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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 branch out into a wide world of careers.
Read in their own words about the variety of career
paths that recent History Department graduates have
followed, some in jobs directly related to the study
of history, others not. Almost all credit the skills
they developed as history students for at least some
of their success in their fields.
Stories from History Department alumni:
Alumni Career Biographies
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 also need to 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 MploymentLink, addresses of potential employers
and professional organizations, job fair
schedules, on-line search engines, alumni and family networks,
etc.
A
good place to start is the University of Michigan Career
Center. Don't wait until senior year to plan for life
after graduation. When you get to your senior year and
after graduation, 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 after graduation. Here are two services you can
use from home:
CAREER
CENTER CONNECTOR connects you with employers
seeking to hire U of M students for internships and
permanent positions. 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 job and/or internship search and should be used
in combination with additional resources and strategies.
Learn
more and register on-line.
Career
Counseling and Advising: one-to-one sessions
where advisors meet you “where you are”
in your process by offering feedback, strategies, advice
and a “neutral ear” through drop-in and
pre-scheduled appointments. They will help you in your
career development process whether you are “clueless”
or very focused; looking for a concentration, internship,
job, graduate program or professional school, or simply
just exploring. Choose from Drop-in Advising, Career
Counseling or Videotaped Mock Interviews to fit your
individual schedule and career needs.
Career Counseling provides a half hour
or one hour appointment with a counselor to discuss
your individual career needs. Explore career options,
discuss decisions, receive career assessment test results,
build job search strategies, prepare for interviews,
or prepare for continuing education in a one-to-one
session. Call (734-764-7460) to schedule an appointment.
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
ranging from information about their occupation and
how to enter the job market to relocating to a specific
city.
The
following web pages feature articles about what you can
do with a history degree, whether you are considering
entering the job market directly after graduation or going
on to graduate or professional school.
Phi
Alpha Theta: Career Possibilities for History Majors
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.
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
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 taht 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
idealist.org
connects
with non-profit and community organizations in 165 countries
craigslist.org
 since 2/17/04
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