Put That Research Brain To Good Use

You want to learn, understand, and accept how our current world is shaped by our ancestors, and we totally get that. Unfortunately, “historian” isn’t at the top of high needs sectors, making a job in the field hard to come by at the best of times. Fear not, gentle reader, we will do our best to help you through these trials.

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Genealogist

Sure, it’s not the history of countries or cultural groups, but it’s still history! A genealogist works to study family history, often trying to find blood connections through historical records, interviews, and genetic analysis. Think about it, you spent so many years learning how to dig through all those primary sources for research essays, you may as well use it to help someone understand where and who they come from. 

Policy Analyst

If you especially loved learning about the politics of history (or is it the history of politics?), a policy analyst is just the thing for you. They’re often found in government offices and business organizations, identifying problems, researching possible solutions, and making policy recommendations based on previous events. Bureaucracy may not be the most exciting, but it can pay the bills. 

Art Dealer

This role requires more than just a love of history. You have to be a businessman, a middleman, and a personal assistant…man. Art dealers are the link between the artist and client, and a successful art dealer must have the who, what, where, when, and why figured out before a sale is even brought up. Yes, you need to know your art history, but you also need to have a deep understanding of the art market, including important people, and how to properly handle the art itself. 

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Archivist

Archivists are kind of like the moody sibling to librarians, don’t you think? We can’t really blame them, though, as much of their day involves the collection, organization, and preservation of priceless artifacts and documents. If you can stand to not see the sun for most of your day, your little history heart will soar, getting to handle some of your local and national relics. It’s pretty research-heavy, as you not only have to confirm if something is authentic, but you also have to confirm where and when it's from. 

Diplomat

A diplomat, or foreign service officer, requires plenty of skill in analysis, research, and a foundational knowledge of international relations. If your history degree centered on relations for a particular country, or several particular countries, you most certainly have the right background for this kind of work. Of course, you can’t just step out of university and expect to be handed a diplomat title - a job like this requires a lot of training.