You’ve probably heard of historians before. You probably know some historians, even. But I bet you don’t know how to become one yourself. Not that it’s easy there are a lot of steps involved in becoming a historian.
However, if this is your dream job and you’re serious about pursuing it, then I’m here to help guide you through the process. Here are some tips for getting started on your way to becoming an expert in all things historical:
Learn To Use Linkedin
LinkedIn is a great place to start your job search. It’s important to think of LinkedIn as a professional networking site, not just a resume database.
If you don’t have many connections on LinkedIn, try connecting with your professors and classmates from college or graduate school; they may be able to put you in touch with potential employers.
You can also connect with professionals in the field who would be willing to act as references for you down the road.
If there’s a company that interests you, connect with them on LinkedIn and send them an introductory message asking if they have any open positions that might fit your background and experience.
This is especially effective if they operate internationally you never know when someone will move into another role!
Study Rather Than Read
The difference between studying and reading is the difference between learning and remembering.
Studying requires a focus on the subject matter, while reading requires more of a focus on comprehension. When you study something, you’re looking for specific information that will help understand that topic better.
In order to do this effectively, you need to be able to take notes and write summaries as well as ask yourself questions about what you’ve learned so far in order to keep track of important details while also identifying gaps in your knowledge base (the things you still don’t know).
This kind of focused investigation into the material is what makes studying different from simply reading through something once or twice without taking any notes along the way and it’s also what makes good historians such diligent students!
Master The Art Of Independent Learning
Learn to learn. Learning is a skill that can be honed and developed, like any other.
The first step in developing your learning skills is learning how to learn how you learn best, and what works for you when it comes to learning new information (for example, if you prefer reading books or listening to lectures).
By taking charge of your own education as an adult and finding ways to teach yourself what you want or need to know, it’s likely that this will eventually lead into a more academic-minded job search.
Don’t Take Notes For Another Student
You might be tempted to help out a friend or loved one by writing down some of the important points that they miss during lectures, but this is a bad idea. First of all, you’ll never get any credit for helping them study.
Second of all, if you’re copying their notes instead of learning from your own mistakes and doing your own research on the topic at hand (see step 1).
Then there’s no way that you’ll actually know what’s going on in class and what information is needed from lecture. Thirdly…you get it! Just don’t do it!
Don’t Plagiarise
In addition to the usual reasons not to plagiarize it’s dishonest, unethical, and can get you kicked out of school or fired from your job plagiarism is also a good way to get yourself sued. You know how historians are always complaining about how they don’t make enough money?
That’s because when people steal their work and pass it off as their own, they’re stuck with not one but two jobs: writing AND doing the research for free.
So keep your sticky fingers off other people’s words! When I was in grad school, we were told that if we ever found our own papers on another website (websites back then usually didn’t exist), we should report it immediately.
Should this happen today, you can find contact information for every major publication online; just search “Contact [insert name of publication].”
Get To Know Your Professors
Now is the time to get to know your professors. You may be hesitant about seeking out personal connections, as it can feel awkward or (I don’t want to say weird) but… a little weird.
However, connecting with your professors on a personal level can mean access to opportunities that would otherwise be closed off from you.
It’s easy to avoid getting in touch with or meeting up with your professors; it’s harder when you’re still trying to figure out how their research works and what questions might help guide their work in the future.
But if you can get into their inboxes and ask them questions about their projects and research interests, they’ll remember who asked those questions when they hold open office hours and also when it comes time for job interviews at other institutes of higher learning!
Broaden Your Horizons With Extracurricular Classes
If you’re looking to get ahead in the field, it’s crucial that you learn as much as possible. One way to do this is by taking classes outside of your major and career path.
These extracurricular classes can help you broaden your horizons and gain valuable experience and knowledge that will be useful in any job search later on. The following are some suggestions:
Take a class that isn’t related to your major or career at all this will give you an opportunity to try something new and learn about different areas of study, which can help when it comes time for interviews.
For example, if you’re studying history but want a job in another field (such as law), then taking an economics class might be helpful for learning about government regulations or financial markets so that they’ll know what questions to ask during those interviews!
Try something completely unrelated there’s nothing wrong with trying something completely new once in a while!
