History Grad - Where to work?

newbie18892 · 11-06-2020 12:59PM #1

Hi all, I thought maybe this would be a good place to come for advice. Apologies if i'm posting in the wrong place.

I'm a recent graduate of an MA in Modern Irish History History is also my primary degree. My work interests are the museum sector, public engagement (like working on public history projects/workshops), or in academia.

I have been applying for opportunities but i'm finding it impossible to get my foot in the door somewhere. I've been looking since December. I'm getting really disheartened lately and wondering if I'll end up anywhere I'd like at all. I'm finding a lot of career advice online if geared towards business studies and the like. Also, a lot of the museum sector seems to run of volunteer positions on the CE scheme. I wouldn't mind getting a volunteer position to start with or have on the side of another job but I need income too. I'm not eligible for the CE scheme anyway.

I had some interviews at the start of this year but all of those vacancies have dried up given the current situation with the COVID restrictions.Does anyone here have any experience and could offer me some advice?

gandalf · 11-06-2020 08:02PM

If you are willing to go outside your area of expertise a lot of technical sales organisation are looking at Arts graduates and postgraduates as they tend to have higher "soft" communication skills compared to technical graduates and they can be taught enough of the technical aspects to sell solutions.

At least it will give you another tranche of opportunities especially if the ones in your chosen area is drying up.

o1s1n · 11-06-2020 08:05PM

Have you thought of working in a university at all? The likes of UCD have hundreds of roles you probably haven't even thought of. Worth keeping an eye on their recruitment pages.

caviardreams · 11-06-2020 08:08PM

You could look at archivist jobs? That would require another qualification though.
The civil service would be another good route or other public service areas, but recruitment is probably not looking good on that front

Vetch · 11-06-2020 08:29PM

These are two current opportunities:

https://irishmuseums.org/careers-vacancies/exhibition-research-assistant-emo-court-co-laois-tender
https://www.nli.ie/en/udlist/current-opportunities.aspx?article=b42a41a5-ffc9-48d9-a616-da9f8e78c556

You're in a competitive market and public money probably won't be all that flush for research type projects in the near future. I'd suggest talking to experienced people in the sector and asking about what types of training would give you an edge e.g. exhibition design; digital collections. It might also be worthwhile sending around some CVs and asking people to keep you in mind.

Mrs OBumble · 11-06-2020 08:37PM

Have you been working your network, to find out about unadvertised opportunities, and to get a good word put in when vacancies come up?

TBH, unless you have inside support for getting these kinds of roles, you may as well focus on developing retail skills in the hope of one day managing a museum gift-store or similar

Divisadero · 11-06-2020 10:05PM

Very encouraging! Can't say I'm surprised.

GalwayGrrrrrl · 11-06-2020 11:07PM

Could you try to secure a PhD place and work as a volunteer in a museum at weekends? PhDs that start in October are taking applications around now

11-06-2020 11:09PM

Teaching?

AlphabetCards · 12-06-2020 03:56PM

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

Could you try to secure a PhD place and work as a volunteer in a museum at weekends? PhDs that start in October are taking applications around now

That is only putting-off the hard decision.

newbie18892 · 14-06-2020 03:38PM

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

Could you try to secure a PhD place and work as a volunteer in a museum at weekends? PhDs that start in October are taking applications around now

That would be a good idea except it seems like most funding deadlines have passed for this upcoming year. It is something I would love to do though

newbie18892 · 14-06-2020 03:40PM

AlphabetCards wrote: »

That is only putting-off the hard decision.

What is the hard decision?

newbie18892 · 14-06-2020 03:42PM

Vetch wrote: »

These are two current opportunities:

https://irishmuseums.org/careers-vacancies/exhibition-research-assistant-emo-court-co-laois-tender
https://www.nli.ie/en/udlist/current-opportunities.aspx?article=b42a41a5-ffc9-48d9-a616-da9f8e78c556

You're in a competitive market and public money probably won't be all that flush for research type projects in the near future. I'd suggest talking to experienced people in the sector and asking about what types of training would give you an edge e.g. exhibition design; digital collections. It might also be worthwhile sending around some CVs and asking people to keep you in mind.

Thank you. I have applied to both of those. I am seeing some jobs pop up again as the restrictions ease. Your advice about asking people in the sector for advice is a good idea, especially in terms of training for extra skills.

relax carry on · 14-06-2020 04:10PM

OP I had a similar experience a few decades ago. Only one of my MA in History year actually ended up doing anything related to History. The bulk of us went on to be teachers or Civil Servants. I don't regret doing the MA and I have utilised the skills learned during the MA in my career. I was only ever a mediocre student and don't think I would have cut it in academia.

15-06-2020 09:24AM

Some of the consulting firms take grads of any discipline into their grad programs (or at least used to), e.g. Accenture.

16-06-2020 05:58PM

Elliot White Servitude wrote: »

Some of the consulting firms take grads of any discipline into their grad programs (or at least used to), e.g. Accenture.

You'll find a err .. different .. pace of life between one of those firms and a BA/MA

Smegging hell · 17-06-2020 02:36PM

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

Could you try to secure a PhD place and work as a volunteer in a museum at weekends? PhDs that start in October are taking applications around now

I would advise against doing so unless the OP can a) get funding from a funding body sufficient to support them and b) is realistic that the academic job market is abysmal and that many PhD graduates won't secure employment in academia upon graduating, but will move into areas such as the civil service which don't require a PhD.

