Conduct research that could be useful to your community. Get involved in civic organizations and events and seek leadership roles.
Employment opportunities in local government tend to follow population trends in terms of growth and decline. Check statistics on growing communities to find the most opportunities. Be prepared to relocate.
Develop a network of contacts through referrals and informational interviews.
Complete an internship in a government agency.
Participate in local or national election campaigns.
Research government application processes and learn how to best represent yourself as an applicant.
Federal Government
Public Policy
Research
Intelligence
Foreign service
Law enforcement
General services
Legislative, executive, or judicial services
Program Administration
Employers
There are over 170 federal departments and agencies:
The Smithsonian Institute
National Archives and Records
Library of Congress
National Park Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Central Intelligence Agency
Foreign Service
Do extensive research in order to find the area that best fits your interests.
Strategies
Take courses or minor in applicable interest area(s).
Seek leadership roles in relevant campus organizations such as model United Nations, student government, and cross-cultural groups.
Write for campus publications focused on national and international affairs.
Complete a thesis to demonstrate research and writing skills, as well as the ability to think critically and analytically. Maintain an excellent undergraduate academic record and consider earning a graduate degree.
Participate in national campaigns.
Develop skills in computers, statistics, and data analysis.
Acquire foreign language competency and travel experience for international positions.
Complete an internship with the federal government.
Become familiar with the government application process. Utilize applicable websites and seek assistance from your college career center.
Politics
Elected or appointed leadership
Campaign management
Staff administration
Special interest advocacy
Political advising
Lobbying
Employers
Legislative, executive, or judicial officials
National, state, or local government
Political action committees
Political parties
Campaigns: national, state, or local
Industrial, educational, and public interest groups
Lobbying organizations
Large business firms
Strategies
Volunteer to work with public interest groups, political campaigns, political associations, or community service projects.
Be prepared to begin a political career as a volunteer before moving to paid positions.
Many elected public officials begin careers in other fields (law, medicine, business) before campaigning for office.
Gain experience and make contacts through internships with government agencies or legislatures.
Become involved in campus political groups, student government, or student publications. Seek leadership roles or elected positions.
Take courses in statistics, public policy, or other specific interest areas.
Law
Prosecution
Defense
Contractual
Corporate
Nonprofit or public interest
Government
Mediation
Other specialties
Law assistance
Employers
Law firms
Federal, state, and local government
Private practice
Corporations
Special interest groups
Universities and colleges
Legal aid societies
Nonprofit and public interest organizations:
ACLU
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Legal Services Corporation
Legal clinics
Other private legal services
Strategies
Plan on attending law school or a paralegal training school/program depending on area of interest.
Develop strong research skills and attention to detail.
Participate in debate or forensic team to hone communication skills.
Choose courses or a minor to specialize in a particular area of law, (e.g., a minor in business for a career in corporate law).
Gain experience and build skills through part-time jobs, summer work, or internships in organizations related to your particular interests.
Shadow an attorney to learn more about the field and various specialties.
Get involved in pre-law and mock trial organizations.
Volunteer with a public advocacy group.
Seek training and experience with mediation and conflict resolution.
Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
Nonprofit
Administration
Management
Public relations
Program coordination
Fund raising/development
Grant writing
Writing/Editing
Volunteer coordination
Community education
Employers
History museums and historical sites
Historical associations and societies
Cultural heritage organizations
Historical projects
Research and service institutions
Libraries
Educational institutions
Local and national nonprofit agencies
Trade or professional associations
Special interest groups
Nonprofit organizations
Strategies
Gain experience through extensive volunteering or by completing an internship; these experiences are critical to finding full-time positions.
Supplement curriculum with courses in anthropology, sociology, art history, or foreign languages.
Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
Develop strong communication and research skills.
Gain an understanding of budgeting and fiscal management. Learn how to write grants.
Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area, time period, or geographic locale.
Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours. It is critical that you are knowledgeable about and committed to the work you’re going to do.
Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.