If there’s no specific reason why these topics wouldn’t overlap with one another (e.g., if one was not interested in becoming either doctor nor psychologist), then there’s no harm done by learning how two seemingly unrelated fields interact together.”
Try A Double Major Or Minor
A double major or minor is another way to demonstrate your interest in history, as well as add a valuable credential that will make you more marketable. You can do this at any university, and with any degree even if it isn’t an undergraduate history program.
This option is especially good if you’re not sure which field of history interests you most and want to explore before graduating!
Take Advantage Of Resources At The Library, Museum, And On Campus More Broadly
The library and campus may not be the first places you think of when it comes to job searching, but they can actually be great resources for historians. You’ll want to take advantage of these free services, which can help you get a leg up on your competition in the job market:
Get to know the librarians! They are experts on databases and other tools that will help you find information quickly and efficiently.
Ask them questions about their favorite resources or how they would go about finding something specific. If you can find a mentor, even better they’re often happy to share their knowledge with others!
Use the research databases offered by your university or college library system; many universities offer access through their website.
As well as through an app (such as FirstSearch) that allows users to search from multiple library systems at once including ones outside their own network of institutions nationwide and download material onto personal devices via the Internet rather than visiting physical locations like libraries themselves.
Use these same systems for finding books (via print catalogues), journals/magazines articles about trends in historical studies fields related topics like archaeology anthropology sociology etcetera…
Engage With People Who Are Passionate About The Same Things As You Are
Read. There are a lot of books out there that can help you learn about your field, and many will be relevant to your interests. If you want to become a historian, pick up some history books!
Listen. Even if you’re already familiar with the field, it’s never a bad idea to check out podcasts or YouTube channels related to history.
They can give you new perspectives on the topics that interest you most and they might even help you find new areas of research that fit better with your own tastes than those currently covered by traditional historians.
Engage with people who are passionate about the same things as you are whether online or in person (or both!). By engaging with others who share similar passions as yours,
you’ll have access to information and resources they may have found useful themselves while being exposed directly through interactions like this one how their work has impacted theirs thus far.”
Work while you’re in school.
Work Part-Time
You can do this while you’re in school, and it’ll help you with your coursework. You’ll also have the added benefit of some money to pay for things like books and school supplies, food, transportation whatever expenses you may have.
And getting work experience early on will help you when it comes time to apply for jobs later on!
Work Full-Time
This is a great way to make extra money as well as gain valuable experience in the field. You may want to consider working full-time during school breaks or summers if possible so that when it’s time for graduation.
You’re not scrambling around trying to find a job when everyone else is applying for theirs at the same time (and possibly beating out other candidates who have already been working).
Do Anything That Will Be Good On Your Resume (And Not Too Much)
Just because you are in a program doesn’t mean that it is the only way to learn new things. If you want to be a historian, then figure out what historians do and then do those things.
If you’re like me, you may feel like your options are limited because of where your degree comes from. But don’t let this stop you from learning about whatever it is that interests or intrigues you.
Don’t worry about whether people will think less of your education if they see what classwork looks like for someone who hasn’t had formal training yet (it won’t matter). Do whatever will help build up your resume!
Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask for help if something seems too difficult or confusing; professors know better than anyone how their material works and should be able to help point out where things went south for a student who struggled with an assignment.
Be financially and emotionally independent while in school.
Deal With Stress
Pay for school. There are lots of ways to do this, but don’t underestimate the importance of finding a job that pays you as much as possible.
Be financially and emotionally independent while in school. This means knowing how to pay for all your expenses, including rent/mortgage, food, utilities and transportation costs (including parking) if applicable;
Having at least one savings account with money set aside for emergencies; having an emergency fund so that you aren’t stuck paying late fees because your car broke down or someone stole your laptop from the library; being able to pay all bills on time;
Being able to make small purchases without worrying about breaking the bank; etc. having these things helps keep stress levels low!
Conclusion
It’s not easy to get a job as a historian, but the reward is worth it. You can make history by becoming a part of an exciting industry that is constantly changing and growing.
So, if you have been thinking about becoming an historian, now is the time! Go out there and make your mark on the world!
