what I always wanted to do so accept I'll never be rich, but I have a job I love

History degree here, then did law conversion course and qualified as a solicitor.

Civil service or a local government grad scheme.

Speech and language therapist.

Marketing or Sales of any kind (recruitment, estate agent etc)

There are loads! What does she like? Does she want to do paperwork or work with people? One place or travel about? She should do a careers advice test to find this out.

Librarianship.
Archivist
Records manager

OK, not very well paid but can be really interesting work.

History is an excellent degree which gives you skills in independent, critical and analytical thinking.

I have lots of friends who studied history at university and they are in a range of jobs - law, finance, public relations, teaching, academia, civil service, publishing, charities, journalism and more.

Ds did history degree. He’s a freelance journalist on the national press working from home. He’s 29, but been doing it since lockdown.

Your DD is limiting herself when there's no need to. Many jobs and graduate schemes are not subject specific. She needs to think about the skills she has learnt. Analysis, the ability to absorb and understand large amounts of information, being able to write well etc. Skills are much more important than specific knowledge unless you are applying for a technical role.
I studied history and had a career in retail marketing as a senior buyer. My son also did history and now works for an investment bank.
Honestly, the options are endless.
What kind of activities does she enjoy? Does she want something Intellectual? Is she interested in working with abstract or concrete things? Does she want a job that is office based?
Much better to think in this way than confine yourself to law, accountancy or the civil service.

@Aaron95.. At what stage dp they Nedd to do the milk round pleaae

Not many comments here about adding a language.
Many countries that are less developed than us and other west European countries are expanding their museum services. They have been willing to 'buy or lease' qualified grads to help them get this process moving. Is this still the case.
Similarly if one adds art history as well.

Oh and a friend of mine who read history worked at GCHQ in IT.

First well done her - Uni and doing well - v well with a first
But.... doesn't this highlight that careers advice at Uni level and school level is woefully inadequate - I know that many schools now but in this service but it's not enough

DD speaks 2 (European) languages fluently besides English, and has a decent grasp of another 1, so definitely something to consider

History degree here. I’m a lawyer, now in regulation. I love it and it pays well. Can also get into it without training as a lawyer. Wholly recommend.