Information Science/Curatorial and Archival Management
Federal government, particularly the National Archives and Records Administration
Corporations
Non-profit organizations
Research institutions
Strategies
Earn a graduate degree in museum studies, conservation, information science, or related area. Research prerequisites and take the necessary courses. The most competitive candidates may have more than one graduate degree.
Acquire a strong background in technology.
Obtain an internship in a related organization.
Volunteer at campus or community museums or libraries.
Get involved with relevant student organizations.
Develop excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and an attention to detail.
Learn about grant writing, budgeting, and legal issues surrounding historical artifacts.
Attend professional conferences, seminars, and trainings.
Earn the “Certified Archivist” designation.
Most curators specialize in a material or objects.
Complete a teacher preparation program to teach in the public school system.
Obtain teaching certificate/license for desired subject area and/or grade level. Requirements for certification/licensure vary by state. Seek multiple certifications to increase employability.
Private schools may not require certification or licensure but may prefer candidates with graduate degrees in subject areas.
Seek experience with youth through summer jobs at camps, churches, or other community organizations.
Develop excellent presentation and communication skills.
Become skilled in the use of multimedia.
Learn how to develop curriculum and workshops.
Volunteer or intern in an organization of interest.
A doctoral degree is required to teach and research at four-year institutions or to enter the highest levels of university administration. A master’s or Ph.D. degree is required to teach at two-year schools.
Earn a master’s degree in student personnel, student development, counseling, or library/ information sciences for student affairs, higher education administration, and librarian positions.
Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations.
Gain related experience on campus through student leadership opportunities such as Peer Mentors, Resident Assistants, or Orientation Leaders.
For community education, become an expert in a particular subject and build a local reputation.
Business
Sales
Management
Office administration
Human resources
Training and development
Public relations
Writing/Editing
Employers
Product and service organizations
Retail stores
Hotels
Restaurants
Wholesalers
Manufacturers
Banks and financial institutions
Insurance companies
Real estate agencies
Consulting firms
Other business corporations
Strategies
Earn a minor in business.
Develop excellent communication skills.
Gain experience in an area of interest through internships or other employment.
Obtain leadership roles in campus or community organizations.
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and a high energy level.
Hone computer skills and learn software packages including databases, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Be prepared to start in entry level positions, such as management trainee programs.
Consider earning an MBA to advance into higher levels of business management, consulting, research, and brand management.
Media
Editing
Reporting
Circulation
Sales
Publishing
Electronic media
Public relations
News programming
Employers
Newspapers:
national, local, trade
News departments of local, public, and commercial radio and television stations
Wire services
Magazines and journals
Internet sites
National, state, or regional radio networks
Independent radio syndications
Textbook or commercial publishing houses
Strategies
Complete a double major or minor in journalism or broadcasting/electronic media.
Obtain an internship or work experience with a newspaper, magazine, radio station, or television station.
Join the college newspaper, yearbook, or other publication staff.
Become proficient in desktop publishing and photography.
Learn HTML and other computer programs to prepare for online work.
Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills through communications courses or other writing intensive coursework.
Join professional associations as a student member.
Create a portfolio of published writing samples.
Develop a professional network and become aware of various social medias.
General Information
A major in history provides a broad, liberal arts education. Develop a career goal, and then obtain the skills, experiences, and education necessary to enter that field.
An undergraduate degree in history is good preparation for graduate study in history, as well as other areas such as, law, public administration, or business. Research the prerequisites for the degree of interest and tailor program of study to meet curricular requirements.
Part-time and summer jobs, internships, and volunteer positions are critical to gaining the experience and skills that employers seek.
Obtain leadership roles in school or community organizations. Get involved in student government, mock trial, debate team, or Model United Nations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are imperative for most careers related to history, politics, or government.
Prepare to develop a specialty area including both academic training and work experience for history related careers. Develop patience, persistence, and drive to obtain history related jobs.
Gain experience in fundraising and grant writing techniques. Nonprofit and educational organizations are often funded in this manner.
Conduct informational interviews to learn about careers of interest and develop a network contacts.
Research websites and books that address various job opportunities, hiring processes, and pay structure.