History Grad - Where to work?

beauf

I think it's a missed opportunity not to consider things out of Ireland.

newbie18892

beauf wrote: »

I think it's a missed opportunity not to consider things out of Ireland.

I was looking at some opportunities in the UK but they all seemed to be complicated by Brexit. Do you have any experience with looking for jobs outside of Ireland in this sector? Would definitely consider it.

PCX

newbie18892 wrote: »

I looked at the public jobs website and got a bit confused as to what level position I should apply to as a graduate? Clerical Officer? Would appreciate advice.

Administrative Officer (AO) is the dedicated grade for graduate entry. I think there is normally a competition around September each year. This website should have some more relevant info.

You can set up job alerts on the publicjobs website.

Alternatively many people with degrees enter at Clerical Officer (CO) level and then progress on through promotion. Also there is nothing stopping you from applying for an AO position after you have started working as a CO. The majority of people employed as AOs were already working in the Civil or Public Service before they applied for the position (at least that was the case a few years ago when I was involved).

newbie18892

PCX wrote: »

Administrative Officer (AO) is the dedicated grade for graduate entry. I think there is normally a competition around September each year. This website should have some more relevant info.

You can set up job alerts on the publicjobs website.

Alternatively many people with degrees enter at Clerical Officer (CO) level and then progress on through promotion. Also there is nothing stopping you from applying for an AO position after you have started working as a CO. The majority of people employed as AOs were already working in the Civil or Public Service before they applied for the position (at least that was the case a few years ago when I was involved).

Thank you. That's very helpful.

beauf

newbie18892 wrote: »

I was looking at some opportunities in the UK but they all seemed to be complicated by Brexit. Do you have any experience with looking for jobs outside of Ireland in this sector? Would definitely consider it.

Not in that sector no. I have a more specific degree. But there was no work in it in Ireland when I graduated (long time ago) really should have emigrated at the time. I did some interviews in the UK but thought the money offered was too little to survive in London. In hindsight I gave up too easily.

glut22

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BZY093/funded-phd-studentship-in-association-with-the-irish-research-councils-macmorris-project

Smegging hell

Smegging hell wrote: »

This is such a reductive view of the humanities.

Could a humanities graduate write a complex Excel macro to analyze data or generate report?

Or write a power shell script to transfer text files?

Someone with a technical background is more likely to identify manual, repeatable tasks and automate them within a clerical setting.

relax carry on

salonfire wrote: »

Could a humanities graduate write a complex Excel macro to analyze data or generate report?

Or write a power shell script to transfer text files?

Someone with a technical background is more likely to identify manual, repeatable tasks and automate them within a clerical setting.

You are aware that civil service provides multiple opportunities for continued professional development? Entering with a master's in history doesn't mean you'll sit there twiddling your thumbs for the next 40 years. You could literally end up doing anything. Those educational and work experiences can transform you into whatever you want to be within it if you have the curiosity and drive. That includes learning the skills you outlined above while also learning the operational/administrative side of the civil service which makes you far more valuable than someone from a purely technical background who may totally miss the need for particular feature/process and end up costing millions because they did not fully understand what they were trying to streamline.

And yes I've seen humanities graduates write complex excel macros.

relax carry on

OP. Sign up to public jobs alerts. Look for CO, EO or AO opportunities. I entered as an EO and progressed up the ladder. However I know many who came in as COs with several qualifications and progressed also. It depends on what department/organisation you are deployed to and the prospects for promotion within it or the likelihood of internal competitions across the civil service.

newbie18892

relax carry on wrote: »

OP. Sign up to public jobs alerts. Look for CO, EO or AO opportunities. I entered as an EO and progressed up the ladder. However I know many who came in as COs with several qualifications and progressed also. It depends on what department/organisation you are deployed to and the prospects for promotion within it or the likelihood of internal competitions across the civil service.

Will do that. Thanks. It sounds like a good direction.

Divisadero

salonfire wrote: »

Could a humanities graduate write a complex Excel macro to analyze data or generate report?

Or write a power shell script to transfer text files?

Someone with a technical background is more likely to identify manual, repeatable tasks and automate them within a clerical setting.

Another Boards Civil Service 'expert'. If only you knew what you were talking about and how varied the roles are from Department to Department and even from Section to Section within a Department. A History degree could well be a relevant qualification. No need to be so dismissive. All you are revealing is your limited knowledge of the actual situation on the ground.

