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What are some good jobs for people that are interested in history?

Posted on 8/30/23 at 5:45 pm
Posted by justaniceguy
Member since Sep 2020
6700 posts
Posted on 8/30/23 at 5:45 pm
I currently work for a small business as an accounting assistant. Been working here for a few years. I don’t hate the job but it is not something I love and I spend more time dicking around than actually working.

My main passions are history and sports. I’ve been told I have the voice for radio but it seems like a who you know kind of field more so than usual. Would also be cool to work for a universities athletic department but again not sure how feasible this is as I didn’t play college sports or anything.

I shadowed a family member who is an oil and gas Landman and I really enjoyed that sort of work. We went to the courthouse and researched the chain of title for another family members property. I truly enjoyed this one. Going through the deed history of the county and seeing title transfers, looking at old wills, etc. Being a history buff this was something I could see myself doing and truly enjoying it. Unfortunately it seems like this field is dying out.

Jobs I have considered trying to get into (and have applied for some jobs) are right of way and anti money laundering.

Right of way seems to be similar to a Landman but for utilizes, solar, wind, and other sorts of companies other than o&g. I know the work isn’t as intensive and it doesn’t pay as well but this seems like a viable option. Does anybody know more about this field?

Anti money laundering is basically working for a bank and going through transactions and trying to find any suspicious activity. While this doesn’t necessarily involve history it still seems interesting.

Does anybody have any other recommendations for jobs that somebody passionate about history might enjoy? I have thought about being a professor - not sure I would truly enjoy it and not sure I want to do all that schooling. A historian would be fun too but it seems most these days are of the woke variety.
Posted by TigerHornII
Member since Feb 2021
1155 posts
Posted on 8/30/23 at 5:55 pm to
I feel your pain as I sit here in an office full of hundreds of books (and >200 more on my phone), a good portion of which are history books. I decided between history and engineering very quickly in undergrad when I realized history would never pay the bills. I then made a point of studying engineering and technology history, especially lessons learned from successes and failures, and then applied them in the profession. I rose to the top of the profession and have some pretty solid accolades and awards for it.

IDK if that's helpful, but that was my path.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
23512 posts
Posted on 8/30/23 at 8:51 pm to
I've got Master's in history and now work in technology. That should tell you all you need to know.

There is absolutely no point in getting a PhD in history any longer. The field has been in swift decline for about 25 years now.

History, unfortunately, is a great hobby. It's no longer valued and that is to our detriment.

I'd say the very best that you can do with history would be some kind of high level federal government position (FBI, military college, overseas teacher) or a think tank. And even still, it won't be an easy job to land.
Posted by GeauxZone90
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2010
3274 posts
Posted on 8/30/23 at 9:58 pm to
Walmart cashier
This post was edited on 8/30/23 at 9:59 pm
Posted by 7flat
Member since Aug 2004
302 posts
Posted on 8/30/23 at 11:21 pm to
If you also enjoy math Land surveying is a good option. I saw a guy post on a land surveying Facebook group the other day he was researching deeds and pulled one from from Wyatt Earp.
Posted by Bill Parker?
Member since Jan 2013
5240 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 12:08 am to
History and English degree here. I'm in the finance side of real estate.

Working in the real world, and having my own business, revealed that I actually prefer applied math (tracking AR, AP and income/expense projections) over history.

My degrees allow me to be really good at communicating, but a simple understanding of normal finance and accounting - even if you learn it on the job - is invaluable.
Posted by itsbigmikey
NASHVILLE
Member since Aug 2018
450 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 7:13 am to
quote:

I've got Master's in history and now work in technology. That should tell you all you need to know.

There is absolutely no point in getting a PhD in history any longer. The field has been in swift decline for about 25 years now.

History, unfortunately, is a great hobby. It's no longer valued and that is to our detriment.

