Have you always loved reading about the days of yore? Do you enjoy watching historical documentaries on telly? Were school field trips to ancient ruins and palaces your favourite days of the year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you answered \u2018yes\u2019 to any of the above, a degree in history might be the right path for you. However, you may have heard that a history degree \u2018won\u2019t get you very far.\u2019 As you\u2019ll see in this article, that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth! Before you decide to do a history degree, you can always take a few history courses online<\/a>. They will help you \u2018get your feet wet\u2019 and find out if you\u2019d be interested in learning more about history in a structured setting.<\/p>\n\n\n While you might have heard that history is \u2018a useless degree\u2019 from people who want you to go into the sciences or tech fields, it simply isn\u2019t the case The New York Federal Reserve Bank\u2019s \u20182017 Labor Market Study,<\/a>\u2019 people who study history earn an average of $25,000 more each year than the US national median salary.[i]<\/a> That doesn\u2019t sound very \u2018useless,\u2019 now does it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that some very famous and essential people<\/a> chose to do a degree in history? Winston Churchill, Gordon Brown, W.E.B DuBois, and seven different American presidents all took history! So too did writer Salman Rushdie, documentarian and journalist Louis Theroux, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, and Hackney Labour MP Diane Abbot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This degree equips you with many useful history graduate skills. Most importantly, you\u2019ll learn the importance of recognising and applying the patterns of the past. History teaches us just how crucial problem-solving and analytical skills are to success in any industry. Debating the lessons of the past with like-minded academics and professors will arm you with the quick thinking and analysis needed to advance in your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to improving your career prospects, a history degree will improve your trivia knowledge, help you understand the world\u2019s current events, and solve complex problems in your own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have a history degree, you are primed for a variety of exciting and interesting careers.[v]<\/a> Employers in most fields will be impressed by your history degree, as it shows that you can complete complex academic projects and that you are dedicated to problem-solving. Even if the following careers don\u2019t always directly correspond to the specifics of a history degree, you\u2019ll find that employers are excited to see this field of study on your CV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your undergraduate history degree will give you plenty of soft skills that will serve you throughout your entire career.[vi]<\/a> These transferable skills include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employers in a variety of fields look for these skills when hiring new recruits. Your history degree demonstrates that you have these competencies and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a report by the BBC, employers are always on the hunt for specific soft skills. [viii]<\/a> The cited LinkedIn\u2019s 2019 research on employers\u2019 most desired skills<\/a>, which found that creativity, persuasion, and collaboration were in hot demand. These are precisely the skills that your degree in history will foster and help you to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you, (or your parents) worried that you won\u2019t be able to compete in the fast-paced world of tech? A history degree can even help you in the STEM fields. According to the BBC article, Microsoft executives are in the market for more humanities graduates. According to the CEO, \u201cas computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important. Languages, art, history, economics, ethics, philosophy, psychology and human development courses can teach critical, philosophical and ethics-based skills that will be instrumental in the development and management of AI solutions.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While history is certainly not for everyone, if you enjoy learning about the past and immersing yourself in world events, it might just be the right path for you. Don\u2019t worry for one second that it could be a \u2018dead end\u2019 \u2013 as you can see above, there are plenty of exciting and well-paid careers for people with history degrees. Now, you just need to decide what era and region you are most interested in studying!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHistory – a useless degree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSo, what can you do with a history degree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nIs it worth doing a history degree?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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