17-06-2020 04:49PM

salonfire wrote: »

You'll find a err .. different .. pace of life between one of those firms and a BA/MA

I know that but he's asking where to work, that is just an option.

Beckett99 · 19-06-2020 01:34PM

I did a history degree and masters and applied left right and centre for any museum, library assistant or arts-type job. Spent hours upon hours searching and applying and getting nowhere. Eventually I got a National Library studentship but, as it required doing another masters, I didn't continue down that road. Also didn't want to do a Phd. Since then I've worked in and applied for every civil service competition going and only regret that I didn't follow this course sooner and kept history as a hobby. Hardly any of my class in both UG and PG actually got work in history. Some did primary/secondary teaching and another person did a Phd but is now in another field entirely.

beauf · 24-06-2020 03:03PM

I think if you wanted to work in your area you might to look worldwide not just Ireland.

Sunny Disposition · 25-06-2020 03:39PM

Might seem strange but I always loved having history students working for me in construction! Nothing they learned in college helped on site of course, but they always seemed to be intelligent, hard working and could deal with people. Few of them ended up working in the office side of things for me after college, very good workers to a man.

25-06-2020 03:49PM

GalwayGrrrrrl wrote: »

Could you try to secure a PhD place and work as a volunteer in a museum at weekends? PhDs that start in October are taking applications around now

If you can live at home this is possibly a good option, won't be living the high life but very fulfilling if it suits.

Roast_Spuds · 25-06-2020 11:11PM

Been here too.

BA and MA. Spent years trying to get into a career afterwards.

My advice would be try and get into the civil service or such initially and keep trying for your ideal situation from there.
If you get in, don't be swayed by the job for life nonsense -use it as a base and go from there.

newbie18892 · 26-06-2020 03:52PM

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I think I will try to get into something in the civil service and work from there to try to progress to something I really enjoy. Volunteering at a museum on the side would pacify me in the time being. 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.

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.

26-06-2020 04:29PM

Is this really what people think of the civil service or how the civil service should be staffed?

Should our civil service not be staffed with people from Engineering, IT, Finance, Economics backgrounds, rather than as the fallback for BAs who have little other options?

At least non BAs have a background in something more tangible to the current world, not from years past.

OP, there are Springboard courses you can do to switch to another field which may help improve the selection of jobs for you.

Macytoby · 26-06-2020 04:29PM

newbie18892 wrote: »

Hi all, I thought maybe this would be a good place to come for advice. Apologies if i'm posting in the wrong place.

I'm a recent graduate of an MA in Modern Irish History History is also my primary degree. My work interests are the museum sector, public engagement (like working on public history projects/workshops), or in academia.

I have been applying for opportunities but i'm finding it impossible to get my foot in the door somewhere. I've been looking since December. I'm getting really disheartened lately and wondering if I'll end up anywhere I'd like at all. I'm finding a lot of career advice online if geared towards business studies and the like. Also, a lot of the museum sector seems to run of volunteer positions on the CE scheme. I wouldn't mind getting a volunteer position to start with or have on the side of another job but I need income too. I'm not eligible for the CE scheme anyway.

I had some interviews at the start of this year but all of those vacancies have dried up given the current situation with the COVID restrictions.Does anyone here have any experience and could offer me some advice?

McDonalds

newbie18892 · 26-06-2020 04:32PM

salonfire wrote: »

Is this really what people think of the civil service or how the civil service should be staffed?

Should our civil service not be staffed with people from Engineering, IT, Finance, Economics backgrounds, rather than as the fallback for BAs who have little other options?

At least non BAs have a background in something more tangible to the current world, not from years past.

OP, there are Springboard courses you can do to switch to another field which may help improve the selection of jobs for you.

I have a Masters degree too not just a BA. Springboard courses seem to be mostly diplomas but I will have a second look at it.

newbie18892 · 26-06-2020 04:34PM

Macytoby wrote: »

McDonalds

Thanks for your very useful contribution. On an aside, McDonald's has consistently been voted one of the best places to work in Ireland in recent years so I would have thought it's time as easy fodder for jokes would have passed.

Smegging hell · 26-06-2020 04:41PM

salonfire wrote: »

Is this really what people think of the civil service or how the civil service should be staffed?

Should our civil service not be staffed with people from Engineering, IT, Finance, Economics backgrounds, rather than as the fallback for BAs who have little other options?

At least non BAs have a background in something more tangible to the current world, not from years past.

OP, there are Springboard courses you can do to switch to another field which may help improve the selection of jobs for you.

This is such a reductive view of the humanities.

beauf · 26-06-2020 04:46PM

salonfire wrote: »

Is this really what people think of the civil service or how the civil service should be staffed?

Should our civil service not be staffed with people from Engineering, IT, Finance, Economics backgrounds, rather than as the fallback for BAs who have little other options?

At least non BAs have a background in something more tangible to the current world, not from years past.

OP, there are Springboard courses you can do to switch to another field which may help improve the selection of jobs for you.

Increasingly it's staffed with people with specialist qualifications for example in public administration or finance. Though there will always be a lot of clerical and administrative work. Internal promotion to specialist areas will also be looking for specialist qualifications. Might not be as easy as people think it is to get in. When in might find there's a lot of competition for promotions.

Macytoby · 26-06-2020 05:02PM

newbie18892 wrote: »

Thanks for your very useful contribution. On an aside, McDonald's has consistently been voted one of the best places to work in Ireland in recent years so I would have thought it's time as easy fodder for jokes would have passed.

That’s why I suggested it. They offer management courses to new grads.

History Grad - Where to work?

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