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Jobs in heritage.

  • 14-02-2011 1:59pm
    #1
    Casillas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 317 ✭✭


    Hi,
    I'm a history graduate and I'm obsessed with this area of study. I've read hundreds of books and am only 25. I'm trying to find a position in the area of history/heritage (museums etc) in either Limerick or Cork, but every job seems to be voluntary. Also the heritage board has had it's budget slashed by half. I tried to apply for a heritage course but was told I am overqualified for the course due to me degree. :rolleyes: Am I clutching at straws hoping for work in this area in Ireland? Should I be looking at the UK instead?!


Comments

  • #2
    AnnyHallsal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,118 ✭✭✭AnnyHallsal


    Casillas wrote: »
    Hi,
    I'm a history graduate and I'm obsessed with this area of study. I've read hundreds of books and am only 25. I'm trying to find a position in the area of history/heritage (museums etc) in either Limerick or Cork, but every job seems to be voluntary. Also the heritage board has had it's budget slashed by half. I tried to apply for a heritage course but was told I am overqualified for the course due to me degree. :rolleyes: Am I clutching at straws hoping for work in this area in Ireland? Should I be looking at the UK instead?!

    Doing a WPP is probably the best you could do at the moment. Most, if not all, of these jobs are in the Public Sector, where there is an embargo. And as you are aware there is little to no funding for these things at present. Any jobs that do become available will go to those with experience, experience and contacts you could gain through a WPP.

    As for the "hundreds of books at only 25," unfortunately that's not exactly rare at the moment. The government has been encouraging universities to pump out PhD candidates, many in the humanities, so there is a lot of competition for these kinds of jobs.

    UK isn't much better I'm afraid. The Tories are slashing funding everywhere and entry into the sector almost always begins with a period of unpaid work experience.

    If you are determined to work in the sector, be determined, keep reading, keep looking for unpaid positions, visit these kinds of places, try to meet the administrators. Build up experience and contacts and you will have as good a chance as anyone else.


  • #3
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,488 ✭✭✭Denerick


    I'm in the same boat as you OP. I have a history degree. I knew at the time that it wouldn't lead to great job opportunities, but that (And English) were my only true loves. Better, I thought, to study what I loved rather than something like commerce or law that would leave me better suited to get a good job. I'm an avid reader too (I'm 22) You're not on your own.

    At the time I thought I might get a job in the public service, but that looks impossible for a decade at least. Its quite depressing really. I'm doing menial work for now but am looking at going into secondary teaching. Unfortunately governments both here and in the UK have taken the view that the arts and humanities are soft targets and insult the professionalism of the staff in these areas by assuming they are legions of people willing to work voluntarily (Never mind that we have to eat) Its sickening, but the days of public spending largesse are now gone and the heritage sector is one area that is ripe for slashing.


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