OP if you decide to stay in Ireland and to apply for the Civil Service EO is another grade you might consider along with AO. It takes a long time to go through the hiring process so you could still pursue your dream career in the meantime.

relax carry on

relax carry on wrote: »

You are aware that civil service provides multiple opportunities for continued professional development? Entering with a master's in history doesn't mean you'll sit there twiddling your thumbs for the next 40 years. You could literally end up doing anything. Those educational and work experiences can transform you into whatever you want to be within it if you have the curiosity and drive. That includes learning the skills you outlined above while also learning the operational/administrative side of the civil service which makes you far more valuable than someone from a purely technical background who may totally miss the need for particular feature/process and end up costing millions because they did not fully understand what they were trying to streamline.

And yes I've seen humanities graduates write complex excel macros.

Thanks for proving my point.

The state spends how many years, maybe 18 or 19 years educating graduates, to be then used as the fall back to be further educate and develop.

Great for the Civil Service.

relax carry on

salonfire wrote: »

Thanks for proving my point.

The state spends how many years, maybe 18 or 19 years educating graduates, to be then used as the fall back to be further educate and develop.

Great for the Civil Service.

Not sure how you think anything I wrote proves whatever point you are trying to make.

Bannasidhe

salonfire wrote: »

Could a humanities graduate write a complex Excel macro to analyze data or generate report?

Or write a power shell script to transfer text files?

Someone with a technical background is more likely to identify manual, repeatable tasks and automate them within a clerical setting.

Could a software engineer research across multiple sources to get all the available information on a given topic - let's say popularity of heritage tourist sites with foreign visitors (could also be say : number of childcare providers, or decline in rural pubs or Number of sitka plantations etc etc) , then compile it into a written report that not only analyses and summarises that information, it also contains within it a reference to where every single piece of information was found and where to access it.
Because that is exactly what a history grad has been taught to do. There isn't a program for it - it's a very human skill set.

And if you think the ability to research, write, and present information in a factual and verifiable way isn't needed in the civil service I'm not sure you know what the civil service does.

GalwayGrrrrrl

newbie18892 wrote: »

I looked at phd opportunities as I do live at home so would be able to manage financially, but the funding deadlines have passed for Sep 2020 entry. It will be something I will keep an eye on though.

There are still funded places being advertised for sept 2020- stumbled across this today (not history but just as an example( https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/law/funding-opportunities/graduate-teaching-scholarship-law
Civil service looks like a good option also.

Bannasidhe

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Could a software engineer research across multiple sources to get all the available information on a given topic - let's say popularity of heritage tourist sites with foreign visitors (could also be say : number of childcare providers, or decline in rural pubs or Number of sitka plantations etc etc) , then compile it into a written report that not only analyses and summarises that information, it also contains within it a reference to where every single piece of information was found and where to access it.
Because that is exactly what a history grad has been taught to do. There isn't a program for it - it's a very human skill set.

And if you think the ability to research, write, and present information in a factual and verifiable way isn't needed in the civil service I'm not sure you know what the civil service does.

Of course they could!!

Report writing is part of secondary school curriculum and all grads unterake a final year project or thesis.

The software engineer could even build a database to store the findings and even build an API to allow users view and update or to pass the information to other systems or users.

LimeFruitGum

OP, I suppose you will have to get a day job until something comes up. But to keep the hand in history sector, why not develop history as your side hustle? As a fellow humanities grad, I would say it will take a stepping stone or two to get the kind of job you want & you might have to create your own history job. It could mean creating a blog, a Twitter account for your speciality, giving grinds, getting involved with the nearest history society and writing articles for them. Make your own opportunity. Is there an official association you can join, while you still qualify for student rates? They might have mentoring programs. I would forget about academia for a while, tbh. Do take a look at Springboard for some practical professional courses that will improve your employability.

If you want to go into archiving, there is plenty of work in document management in pharma, finance & legal. It’s a valid skill set for future historical archiving roles, with extra digital experience attached.

Bannasidhe

salonfire wrote: »

Of course they could!!

Report writing is part of secondary school curriculum and all grads unterake a final year project or thesis.

The software engineer could even build a database to store the findings and even build an API to allow users view and update or to pass the information to other systems or users.

Comparing it to a secondary school report just shows how completely you fail to understand the level of complexity required or the training specific to the discipline of history.

The software engineer can build the storage is like saying a builder builds so no need for structural engineers or architects.
The software engineer cannot do the research, compile it, analyse it, summarise it - they can build software to store it.

Also given the input of historians into entertainment (from documentaries to providing knowledge for period dramas/films etc) the mind boggles at what we would have to watch if software engineers tried to take over that role.

Sure - software is important - but it isn't the be all and end all of everything. It it provides useful tools - ones that historians use alongside their ability to read what is written on paper and write with a pen- but the tool doesn't do the work, it helps the work get done.