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Careers
"When
people ask, 'What are you going to do with a HISTORY
degree?', I like to smile and say, 'What aren't I going
to?' I say this not just because I'm a smart-aleck,
but also because I think it's true. There isn't too
much out there that I can't do. "
                 
                 
                 
 -U of M History Graduate, Class of 2001
"I have been living in London the last two years
working for a music management company over there. We
have a couple of really big artists so it has been a
pretty incredible experience to say the very least.
On a practical level, I was an intern at this company
(after I graduated) and got my shot to do some ridiculously
big things almost solely because of my writing skills
which are attributable extensively to my History courses.
I feel strongly that the courses I took prepared me
for an often tough world where performance matters and
is measured every day.I think it is great for current
history students to realize that the skill sets and
work ethic that one who is successful in our [History]
program develops opens doors to whatever career or professional
field they desire."
                 
                 
                 
 -J.H., December 2001 graduate
Like
J.H., most history students do not become professional
historians, but use their talents in a wide range of careers.
From the following links, you can read, in their own words, about the career
paths that recent History Department graduates have
followed, some in jobs directly related to the study
of history, others not. Almost all of them credit the skills
they developed as history students for at least some
of their success in their fields.
                 
  Stories from History Department alumni:
                 
 
Alumni Stories
                 
  Link to short interviews with five history graduates
about how they developed their careers.
                 
  Snapshot
Bios of History Graduates
                 
  Follow the career paths and read advice from over
seventy department alumni.
A history
degree will help you develop skills, perspective, and
background that are crucial to success in a wide range
of careers. You can also use your undergraduate years
to build a tool box of resources that will help you find
a rewarding career where you can use those skills.
                 
• professional quality resume, cover letter and
good interviewing skills
                  •
strong letters of recommendation
                  •
knowledge of yourself, your long-term goals, work style,
geographic preferences, interests and talents
                 
• personal history of real-world experiences,
internships, jobs, volunteer work, courses outside your
major
                    that
expand your skills and make you stand out from the crowd
                 
• a job search plan and strategies to use resources
and networks to find the first job: on-line job recruitment
                   
sites such as Career Connector, addresses of potential employers
and professional organizations, job fair
                 
  schedules, on-line search engines, network of alumni, family, and friends.
A good place to start is the University of Michigan Career Center. Don't wait until senior year to plan for life after graduation. Your choice of extra-curricular and summer activities and courses you elect outside your major can all lead you to a career path. When you are a senior and a graduate, the Alumni Associate Career Services can help you connect with employers and job mentors.
University
of Michigan Career Center
Take advantage of the Career Center resources during
your undergraduate years and maintain a reference letter
file to call on after graduation.
CAREER
CENTER CONNECTOR lets you connect with employers
seeking to hire U of M students for internships and permanent positions. This service includes job and internship
listings, online resume collections, employer information,
and on-campus interviewing opportunities. The Career Center Connector is one resource to assist
in your search and should be used
in combination with additional resources and strategies.
Learn
more and register on-line.
Career Advising: individual counseling sessions where advisors meet you ‘where you are’ in your process by offering strategies, feedback, and advice, whether you are exploring careers or looking for an internship, job, graduate program, or professional school. Call 734-764-7460 to schedule an appointment, usually available on the same day.
Optimal Resume/Interviews/Letters are time-saving on-line tools available to you anytime. Templates and tips for creating resumes, effective cover letters, and interactive video ‘interviews’ that allow you to watch yourself in action. Register and use the service on-line.
Reference Letter Service: Ask faculty and employers to write recommendation letters while you are still a fresh face and store them at the Career Center. At your request, copies of your file will be mailed to graduate and professional school admissions offices, potential employers, and scholarship and fellowship granting organizations. .Set up your file on-line.
Career Center NEWSLETTER for HISTORY MAJORS - Events and announcements with History students in mind.
Career
Guides from the Career Center : Leaflets
about career possibilities for many concentrations.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CAREER SERVICES
CareerPort
Create your CareerPort profile and take advantage of
these services:
          • Your own profile/resume
page, where you can develop your career profile, post
your resume and
            be matched with
potential employers.
          • The ability to
search the Alumni Job Board.
          • Automatic matching
and email notification of new job postings that match
your profile.
          • Exclusive articles
and step-by-step guides that help you manage your job
search and career.
Alumni NetWorks is a career service that offers
graduates and current students the opportunity to gain
information and networking contacts from one of U-M's
most valuable resources, its alumni. Through this program,
participants are able to contact alumni mentors who
have volunteered to provide career coaching on topics
such asinformation about their occupation, entering the job market, and relocating to a specific
city.
The
following web pages feature articles about paths to follow with your history degree, whether you are considering
entering the job market directly after graduation or going
into graduate or professional school.
The
American Historical Association
         "What Can You Do With a Career in History?"
          Data on the job market for History PhDs
What Can I Do With A Major In...History?
          University of Texas at
Austin
          Job titles and descriptions
for which graduates with a B.A. in history might be
hired (pp. 5-16 of pdf).
Occupational
Outlook Handbook - U.S. Department of Labor
          The Handbook describes
what workers do on the job, education needed, working
conditions, earnings and
          expected job prospects
for a large number of occupations.
Career-related
websites and search engines recommended by the Career
Center, Alumni Association, and department alumni
Career
Center Connector - job and internship recruitment
site for University of Michigan students
U of M Alumni Career Services
www.indeed.com job search engine recommended by the Career Center
idealist.org connects
with non-profit and community organizations in 165 countries
History Associates
Incorporated, careers in history research, archives,
record management in Washington D.C.
The
New York Times Job Market features "Industries
in Depth and job search resources
CollegeGrad.com
is an internet job search service that targets college
students and recent graduates
Studentjobs.gov
provides information about federal government jobs opportunities
www.campuscareercenter.com
covers industries from small non-profits to big business
socialservice.com a place to look for jobs in a variety of human service areas
Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) - grassroots nonprofit organization that engages and supports future nonprofit leaders through professional development, networking, and social opportunities.
craigslist.org
since 2/17/04
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