I'd say the very best that you can do with history would be some kind of high level federal government position (FBI, military college, overseas teacher) or a think tank. And even still, it won't be an easy job to land.


This hurts me to read but sadly I think you're correct
Posted by FLObserver
Jacksonville
Member since Nov 2005
15848 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 7:57 am to
If it's just you then go for it but if you got a family do not go for it.
Posted by BestBanker
Member since Nov 2011
18996 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 8:00 am to

This post was edited on 12/31/23 at 8:40 am
Posted by CAPEX
Member since Dec 2022
918 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 8:04 am to
quote:

I feel your pain as I sit here in an office full of hundreds of books (and >200 more on my phone), a good portion of which are history books. I decided between history and engineering very quickly in undergrad when I realized history would never pay the bills. I then made a point of studying engineering and technology history, especially lessons learned from successes and failures, and then applied them in the profession. I rose to the top of the profession and have some pretty solid accolades and awards for it.



I think History as a subject can be valuable because of the other skills it teaches you - how to write properly, analyze things and study them properly.

But I've always said, where you do your degree matters more than what you do your degree in.

A Harvard History degree is probably worth more than most schools' Engineering degrees for example.

Posted by JL
Member since Aug 2006
3208 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 8:08 am to
I would say being an economist is translatable. It takes a strong understanding of the past and human behavior to analyze the current and predict the future.
This post was edited on 8/31/23 at 8:10 am
Posted by Mushroom1968
Member since Jun 2023
5316 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 8:11 am to
OP about the best you can do with that is teaching history in local schools or advancing and teaching at a college. Not sure what kind of pay cut that would be for you though. I guess you can look at it with the summers and holidays off, retirement, etc and maybe would be enjoying your job depending on the school.
Posted by boogiewoogie1978
Little Rock
Member since Aug 2012
19428 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 8:33 am to
quote:

My main passions are history and sports. I’ve been told I have the voice for radio but it seems like a who you know kind of field more so than usual.

Start a podcast and see where it goes.
Posted by justaniceguy
Member since Sep 2020
6700 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 9:03 am to
For the record, I don’t have a history degree. I actually don’t have any degree at this moment but I’m about 30 credits from having a BBA. I have been kind of lazy about it, but my main point in starting this thread was to try to find jobs similar to being a “Landman” that involve combining history with business.

Sadly, I learned even before the day I graduated high school that unless I wanted to be a history professor or a lawyer, studying history wasn’t the best route.
Posted by justaniceguy
Member since Sep 2020
6700 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 9:04 am to
Honestly have thought about starting a podcast. Also might try to write a book some day
Posted by Dawgfanman
Member since Jun 2015
25905 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 9:17 am to
quote:

Honestly have thought about starting a podcast. Also might try to write a book some day


Stop thinking about it, let it out. Put it on “paper”. No time like the present
Posted by Bestbank Tiger
Premium Member
Member since Jan 2005
79358 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 4:36 pm to
Caporegime.

Frankie Five Angels was a student of history.
Posted by Tiger Prawn
Member since Dec 2016
25194 posts
Posted on 8/31/23 at 9:14 pm to
Museums, university athletic departments, and pro sports organizations all have accounting departments. Use your current job experience to get a foot in the door with a similar position as you have now, then keep an eye for openings that fit what you really enjoy
Posted by TigerHornII
Member since Feb 2021
1155 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 7:26 am to
quote:

But I've always said, where you do your degree matters more than what you do your degree in.

A Harvard History degree is probably worth more than most schools' Engineering degrees for example.



While the Harvard degree is more valuable than other history degrees, it is not more valuable than an engineering undergrad. The median Harvard BA in history earns a little more than $50k. The worst engineering discipline nationally starts out with a median of $62k.
Posted by Ostrich
Alexandria, VA
Member since Nov 2011
10166 posts
Posted on 9/1/23 at 12:06 pm to
Battlefield or historical site tour guide, Author, History professor, museum executive director
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