Why Study History?

Mike McDaniel used them when he served as assistant coach of the San Francisco ’49ers. (He then became the Miami Dolphins’ head coach.):

“McDaniel earned his Yale degree in history. Perhaps it is no coincidence that one of his attributes as a coach is an amazing recall of past situations and the problem-solving that went into finding the right adjustments and answers.”

— Matt Maiocco, ’49ers Insider, “McDaniel putting Yale degree to good use as ’49ers assistant,” NBC Sports–Bay Area, Jan. 12, 2022

Actress Yara Shahidi, from “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish,” has found that her knowledge of history has provided her with a valuable context for understanding society today as she pursues her political activism:

“My love of history really helped me when I moved into the work of social engagements because one hopeful thing that I hold on to … is the fact that all of us being present is nothing short of a miracle. … We’re the manifestation of centuries of work of people that didn’t even know they were working for us to be here.”

— “At Carter Town Hall, Yara Shahidi discusses the process of ‘figuring it out’ while still amplifying voices,” Emory University, Nov. 16, 2023

Stephanie Butcher uses her History skills in her work as co-head of investments at Invesco, an investment management company:

Of her time as a History major: “the training [that was] involved—reading and assessing vast amounts of data, needing to look for evidence, examining topics from different vantage points, weighing evidence and drawing a conclusion—provided skills that I have leveraged throughout my career.”

— Quoted by Erin Chan Ding in “Influential Women In Institutional Investing: Stephanie Butcher,” Pensions & Investments 52, iss. 12 (Sept. 9, 2024): 18.

Explore a variety of careers that your skills developed in History will prepare you for including:

• Law
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Leadership
• Journalism
• Marketing
• Digital Strategy

Some advice as you begin to prepare for your career

Start early! A few reasons why: 

1. If you want to adjust your academic plan, you’ll have plenty of time to do so. This could include adding a minor, doing an internship, taking a foreign language, or studying abroad. 

2. Thinking about your career will help you think about how you are sharpening your marketable skills. You’re improving those skills in your courses, your extracurricular activities, and your jobs. You can highlight your training and experience when you apply for jobs.

3. Starting early will make the process less stressful.

4. You can ask professors for letters of recommendation soon after you’ve taken courses with them.

Choose courses that can help you prepare for your career without adding to your workload: 

1. If you’re wondering whether you would enjoy museum work or teaching, or if you’re considering adding a minor, take a course or two in those subjects. That experience will help you decide.
2. Consider doing an internship, HIST 493, to gain real-world experience while earning college credit. For more information about internships: 
   https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/history/internships.html
3. Consider taking HIST 234, Career Preparation for History Majors, or EDUC 121, Designing Your Career Plan. 

Beginning the job-search process does not have to be time-consuming, and it can be interesting! Consider doing the following:

1. Look at the Career Center’s model résumé for History majors as you create your own: 
   https://www.towson.edu/careercenter/media/documents/resumes_cvs/resumes_by_major/sample_resume_history.pdf
2. See what jobs and internships are available by signing up on Handshake, a career network for college students. Here is additional information: 
   https://www.towson.edu/careercenter/handshake.html
3. Visit USA Jobs to see job openings in the federal government. They include positions in national parks and historic sites: https://www.usajobs.gov/
4. Visit the Idealist job board to find job listings at nonprofit organizations: https://www.idealist.org/en
5. Sign up on LinkedIn, or revise your LinkedIn profile. Here is advice for creating a great profile: 
   https://www.linkedin.com/business/sales/blog/profile-best-practices/17-steps-to-a-better-linkedin-profile-in-2017
   If you don’t have a headshot you like, visit Towson’s Career Center, in the University Union, and use their photo booth! 
6. Identify your strengths by completing a free assessment that takes about half an hour. CliftonStrengths identifies your talents, so you can choose a career where you can use them. Click this link to learn more and to do the assessment: 
   https://www.towson.edu/studentlife/activities/student-activities/leadership/cliftonstrengths/
7. Check out the Career Center’s page on “History Major Jobs & Career Resources,” which provides great information, especially regarding History-related careers: 
   https://www.towson.edu/careercenter/planning-resources/major/history.html
8. Consider volunteering for a few hours a week to see whether you would enjoy a career in a certain field. Many institutions, including national parks, museums, and historical societies need volunteers to support their work. It’s a great way to strengthen your skills and network for potential jobs.
9. Look at the Career Center’s advice for preparing for a job interview, including a list of frequently asked questions: 
   https://www.towson.edu/careercenter/internships-jobs/interviewing/
10. Speak with your academic adviser about your plans and interests!

 

Two last pieces of advice:

1. Keep an open mind. As you read the job and internship listings, think about which ones might be interesting. Majoring in History prepares you for any number of careers, and your ideal job might be one that you haven’t yet considered! 
2. Don’t be hard on yourself! Many people end up in rewarding careers that they did not have in mind when they walked across the stage at graduation. It can help to think of your career as a journey, rather than expecting everything to fall into place quickly.